Milford chronicle., 1923-02-09

LrdLlOu, luG ulduClel4 ACSAS VI N@-
State Hospital at FarnhursU were ac
cepted without question and the mem
bers agreed that the amounts Whlcl
the Board of Trustees ask during fin
coming two years should be granted
These amounts, as shown by the re
port, are as follows:
For six months, from Janu-
airy 1, to June 80, 1923----S97, ,969.Ol
For year from July 1, 1928
to June 80, 1924 --------------------l96 ,344.O'
For year from July 1, 1924
to JnIv 1. 1925. ,445.0(
Saved from Permanent I'M
provement Fund, 1921-22-- 24,7l9.8t
Saved from Special Emergen-
cy Fund, 1922 .--.----.-.-.----. S6,957.1C
Net amount of above two --- 61,676.95
Estimated amount necessary
for Permanent ImprOvements.6 .65, ,OOO.OU
improvements Completed
The report of the Board of Trustees
to Governor Denney tells of the COM
pletion of permanent improvements, as
follows:
The completion of the improvements
recommended and set forth in detail
in the last biennial report has been
accomplished with a saving OF S24,-
1885 to the State, and we have Fea-
son to believe, from our experience to
date, the improvements have accom-
plished all that was hoped for in put
ting the property of the State in first
class condition for safe and economl-
cal operation and maintenance.
1--WE return to the State, in addition
to the S24,719.85 mentioned above, an
additional sum of $36,957.10 unex-
pended from the appropriation and re-
ceipts of the twenty-five months per-
iod under review, or a total of SOL
$685."
The important subject of occupatiOnal
therapy for the benefit of the health
and minds of the patients is treated
in the report Of the trustees, as fol-
lows:
OccupatiOnal Therapy
"The results observed in the use of
a large number of patients, for such
work as was within their ability to
perform under the direction of our
present employees-excavating, back
filling, patching, grading, ETC., follow
ing the work of the contractors, have
shown the therapeutic value to the
patients and the financial advantage
to the hospital of providing continu-
GUS throughout the year employment
to every one of our charges capable of
work, even of the lightest character.
Similar institutions throughout
the country are unanimous in attest
ing to the value of OccupatiOnal Their
apy, as it is known, as a most help
full agent in the treatment of the in
sane.
"The same patients who in normal
years are benefited in the outdoor
season by work around the grounds or
on the farm; or, as in the past sea-
son, in much larger numbers have
profited by the extraordinary Oppor-
tunities for work which have prevail
ed, are doomed to be idle during the
winter months. Under conditions
which should prevail from the human
itarian point of view, if from no other,
every bit of man-power and woman
power among the patients should be
utilized, within the limits of the we'll
being of the patients, every week in
the year.
eve are about to start in this in a
very small way by work on the wards
themselves in such small areas as can
be made available, but the real need
of the institution is the removal Of
kitchen and storerooms to a new
building and the utilization Of the va
Gated basement areas for Occupation
al Therapy which will engage every
one of the patients who can profit by
its use as d curative.
1--WE are asking for an appropriation
of $65,O0O for the purpose of con-
structing new kitchen and storeroom
buildings and making such interior
alterations to the present buildings,
including Sussex Hall, as will pro-
vide for the most economical use of
them and postpone as long as possi-
BILE the necessity Cl providing a new
building to care for the increase in
population.
Population Figures
The report Of DR.. Hancke-, the med
ical superintendent, summarizing in
interesting manner, the figures as to
population at the institution, as fol-
lows:
"On December 1, 1920, the popula-
tion of the hospital was $40.
There have been admitted 219,
making the whole number under
tret ttn1ent 729. There have been 80
discharged as reco Wred, 90 as improV-
ed and 80 as unimproved.
"The deaths numbereds 76 and one
was discharged as not insane, making
the total discharges 191. This leaves
the population January 1, 1928, 2S6
males and 252 females, total Of 5SS.
"The largest number under treat
ment was 545 md the lowest. 497.
"The daily average population was
522
There were 165 admissions from
New Castle county, % from Kent and
26 from Sussex county"