Annual report of the trustees of the State Lunatic Hospital at Worcester

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PUBLIC DOCUMENT No. 23.

FORTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT

OF

THE TRUSTEES

OF THE

STATE LUNATIC HOSPITAL

AT

WO H C E S TE R.

October, 18 74

BOSTON:

WRIGHT & POTTER, STATE PRINTERS,

79 Milk Street (corner of Federal).

1875.

OFFICEES OF THE HOSPITAL.

TRUSTEES.

Gen. WILLIAM S. LINCOLN, Worcester.

Hon. HENEY CHAPLN, Worcester.

Col. JOHN D. WASHBUEN, Worcester.

Prof. JAMES B. THAYEE, Cambridge.

EOBEET W. HOOPEE, M. D.,

Superintendent, .
Assistant Superintendent,
Assistant Physician, .
Assistant Physician, .
Steivard (Acting),

RESIDENT OFFICERS.

BABNAED D. EASTMAN, M. D.
JOHN G. PAEK, M. D.
MAEY H. STINSON, M. D.
H. M. QULNBY, M. D.
E. C. POLLAED.

TREASURER.

ALBEET WOOD,

Worcester.

CommontDealtt) of itla£0ad)nsctt0-

TRUSTEES' REPORT,

To His Excellency the Governor, and the Honorable Council
of the Commonwealth.

The Trustees of the Worcester Lunatic Hospital respect-
fully submit their Forty-Second Annual Eeport.

It will be seen by the report of the Superintendent, which
is herewith forwarded, that the number of persons admitted
to the institution during the year, was 380. The number at
its commencement was 469, and there are now remaining
485. The death-rate has been unusually great, seventy-five
patients having deceased within the same period. Many of
these were of advanced age, long afflicted with disease ; some
were feeble and in a low condition at the date of admission
to the hospital, of whom twenty-three died within a period of
twenty daj^s subsequent to the date of their admission.

The finances of the hospital, as shown by the accompany-
ing report of the Treasurer, are in a sound condition ; the
balance of cash, with supplies on hand, being $33,211.57,
including special bequests.

Satisfactory progress has been made in the work of build-
ing the new hospital. The walls of one wiug will be covered
by the close of the season. The excavations and foundations
for the remaining portions of the building are being carried
forward with a reasonable degree of energy. An additional
appropriation will be necessary, if the work is to be prose-
cuted with proper despatch the coming season. Referring to
the duty imposed upon the Trustees by the legislature of the

6 LUNATIC HOSPITAL AT WORCESTER. [,Oct.

past winter, of making suitable provision in the new hospital
for the care and custody of such homicidal insane as shall be
committed to it, the board cannot too strongly urge the im-
portance of being allowed to erect the building upon the plan
heretofore recommended to the approval of your honorable
body.

No considerable quantity of the land of the old hospital
has been sold during the year. Up to September 30, 1873,
the Commonwealth had received from this source, on account
of sales and interest, $58,488.56. During the current year,
$4,408.82 has been added to this sum. An additional sale
has been made, and the net proceeds, amounting to about
$5,000, will soon be paid over to the Treasurer. The
Trustees have employed, to aid them in effecting sales of the
land, agents of acknowledged energy and judgment, but the
general stagnation of business during the past year has put a
stop to new enterprises, and under its influence there has
been almost no demand for land for improvement. With a
revival of business, the Trustees anticipate a more active
demand at satisfactory prices.

Several changes have been made during the year in the
staff of the institution. Dr. Albert Wood has been appointed
Treasurer, succeeding Col. J. D. Washburn, one of our
number, who had temporarily filled that office. Mr. Wilder
resigned his position as Steward, and Mr. E. C. Pollard is at
present acting in that capacity.

To the skill and fidelity of the Superintendent and his
subordinate officers, the Trustees desire to bear testimony.

WM. S. LINCOLN.
HENRY CHAPIN.
JAMES B. THAYER.
R. W. HOOPER.

Worcester, Oct. 16, 1874.

1874.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT— No. 23.

TREASUEEB'S REPORT.

To the Trustees of the Worcester Lunatic Hospital.

Gentlemen : — I herewith submit my Annual Report on
the finances of the Worcester Lunatic Hospital, for the year
ending September 30, 1874.

Receipts.
Cash on hand September 30, 1873, . . . $11,478 13

received of the Commonwealth for sup-
port of patients, .... 10,241 80

received of cities and towns for support

of patients, 50,580 17

received of individuals for support of

patients, .... . 49,298 35

received for interest and sale of produce,

etc., 3,578 99

$125,177 44

The expenditures for the year have been as follows : —
Provisions :
Flour, 819 barrels, at $8.38| per

barrel, . . . ." . $6,867 98
Meat of all kinds, . . . 10,788 57
Meal for cooking, . . . 1,236 32
Beans, potatoes and other vege-
tables 1,121 70

Fish, 1,780 56

Sugar, . . . . . 3,091 89

Amount carried forward, .$24,887 02

LUNATIC HOSPITAL AT WORCESTER, [Oct.

Amount brought forward

. $24,887 02

Molasses and syrup,

757 75

Tea, . . " .

. 1,256 96

Coffee and chocolate,

. 1,376 71

Rice and crackers,

588 14

Butter,

. 6,328 33

Vinegar and pickles,

147 87

Cheese,

185 08

Fresh fruits,

276 98

Eggs, salt and other groceries

3, . 2,229 14

Total for provisions

3,

. $38,033 98

Salaries and wages,

Provender and bedding for stock,

Furniture, crockery, bedding, etc

Light,

Soap, .....

Medical supplies, .

Live stock, ....

Carriages, harness, blacksniithing, etc.

Improvements and repairs,

Books, stationery and printing,

Travelling and transportation,

Fuel,

Freight and express,
Ice, .....
Trustees' expenses,
Miscellaneous, . .

Total current expenses, .

Clothing and materials, .
Undertakers charges,
Furnished to private patients on account
Land, insurance, interest, surveys, etc.,

Total expenditures,
Cash on hand, September 30, 1874,

34,363

40

1,044

91

3,663

72

2,142

91

1,021

00

1,035

53

1,780 00

1,869

69

1,716

61

1,191

75

234

87

9,400

28

483

95

443

29

251

03

2,786

76

. $101,463 68

6,070 36

1,026

25

638

86

647

90

. $109,847 05

15,330 39

$125,177 44 •

1874.]

PUBLIC DOCUMENT— No. 23.

Eesources
Cash on hand,
Due from the Comonwealth, .

from cities and towns,

from individuals, .

$15,330 39

4,514 75

11,773 93

12,521 31

$44,140 38

Liabilities.

Due for supplies and expenses, . $6,848 24
for salaries and wages, . . 8,774 65

Invested funds, market value
Total surplus,

15,622 89

$28,517 49
4,694 08

. $33,211 57
ALBERT WOOD, Treasurer.

Worcester Lunatic Hospital,
Oct. 1, 1874.

LUNATIC HOSPITAL AT WORCESTER. [Oct.

New Hospital Account.

The total amount expended on account of the
New Hospital Buildings and Grounds at the
close of the hospital fiscal year, Sept. 30,
1873. (corrected from report of 1873), was $138,403 01

The expenditures during the fiscal year ending

Sept. 30, 1874, was . . . . . 194,828 91

Total, ....

•

$333,231 92

This expenditure is classified for

convenience, as follows : —

Land, .....

$112,247

71

Erecting barns and repairs on cot-

,

tages, . ....

18,873

74

Grading, excavating, etc., .

44,113

84

Laying out and selling old land,

including building streets,

3,238

29

Foundations, ....

13,509

32

Superstructure of stone and brick,

94,110

82

Carpenter work of superstruc-

ture, including roofing, .

26,099

25

Water-pipe, drainage, etc.,

7,502

93

Heating and ventilating,

1,436

11

Engineers, architects, overseers,

etc., .....

6,784

33

Roads and grading pertaining

thereto, ....

3,819

04

Miscellaneous, ....

1,496

54

$333,231 92

The amount charged to " laying out and selling old land,
including building streets," is not properly a part of the cost
of the New Hospital, but it appears in the account from the
following reasons :-r—

In accordance with an Act of the legislature, the governor
and council ordered that $25,000 be credited to the fund for

1874.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT— No. 23. 11

constructing the New Hospital, as compensation for the site
occupied by the Normal School, which amount was to include
the construction of " suitable streets to and around the said
land." The $25,000 having all been credited to this fund, the
expense of laying out and constructing streets must obviously
be charged %to the same fund, leaving a balance of $21,761.71
to be applied to the erection of the new buildings.

The amount realized for sales of lands and in-
terest to Sept. 30, 1873, as by statement of
the Treasurer of the Commonwealth, was . $58,488 56

Amount added from sales and interest during

year ending Sept. 30, 1874, . . . 4,408 82

Amount realized on sales made in September,
but not passed into the Treasurer's hands
during that month, ' 5,000 00

Total sales, $67,897 38

A note of twenty-five hundred dollars, given by the Trus-
tees to Sarah Phillips for land purchased of John Bartlett, is
still outstanding, owing to a temporary legal disability on the
part of the holder to receive the payment.

12 LUNATIC HOSPITAL AT WORCESTER. [Oct.

SUPEBISTTENDESTT'S BEPORT.

To the Board of Trustees of the Worcester Lunatic Hospital :

Gentlemen: — The Forty-Second Annual Report of the
operations and condition of the hospital is herewith respect-
fully submitted.

The principal numerical statistics of the year are grouped
in the following tables : —

Table No. 1. — Showing the general results during the year

Males.

Females.

Totals.

Patients in the hospital Oct. 1, 1873,

208

261

469

Admitted during the year,

202

198

400

Whole number under treatment, .

410

459

869

Discharged recovered, .

42

29

71

improved, .

67

70

137

not improved,

51

50

101

Died, ......

37

38

75

Whole number discharged, .

197

187

384

Remaining Sept. 30, 1874,

213

272

485

Largest number on any day, Aug. 1, 1874, .

223

276

499

Smallest number on any day, Nov. 5, 1873, .

203

250^1

453

12, 1873, .

208

245 J

Daily average number during the year,

212.5

263.6

476.1

of state patients,

26.7

36.1

62.8

of town patients,

114.5

130.7

245.2

of private patients, .

71.3

96.8

168.1

1874.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT— No. 23. 13

The number of patients in the house at the beginning of the
year was thirty more than at the beginning of the previous
year.

The admissions during the year were seven less, and the
discharges, including deaths, seven more, than during the
previous year, leaving, at the close, an increase of sixteen.

Four patients, originally admitted upon private bond, were
discharged, on the records of the hospital, to be committed by
the judge of probate, in order that their expenses could be
collected either from the State or the towns legally liable for
their support, the bonds proving worthless.

The number of patients actually received at the hospital
was, therefore, three hundred and ninety-six. Fourteen per-
sons were received, each twice, and one person thrice, during
the year; therefore, the number of persons received during
the year was three hundred and eighty.

AH applications for admission from without the State have
been refused.

The number discharged as recovered, is a smaller per cent,
of the whole number discharged than has usually been reported
from the institution. A large number of patients have been
transferred to other state institutions, or discharged to the
care of their friends or to town authorities, who could only
be classed as improved or unimproved. Of the improved,
many, doubtless, might, by a sufficient stretch of the imagina-
tion, have been classed as recovered. To me, however, it
seems proper to class as recovered only those who appear to
have been restored to their own normal condition.

Many of those discharged improved, seemed on a fair road
to recovery, and, in some cases, it is known that the recovery
was completed after the patient left the hospital. The degree
of success of an institution for the insane is not to be measured
by the tabulated recoveries alone, but it should receive credit
for the benefits that accrue to many a benighted mind that
cannot sustain itself among the troubles and trials incident to
ordinary life, as well as for the safety its custodial function
insures to society.

14 LUNATIC HOSPITAL AT WOECESTEE. [Oct.

Table No. 2. — Showing the complications in the cases admitted
during the year.

Epileptic,

Epileptic and homicidal,
Epileptic and suicidal,
Paralytic, .
Paralytic and homicidal,
Paralytic, homicidal and suicidal,

Suicidal,

Homicidal, .....
Suicidal and homicidal,
Total number of cases epileptic,
Total number of cases paralytic,
Total number of cases suicidal, .
Total number of cases homicidal,

1874.]

PUBLIC DOCUMENT— No.. 23.

Table No. 3. — Showing the relations of the patients admitted to
institutions of this kind.

Males.

Females.

Totals.

Never before in any hospital,

121

147

268

Former inmates of this hospital, .

52

35

87

of other hospitals in this
State, ....

10

4

14

of hospitals in other States,

5

3

8

of this hospital and of other
hospitals in this State,

7

6

13

of this hospital and of hos-
pitals in other States,

1

2

3

of other hospitals in this
State and hospitals in other
States, ....

3

.

3

of this hospital, of other hos-
pitals in this State, and of
hospitals in other States, .

1

_

1

of hospitals of other coun-
tries,

2

1

3

Totals,

202

198

400

16 LUNATIC HOSPITAL AT WORCESTER. [Oct.

Table No. 4. — ,

le sources from which the patients ad-
mitted were directly drawn.

Males.

Females.

Total.

From the general population,

187

188

375

McLean Asylum for Insane,

4

2

6

Houses of Correction, . . . « .

6

4

10

State Prison,

2

-

2

State Almshouse, Tewksbury, .

2

1

3

Readmitted without discharge from hospital,

1

3

4

Totals,

202

198

400

Table No. 5. — Showing by whom the patients, remaining at the
end of the year, are supported.

By the State (state patients),

Towns (town patients) , .
Friends (private patients),
Total

82
244
159

485

1874.]

PUBLIC DOCUMENT— No. 23.

17

Table No. 6. — Showing the alleged Causes of Insanity in the num-
ber of cases admitted during the year.

Number op Cases.

Number Predisposed.

CAUSES.

Males.

Females.

Males.

Females.

Depression,

2

-

1

-

Domestic Trouble, .

3

11

-

3

Debility, . . . .

1

1

1

-

Diabetes,

1

"

1

-

Disappointed affection,

1

1

"

-

Disease of brain, .

2

1

-

1

Epilepsy,

10

3

4

1

Excessive lactation,

-

2

-

1

Excessive venery, .

' •

1

-

-

-

Embolism,

-

1

-

-

Fever,

4

1

2

-

Fright, . . .

-

1

-

1

Grief, .

-

5

-

1

General paralysis, .

3

1

1

-

Hard study, .

2

1

-

-

Hereditary,

15

23

15

23

Intemperance,

28

9

14

3

Injury to head,

5

-

1

-

111 health,

2

12

-

5

Masturbation, .

10

-

7

-

Neurasthenia, .

-

4

-

-

Old age, .

3

1

-

-

Overwork,

7

3

3

1

Periodical,

11

13

11

13

Paralysis,

3

1

1

1

18 LUNATIC HOSPITAL AT WORCESTER. [Oct.

Table No. 6. — Concluc

Number

of Cases.

Number Predisposed.

CAUSES.

Males.

Females.

Males.

Females.

Puerperal,

-

8

-

4

Pecuniary trouble, .

10

-

4

"

Religious excitement,

8

9

3

4

Spiritualism, .

1

1

1

-

Sunstroke,

6

1

-

-

Syphilis, . .

-

1

-

-

Turn of life, .

-

9

-

6

Uterine disease,

-

5

-

2

Use of tobacco,

2

-

2

-'

Unascertained,

61

69

-

-

Totals, .

202

198

92

70

Table No. 7. — Showing the Ages of Patients Admitted, Discharged
Recovered, not Recovered, and Died during the Tear.

ages;

Admitted.

Discharged Re-
covered.

Discharged not
Recovered.

Died.

Males.

Females.

Males.

Females.

Males.

Females.

Males.

Females.

Less than 15,

1

1

2

From 15 to 20,

7

5

-

_

4

3

1

1

20 to 30,

40

42

6

4

31

27

2

5

30 to 40,

61

53

13

7

38

32

10

6

40 to 50,

42

51

13

9

19

28

A.

9

50 to 60,

19

25

6

6

10

18

7

8

60 to 70,

15

16

3

2

5

9

8

4

70 to 80,

10

3

-

1

5

3

4

4

80 to 90,

o

2

-

-

1

2

1

1

Unknown,

4

1

-

-

1

-

-

-

Total, .

202

198

42

29

116

122

37

38

1874.]

PUBLIC DOCUMENT— No. 23.

19

Table No. 8. — Showing the duration of Insanity before Admission
of Patients Admitted, Discharged Recovered, not Recovered, and
Died during the Year.

Discharged Re-

Discharged not

covered.

Reco1

fERED.

DURATION OF INSANITY.

S

|

1

1

"3

■a

1

1

"3

a

Insane one year or less,

70

95

31

21

28

37

6

17

More than 1 year and

less than 2 years,

29

24

2

5

15

18

4

4

More than 2 years and

less than 5 years,

28

29

1

2

20

24

9

8

More than 5 years and

less than 10 years, .

24

19

-

-

20

21

7

2

More than 10 years and

less than 15 years, .

9

6

4

-

10

9

4

3

More than 15 years and

less than 20 years, .

6

4

1

-

6

3

1

2

More than 20 years and

less than 25 years, .

4

6

-

1

3

3

-

-

More than 25 years and

less than 30 years, .

3

4

-

-

-

-

1

2

Thirty years or more, .

5

-

-

-

3

2

5

-

Unknown, .

24
202

11

198

3

-

13

3

-

-

Total, .

42

21

118

120

37

38

20

LUNATIC HOSPITAL AT WORCESTER. [Oct.

Six cases in the foregoiug table are reported as recovered
after being insane five years or more. These were all period-
ical cases and are to be considered as having recovered from
the attack for. which they were sent to the hospital. On the
papers by which they were admitted, the duration was
reckoned from the beginning of the first attack. With these
exceptions, all the recoveries occurred within two years of
the beginning of the insanity.

This is a strong argument in favor of the early treatment
of the disease ; but we must not shut our eyes to the fact,
that a large proportion of cases of insanity are incurable from
the first. Nevertheless, as it cannot always, at the outset,
be determined to which division a given case belongs, all in
which there is even a chance for the benefit of a doubt, should
be early subjected to proper treatment.

Table No. 9. — Showing the Civil Condition of Patients Admitted,
Discharged Recovered, not Recovered, and Died during the Year.

CIVIL

Admitted.

Discharged Re-
covered.

Discharged not
Recovered.

Died.

CONDITION.

Males.

Females.

Males.

Females.

Males.

Females.

Males.

Females.

Unmarried, .
Married,
Widowers, .
Widows,
Unknown,

92

94

9

7

74
84

39
1

16
23

2

8
13

9

62

49

5

3

56
45

18

16

16

5

10

18

10

Total,

202

198

41

30

119

119

37

38

1874.]

PUBLIC DOCUMENT— No/ 23.

21

Table No. 10. — Showing the Occupation of Patients admitted dur-
ing the Tear.

MALES.

Agent, 1

Machinists, . . . . 8

Artists, .

3

Moulders,

2

Baker,

1

Mechanics,

3

Blacksmith,

1

Mariner, .

1

Broker, .

1

Milkman,

1

Butchers, .

5

Operatives in mills,

13

Book-keepers,

4

Organ-maker, .

1

Clergymen,

3

Painters, .

6

Carpenters,

7

Peddlers, .

^

2

Cabinet-maker

5,

3

Physicians,

2

Cashier, .

1

Printers, .

3

Clerks, .

8

Shoemakers, .

10

Currier, .

1

Stone-cutter, .

1

Coppersmith,

1

Sail-maker,

1

Carver, .

1

Salesmen,

9

Contractor,

1

Stable-keeper, .

1

Detective,

1

Students, .

4

Farmers, .

. 28

Tailors, .

2

Fishermen,

2

Teachers,

2

Grocer, .

1

Watchman,

1

Laborers, .

. 28

No occupation,

18

Liquor dealers

2

Unknown,

6

Merchants,

4

Masons, .

4

Total, .... 202

FEMALES.

Dressmakers, .

3

Seamstresses, .

8

Domestics,

. 47

Teachers, .

3

Housekeepers, .

. 80

No occupation,

. 33

Nurse, ....

1

Unknown,

1

Operatives in mills,

. 21

Student, ....

1

Total,

. 198

22

LUNATIC HOSPITAL AT WORCESTER. [Oct.

Table No. 11. — Showing the Diseases which have proved fatal
during the Year.

DISEASES.

Acute mania, ....
Acute mania with laryngitis, .
Acute melancholia,
Aneurism of aorta,
Apoplexy, ....
Congestion of lungs,
Diabetes,

Delirium tremens, .
Epilepsy, . . . .

Erysipelas, ....
Embolism from erysipelas, .
Exhaustion of chronic insanity,
Exhaustion of chronic insanity w

tery,

Gastritis,

General paralysis, .
Heart disease,
Ovarian tumor,
Paralysis, ....
Pneumonia, ....
Phthisis, .....
Senile bronchitis, .
Self-inflicted injury,
Softening of brain, .
Tubercular peritonitis, .

ith dysen

Total,

37

38

75

The number of deaths exceeds the number in any previous
year, and is a larger per cent, of the average population.
This large mortality is not due to the prevalence of any ep-
idemic, nor can it be attributed to defects in the general san-
itary condition of the hospital. It is principally owing to the
hopelessly diseased condition of many of the patients on
admission.

Forty-six of those who died were admitted either within the
year or near the close of the preceding year. Of these there
were not more than ten, of whom there was, at the time of
their admission, any reason to hope that they would survive
more than a few days or weeks, and several ought not to
have been brought to the hospital. One was moribund when
admitted, and died the next day, and in all, twenty-three

1874.]

"PUBLIC DOCUMENT— No. 23.

23

died within twenty days after their admission. Five of the
number were old residents, having been in the institution
from fifteen to thirty-one years.

Twelve deaths are ascribed to the exhaustion of chronic
insanity, and three, to the same cause, with dysentery, no
attempt having been made to classify their insanity under
special heads.

The case of gastritis was the result of corrosive poison
taken with suicidal intent before admission.

Table No. 1 2. — Showing the Admissions from each County during
the Tear.

COUNTIES.

Males.

Females.

Total.

Bristol, .

1

-

1

Berkshire,

1

-

1

Essex,

30

30

60

Hampden,

1

1

2

Middlesex,

85

67

152

Norfolk, .
Plymouth,

4

4
2

8
2

Suffolk, .
Worcester,

18
62

23
71

41
133

Totals,

202

198

400

24 LUNATIC HOSPITAL AT WORCESTER. [Oct.

Table No. 13. — Shoiving the Whole Number of Patients during
each year, the Average Number, the Number at the end of each
year, the Expense of each year, the Annual Expense for each
Patient, and the Expense of each Patient per week for each of
the Forty-two, Years the Hospital has been in operation.

1833,

153

107

114

|12,272 91

|114 67

$2 25

1834,

233

117

118

15,840 97

136 38

2 60

1835,

241

120

119

16,576 44

137 30

2 64

1836,

245

127

138

21,395 28

168 44

3 12

1837,

306

163

185

26,027 07

159 64

3 07

1838,

362

211

218

28,739 40

136 20

2 62

1839,

397

223

229

29,474 41

132 16

2 53

1840,

391

229

236

27,844 98

121 59

2 32

1841,

399

233

232

28,847 62

123 81

2 38

1842,

430

238

238

29.546 87

111 12

2 13

1843,

458

244

255

27,914 12

114 40

2 20

1844,

491

261

263

29,278 75

112 17

2 15

1845,

656

316

360

43,888 65

138 88

2 66

1846,

637

359

367

39,870 37

111 06

2 13

1847,

607

377

394

39,440 47

104 62

2 01

1848,

655

404

409

42,860 05

106 09

2 05

1849,

682

420

429

40,870 86

97 31

1 87

1850,

670

440

441

46,776 13

106 40

2 04

1851,

704

462

466

52,485 33

112 61

2 16

1852,

775

515

532

43,878 35

85 20

1 62

1853,

820

537

520

53,606 66

103 14

1 98

1854,

819

430

381

53,221 52

123 77

2 38

1855,

580

349

336

54,895 88

157 29

3 02

1856,

577

357

376

45,631 37

128 64

2 47

1857,

647

387

372

49,004 75

124 04

2 38

1858,

679

372

301

38,267 26

102 86

2 39

1859,

501

309

317

48,363 33

156 51

3 01

1860, ■

532

324

331

47,757 01

147 39

2 83

1861,

583

369

379

54,748 53

148 37

2 84

1862,

600

401

396

53,043 88

132 18

2 50

1863,

611

398

399

66,082 36

166 03

3 19

1864,

625

366

344

66,612 00

182 00

3 50

1865,

565

350

343

73,772 41

211 37

4 06

1866,

630

368

381

88,398 73

239 28

4 60

1867,

669

389

355

86,930 88

223 47

4 30

1868,

651

370

382

72,054 59

197 60

3 80

1869,

719

387

376

81,440 58

209 04

4 02

1870,

760

396

408

75,715 51

191 20

3 68

1871,

879

439

421

96,455 69

219 27

4 22

1872,

864

450

439

92,533 93

205 63

3 95

1873,

846

453

469

95,196 83

210 14

4 04

1874,

869

476

485

101,463 68

213 16

4 10

1874.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT— No. 23. 25

The expense per week for each patient, as shown in the
foregoing table, is not materially higher than it was during
the previous year, although some substantial improvements
in the general diet of the house have been made. In fact, if,
from the "total current expenses," there be subtracted the
excess of value of general supplies now on hand over the
amount on hand one year ago, it would be shown that the ex-
pense per week per patient was really a trifle less than last
year.

Your attention. is again respectfully called to the fact that
additional legislation is needed to enable you to satisfactorily
complete the building already begun.

The last legislature passed an Act (Acts of 1874, ch. 370),
as follows : —

Be it enacted &c, as follows:

Sect. 1. The commissioners having in charge the construction
of the state prison at Concord shall make provision- therein for
insane criminals.

Sect. 2. The "commissioners having in charge the construction
of the lunatic asylums at Worcester and at Danvers shall make
provision therein for the safe custody and treatment of the homicidal
insane not included in the first section of this act.

Sect. 3 This act shall take effect upon its passage. [Approved
26, 1874.

\

\

This Act settles the question so long and so urgently brought
before successive committees on public charitable institutions,
as to what shall be done with the insane criminals or, properly,
insane convicts, for which we should be truly thankful. It
throws upon your institution the burden of making especial
provision for the homicidal insane. That portion of the orig-
inal plan for the construction of which provision is yet to be
made, is that in which the class of homicidal insane would
naturally be placed. In working out the original plan, suit-
able accommodations for this class can be provided.

With the progress of the new building you yourselves are
sufficiently familiar. For the benefit of the general reader,
however, it may be well to submit a brief statement.

Since the last report was made, the minutiae of the details of

4

26 LUNATIC HOSPITAL AT WORCESTER, [Oct.

the structure have been perfected, contracts made, and one
wing, that is, the wards for one sex, will be under roof this
fall.

The main body of the work is of stone from the hospital
quarry, the plinth, water-table, sills and caps, corbels, angle
quoins etc., of New Hampshire granite ; the whole relieved by
the use of brick about the doors, windows, gables, and cor-
nices. This gives warmth and tone to the design, and will, it
is thought, when finished, have a very pleasing effect.

The main work of grading is finished. Considerable ex-
cavating to bring the surface to proper slopes and levels
around the building, still remains to be done. As the work
progresses, and the original design of this portion of the plan
nears completion, its success begins to be apparent to the eye,
although only the coarser work has yet been attempted.

During last fall and winter, a substantial, well drained
stone and gravel road was built from Shrewsbury Street to
near the new building. This will be the principal avenue of
approach "when the building is occupied, and will require,
before it is finally finished, some additional work, such as
gutters, grading at sides, etc.

An eight-inch water-main has been laid to the building from
Bell Pond, and the hospital has the prospect of an abundant
supply of good water.

The farm and garden have yielded bountifully of their
respective products. One of the most valuable products of
the farm is milk. In a family so large as ours, with so many
aged persons and invalids, milk becomes a very important
commodity. No attempt has been made to keep an exact
account of the number of gallons, but the supply has been
kept well up to the demand. All the usual farm and garden
vegetables have been supplied in liberal quantities.

Our thanks are again due to those who have in different ways
contributed to the happiness and well-being of our inmates, to
those who have aided in the social and religious gatherings of
our large family, as well as to those whose fidelity and. effi-
ciency have rendered their services valuable.

In conclusion, gentlemen, allow me to congratulate you that
so large a measure of success has attended the administration

1874.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT— No. 23. 27

of the hospital affairs, and to express the hope that the year
upon which we have just entered, may even more abundantly
fulfil our mutual aspirations.

B. D. EASTMAN,
• Superintendent.

Worcester, October 14, 1874.

m*^*****