EASTERN HOSPITAL FOR INSANE.

SAMUEL E. SMITH, SUPERINTENDENT.

This hospital, called "Easthaven," is located near Richmond. It is established on the cottage plan.

The district from which the patients come is composed of the counties of Allen, Adams, Wells, Grant, Blackford, Jay, Randolph, Delaware, Madison, Henry, Wayne, Union, Fayette, Rush, Decatur, Franklin. The population of the district is 520,879, and the number of insane in the district is 720.

POPULATION.

The table of the population of the institution is shown below:

The highest number enrolled during the period was 621; the low

est 545.

The daily average number present during the fiscal year ending October 31, 1899, was 257.8 men, 273.8 women, total 531.6; enrolled, 268.1 men, 284.5 women, total 552.6. During the fiscal year ending October 31, 1900, the daily average number present was 291.2 men, 279.1 women, total 570.3; enrolled, 296.7 men, 288.9 women, total 585.6.

The capacity of the institution when the two new buildings are ready for occupancy will be 670. Number insane in the district, 720. In the hospital, 601. In county asylums, 67. In jail, 4. At large, 48.

The following appropriations are recommended by the Medical Superintendent for the biennial period ending October 31, 1903: 1. For maintenance, $90,000 annually and $165 per annum for all patients in excess of 520. It is claimed that the cost per capita in an institution maintained on the cottage plan is higher than in the other institutions. It is shown that the per capita cost for the year ending Ocober 31, 1900, was $170.43.

2. The repair fund asked for is $10,000 annually, an increase of $2,500 per year over the repair fund of 1900, and of $5,000 per year over the repair fund of 1899. The Superintendent says: "As the property grows older deterioration is more rapid, and the addition of new buildings increases the demands upon this fund, and there is always demand for minor improvements which can not be anticipated. There is now in sight the necessity of renewing a part of the laundry machinery and increasing its capacity, enlarging the bakery and extending the bathing facilities of at least two cottages. The increase of this fund to about $10,000 I regard as one of the most urgent needs of the institution."

3. Two cottages, one to accommodate not less than fifty patients in the department for men, to increase the capacity of this department, and one to accommodate not less than fifty patients in the department for women, to improve the classification and increase. the capacity of this department. The cost of these two cottages is estimated at $62,000.

4. A farm of 300 acres, estimated to cost $24,000. On this question the superintendent says: "The quiet chronic cases, the cases of periodical insanity and a proportion of the convalescents may be transferred, some temporarily and others permanently, to this farm and domiciled in plain, substantial, yet inexpensive buildings, and at the same time continue under the executive and medical direction of the existing official staff. Occupation of a simple and healthful character could there be offered the active insane individual, where now it is quite impossible to keep him employed."

5. Additional Offices. The Superintendent recommends an addition to the administration building for the purpose of providing more office room. Plans are submitted and the cost estimated at

$7,000.

6. Enlargement and Equipment of Boiler House. The purpose for which this appropriation is asked is to extend the boiler house and coal bins so that a larger amount of coal may be stored at a time, thereby saving expense; to increase the capacity of the steam plant by the addition of one 150 H. P. boiler, and to enlarge the electric light plant. The estimated cost is $8,000.

7. Sewage Disposal.-It is stated in connection with this request that the State Board of Health has condemned the present system and that the neighbors frequently complain about it. The remedy suggested is the construction of filtration beds, at a cost of about $15,000.

8. Six stokers for boilers, $3,900.

The committee, after carefully considering all of the requests of this institution, finds that the average daily number of patients present during the year ending October 31, 1900, was 571, that the total amount received for maintenance was $98,314, making a per capita cost of $172.17. The statistics gathered by the Board of State Charities show that the average per capita cost of maintenance, exclusive of repairs, in the four hospitals for insane is $162.48. The committee believes that it would be fair to base the appropriation for maintenance in this institution upon a per capita

cost of $165. At this rate, on the basis of an average daily attendance of 600, the cost of maintenance would approximate $98,000. The committee recommends an appropriation for maintenance therefor of $98,000, and $160 per capita additional for each patient in excess of an average daily attendance of 600, and an appropria-tion for repairs of $4,000.

Since the capacity of this institution is 670 and the average daily attendance for the past year was 571, and the new cottages recently opened are being rapidly filled with patients who have for some time been on the waiting list, and there is now a surplus capacity for only about fifty more patients, the committee believes that this institution will require another building for its needs before another session of the Legislature, and therefore recommends an appropriation of $31,000 for this purpose, to be available April 1, 1902.

The committee would not recommend the purchase of the farm asked for nor an appropriation for the additional offices. The question of sewage disposal is one which will require solution before many years, but the committee does not feel that it is of sufficient importance at this time to warrant an appropriation for this purpose. The committee believes that the extension to the boiler house and the additional equipment for the same, increasing the capacity of the electric light plant and storage room for fuel, would result in a saving to the State, and therefore recommends an appropriation for these purposes of $8,000. The committee recommends for six stokers for boilers $3,900, and for cement floors in basement $3,500.