recognized as among the most attractive of the Government reservations within the District limits. It becomes necessary, in order to relieve the present serious overcrowding, to provide additional accommodations during the coming year for not less than 100 patients. This is in addition to the buildings now being erected for epileptic male insane. With those buildings completed the comfortable accommodations will not exceed 1,550, while the number of inmates remaining June 30, 1894, was 1,681. Plain but convenient and comfortable buildings for patients able to labor can be built for $250 per capita, and the sum of $25,000 is asked for such provision. The cabinet and machine shop now entering on its fortieth year is no longer in a condition to be used with safety, and must be rebuilt on a secure site. On account of the unsafe condition of the walls of the old shop it has been necessary to take the building erected for the employment of the patients, for the carpenter and cabinet work that is a daily necessity of the hospital, even though the patients are thereby deprived of their occupation. As it was not possible to move the pipe machine and lathes, the walls have been shored up and the pipe and iron work is still carried on in this crumbling structure. This ought not to be so. The sum of $7,000 is asked to rebuild on an enlarged plan, suited to present needs. The relief building provides for 250 patients and has no iron stairs. The water-closets now in the wards of this building should be removed to a sanitary tower constructed with fireproof iron stairways, opening from the wards, affording a means of ordinary egress and a ready fire escape for the inmates. The same arrangement of closets and fire escape is required for the Dawes Building. It is estimated that the proper changes, including fire escapes, can be made for $6,000. The sum of $1,500 is asked for a laboratory extension to the pathological department. This is essential to the pathological work that has been carried on at the hospital with such satisfactory results for the past eight years. The value of the work to the student of the pathology of insanity is out of all proportion to the relatively small sum that is asked in the interest of intelligent scientific research. Special attention is called to the very valuable pathological supplement accompanying this report. Our acknowledgments are due to many friends who have kindly aided us in our evening entertainments with dramatic and concert presentations. Mr. Copeland has again furnished tasteful and appropriate decoration for our large assembly hall for Easter Monday. The American Sunday School Union, of Philadelphia, has from week to week sent us a liberal package of their illustrated publications, which have been appreciated by our inmates. Mrs. A. J. Rowland, before leaving us, presented the wards with a number of very appropriate framed pictures as a pleasant reminder of her continued interest in St. Elizabeth and its inmates. Our best wishes go with her. Another member of the board has given useful and attractive scrapbooks of cuts and engravings for the tables of our ward parlors. To Chief Engineer George W. Baird, U. S. Navy, we are especially indebted for a careful study of our buildings with plan and specification for an electric-light plant, which we hope may shortly be put to use and prove a useful guide for the contemplated work. During the past year the hospital has provided for well-nigh 2,000 insane. We think the general service was never more efficient or the work better done than to-day. There have been no changes in the medical staff, and but few in the subordinate officers. As year by year the hospital grows toward completeness in its buildings and its appointments, the wisdom of the liberal provision here made for these afflicted wards of the nation becomes apparent, the institution itself reflecting credit on the Government that founded and maintains it. Commending its varied interests and important work to Congress, that has never failed to make provision for its needs, We are, sir, very respectfully, Hon. HOKE SMITH, Secretary of the Interior. J. M. TONER, GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE, SIR: In accordance with the act of Congress, approved June 4, 1880, requiring the Superintendent of the Government Hospital for the Insane to make a report to Congress annually of the detailed expenditures of the hospital for the preceding fiscal year, I have the honor to submit the following statement. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Superintendent. Classified expenditures, Government Hospital for the Insane, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893 (supplementary). |