The Penn's Grove record., 1923-04-27

uuuS at our disposal uullhb thC SN"i
1924.
while no positive figures can he
given as to what may be expected in
he matter of ]recoveries under the
proposed new plan of development, 1t
S reasonable to believe that a mini.
num of SO per cent will be reached
and even exceeded under favorable
condition.
THE average duration of hospital
life of the chronic insane has been
computed TO be twenty years. No
fixed figures can be given as to the
average duration OF hospital life OF
patients who are restored to mental
health. The vast majority OF acute
cases recover within one year from
the time of their admissions; many of
them are restored within a few
months. 1t may, therefore, be fairly
assumed that the average hospitaliza-
ton of recoverable cases does not eX-
coed one year. Thus durable patients
who. through lack of proper facilities
for their care and treatment, become
chronic cases and remain under hos
pital care at an expense to the state
for an additional average period OF
nineteen years.
Per Capita Cost
THE daily per capita cost OF main
tenance of each patient at this instttu-
ton for the past five years has been
90 cents, or at the rate of S347.73 per
mum. For a period of nineteen years
this amounts to S6,eO6.97 for each
permanent patient, If this be multi
piled by the number of patients whom
it may be reasonably assumed would
have recovered under favorable hous-
ing conditions, that is approximately
SO per cent. the financial saving 10
the state. through the provision of
proper housing facilities, would
amount to many millions of dollars.
In addition to this. many patients
WHO would be durable under proper
housing conditions have others depend.
ent upon them who, if the patients are
not restored and returned to their
former station in life as wage earners,
in turn become dependents upon the
state, and. thereby, further add to
the states financial burden.
Ia the past the popular concept Of
a state hospital has too often been thai
of a plague spot. to be Stunned by all
except the morbidly curious and those
connected with the inmates by close
ties of blood.
THE spread of knowledge and the
growing recognition of the preventive
and curative work that is being done
in our state hospitals is bringing ap-
probation to the state institution.
II believe that eventually the state
hospital is destined to become a COM
munity center where ~perplexed people
of all ages and stations will be glad
to go for examination and advice or
longer observation and treatment.
Many of the problems and peeuli-
arities which prevent wholesome So
cial adjustment are undoubtedly due
to false mental hygiene; sometimes to
a childish misunderstanding never sat
is%factorily corrected: again, to lack of
insight into the springs of conduct in
self and others, leading TO misinteTpre-
tations, fears and suspicious and
eventually, if uneorrected, wen to a
definite psychosis.
Public Realization
ut is in this field Of prevention that
the greatest well of usefulness can be
tapped and gradually the public is
coming to realize that fact.
Each year see a little more link
age between this institution and the
community which surrounds it. One
established line of contact is through
the laboratory.
another connection between the
hospital and the community is made
through the informal clinic for back
ward and delinquent children.
Trenton's Model Station
The newly renovated three-story
building to be used entirely as quar-
tiers for the first precinct police sta
ton in Chancery lane has been
completed and accepted by the City
Commissioners. The building is said
to be on a par with any police station
in the east. 1t is modernly equipped
and is considered a fine architectural
work.
It's present location has served as
police headquarters for many years,
and the structure contains ample ac-
commodations for all officials from the
chief down to the patrolmen, including
a large prison,
Captain James T. Culliton has a
suite of four rooms on the second
floor, including a private office and
others for his clerks. On this floor
there are also the quarters of Captain
William p. Walters, of the traffic
squad; John l.. Mcbride, who is super.
visor of the school safety patrol; DR..
Philip c. Douress, police surgeon; Cap
tain Harry Botschart, of the Detective
Bureau, who with seven other detec-
tives occupies a suite of three rooms
The Criminal Identification Bureau,
In charge of Sergeant William Lyth-
goe, is also on the second floor. This
bureau is equipped with every modern
facility, including cameras for taking
photographs of criminals at any time,