threatened the destruction of the South Hospital. This fire originated in one of the small rooms used for drying blankets and bedding, and communicated with the attic. Since then, all these rooms, as well as the dust flues and elevator shafts, have been inspected, and all wood work eliminated except the doors, and these have been covered with tin. Great credit is due the officers and employees of the Hospital who compose the fire brigade, for their coolness and efficient. work in limiting what might easily have been a disastrous conflagration, to a small area and nominal damage. We believe that all of the buildings should be thoroughly equipped with what is known as the Automatic Sprinkler System, but as it would require a very large outlay we are not able to consider it in the present condition of our finances. The terms of the following members of the Board of Trustees will expire July 1, 1903: William Bissell, M. D., James G. Gregory, M. D., Hart D. Munson, Henry Woodward, Samuel Russell, and E. I. Bell. Dr. W. D. Morgan having resigned from the Board, his place also, will undoubtedly have to be filled. GEORGE P. MCLEAN, WILBUR B. FOSTER, HENRY WOODWARD, WILLIAM BISSELL, M. D., JAMES G. GREGORY, M. D., HART D. MUNSON, ELIJAH K. HUBBARD, FRANK B. WEEKS, SAMUEL RUSSELL, E. IRVING BELL. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT. To the Board of Trustees: GENTLEMEN:-In accordance with the by-laws of the Connecticut Hospital for Insane, I submit for your consideration a report of its operations during the biennial period ending with September 30, 1902, to which is added the usual statistical tables. At the close of the preceding period, September 30, 1900, the number of patients present in the Hospital was 2,078, of whom 976 were males and 1,102 were females. The close of the present biennial period finds us with a population of 2,259, an increase of 181 during the two years. The annual increase in the Hospital population during the four years just ended has been considerably in excess of what it had been for the preceding decade. For ten or more years prior to 1898 the average annual increase of the inmates of the hospital had been about 76, while for the four years that have elapsed since that date the gain has been 364, an average of 91 for each year. It is by no means essential, in accounting for this gain in population, to presuppose any greater increase of insanity in the State than would legitimately follow from the increase of population. It does, however, indicate a very considerable augmentation in the number of persons committed to the institution for treatment. Of late there has been noted a growing tendency on the part of citizens and town officials to avail themselves of hospital facilities for the treatment, not only of the acutely and violently insane, but likewise of the imbecile, inebriate, hysterical, epileptic, paralytic, and alas too frequently, of the aged and feeble. While this indication of public confidence in the resources of the hospital may be very gratifying, it is nevertheless detrimental to favorable statistics on recoveries. A glance at Table No. VIII. shows that of the 861 patients admitted during the biennial period 92 were from 60 to 70; 49 were from 70 to 80, and 11 were over eighty years of age, or that 152 were past sixty years of age. Table X. shows that, after deducting those in whom the duration of hour of meeting; and shall mention any matters of special importance to be acted upon thereat, so far as they may be known to the officer giving the notice at the time of issuing the same; and any member intending to bring forward any matter of special importance at any regular meeting shall file with the Secretary written notice of such intention, with a written statement of the particular matter to be so brought up, sufficient to clearly indicaté its character and scope, not less than twelve days before such meeting; but nothing contained in this sixth section shall limit the power of the Board to act upon any matter brought before it at a regular meeting. Special Meetings, by Whom and Where Called-Not to be at Private Residence, Except SEC. 7. Special meetings may be called by the President, the Secretary, or any three members of the Board, at the office of the Board, in Hartford, or at any State institution; but they shall not be called at any private residence, except with the written consent of all the members of the Board previously obtained. Notices of Special Meetings, When and How Given-What to Contain. Notices of special meetings shall be given to all members of the Board by mail, postpaid, or by telegram, not less than three days in advance, exclusive of the first and inclusive of the last day; and shall name the day, date, hour, and place of meeting; and shall mention the purpose of calling the same. Limitation of Action At. No matter not included in the purpose of the meeting, as stated in the notice, shall be acted upon thereat, except by the unanimous consent of all members of the Board, both present and absent. Quorum. SEC. 8. Three members of the Board shall constitute a quorum for business at its meetings. Order of Business. The order of business shall be as follows: I. Reading the minutes of the last meeting. 2. Secretary's report of his work since the last regular meeting-at regular meetings only, unless called for. 3. Reports by members of their work since the last regular meeting— at regular meetings only, unless called for; to be reduced to writing, and filed with the Secretary, when required by the vote of the Board. Unfinished business. 4. 5. New business, including, at regular meetings, assignments of members, or officers, to visitations, required by the statutes, or by the Board, during the month. PUBLIC DOCUMENT No. 20 REPORT OF THE CONNECTICUT HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE ΤΟ THE GOVERNOR For the Two Years ended September 30, 1902 PRINTED BY ORDER OF THE LEGISLATURE MIDDLETOWN, CONN. PELTON & KING, PRINTERS AND BOOKBINDERS the disease was unknown, 334, or 43 per cent. of the patients received during the past two years had already been insane from two to thirty years when admitted. Glancing at the forms of disease of those admitted, shown in Table III., we learn that in 118 cases admitted, the phychosis was the direct result of alcoholic excesses, and that 63 cases of general paresis, the prognosis of which was fatal from its very inception, have been received and cared for. During the biennial period 861 patients have been admitted and 680 discharged, leaving a surplus of 181 for whom accommodations have been provided as they have become a part of our permanent population. Of those discharged 136 have recovered, 103 have improved sufficiently to dispense for a time with hospital care and treatment, 130 were discharged in a stationary condition, and 311 have died. Despite the large number of depressed and suicidal persons that have been under treatment, no instance of suicide has occurred during the past two years. Notwithstanding a reference to Table No. X. shows us that the number of acute cases when compared to the whole number of admissions is not large, it is nevertheless from this class that we derive most of our recoveries. In order to give these presumably promising cases every possible chance of recovery it is proposed to set apart one or two wards on both male and female sides of the house for their care and treatment according to modern hospital methods. Every available advantage of which recent scientific investigation and experience has approved and adopted, both in this country and Germany, will be afforded them. The results will, it is hoped, very shortly show whether the claims advanced by modern psychiatry are worthy of general adoption or not. The rest cure, the prolonged bath, electricity, amusement and forced nutrition, are only some of the agencies which it is proposed to employ for the improvement and possible restoration of the cases in question. It is also proposed to resume in the near future the sessions of the Training School for Attendants, in order that the standard of intelligent care and nursing of the insane may be raised. |