ASYLUM FOR THE INSANE. Messrs. Jefferson Raynolds, president, and Marcus Brunswick, secretary and treasurer, of the board of directors New Mexico Asylum for the Insane, located at Las Vegas, report on that institution as follows for the year ending June 1, 1902: The percentage of recoveries based on admissions for the period was about 31 per cent, and about 3.9 per cent of deaths on the total number treated. Of the total number, 111 patients, remaining in the asylum May 31, 1902, 65 were males and 46 were females; of this number over 90 per cent may be classed as incurables. From a recovery percentage of 16 the medical superintendent has been able to raise it to almost 45 per cent. The steward has kept the average cost of food supplies for each patient to less than 5 cents per meal. The patients are well fed on the best of good substantial food, and the total daily expense for the care and maintenance of each patient averages less than 55 cents. The matron's report for the last six months of last year shows 1,042 articles of wearing apparel made and 5,970 pieces mended in the sewing room. The management believes it beneficial to the patients, alike in body and mind, that they should to a limited extent be engaged in labor, the amount performed and the time devoted to it depending entirely upon the condition and the desire of the patient. They are not compelled to work and are not permitted to do so to the extent of fatigue or when not in proper physical condition. The patients look upon work as a privilege. They enjoy it and are happier when assigned to any duty. Over 65 per cent of the patients do something toward their own maintenance. In four years the work of the men has been something like $11,500, not counting their converting a barren hillside into one of the beauty spots of the Territory. The patients are at present employed in constructing a lake for the better irrigation of the 85-acre farm purchased last year. This lake will be 156 feet long by 100 feet wide and 8 feet deep. The total value of the property is about $100,000. We wish to speak of the needs of the institution: A building having a capacity of not less than 100 patients opened to-day would be filled in a few months, the best informed fully agreeing that this number is scattered throughout the different counties of the Territory, the greater number being confined in the jails in truly pitiable condition. This increase would necessitate two new dining rooms, a new heating plant, the present one being equal only to its present use. A laundry is imperative, as hand washing has already reached its limit. The need of a separate building for the female patients is becoming more pressing as the institution enlarges. When the south wing was completed in 1898, the quota for each county was doubled, and while it contained 82 rooms for the patients and attendants, besides six dormitories and the necessary bath and toilet rooms, it was almost instantly filled by the large number then confined in the jails. No one can spend a day in contemplation of the patients now in our institution, comparing their surroundings with their previous condition and the present condition of many of these unfortunate ones confined in the damp, dark cells of county jails with no ventilation, filthy and eaten by vermin, and not feel how much more could and should be done. We are informed by our medical superintendent that there are many cases now confined in the jails which are acute. By transferring these patients to the asylum with proper treatment and care they could perhaps be cured, and many of them discharged; otherwise they become chronic cases and permanent charges on the Territory. This institution stands on a basis occupied by no other in the Territory. It should not be made a refuge for the chronic and incurable cases only, placing them where they enjoy good clothing, fresh air and sunshine, abundant food, and the care their demented condition demands-a tax upon the Territory as long as they live-but it has a higher purpose, viz: To take the recent or acute cases, treat them scientifically, and restore many of them to sanity. Only a small number of acute cases have been admitted, for the capacity of the institution has been taxed with those that have become chronic waiting in the jails until there was a vacancy by death in the quota of the county where they belong. The failure of the passage by Congress of the bill authorizing us to sell our public lands or issue bonds secured by the same has defeated our plans for the welfare of the public and the care of the insane people of the Territory. Our estimate is that on the present levy we will not be able to erect the necessary buildings to accommodate the 100 additional patients now confined in the county jails throughout the Territory. We believe that funds should be provided for this purpose. This is a crying necessity, and $100,000 judiciously expended would accommodate all the insane people in the Territory. Inasmuch as the whole Territory would be greatly benefitted by the proper disposition of the insane people, we believe they would be willing to have an appropriation made for this purpose; but we are not willing to recommend it unless the other institutions throughout the Territory consent to an appropriation without asking for a like appropriation for each institution in the Territory. No worse policy can be pursued than by making incurables by delay in making appropriations for this most humane project. THE PUBLIC HOSPITALS. The humane disposition of the people of New Mexico is at once indicated by the fostering care and attention given to all sick, crippled, and other unfortunates. A very large per cent of the patients admitted to the public hospitals of the Territory are "strangers within our gates," as it is a matter of personal pride among our citizens to care and provide individually each for the afflicted among their own friends or neighbors, and they very seldom resort to the hospitals for aid. No distinction as to race, color, creed, or sect is ever made in the admission of patients to these hospitals. Aside from the many railroad, coal camp, and private hospitals, there are seven institutions of the kind conveniently located at various points throughout New Mexico which are maintained entirely or in part by the Territorial treasury. Reports on these are appended: LADIES' HOSPITAL. June 30, 1901. Aug. 14, 1901. Dec. 21, 1901. DEMING, N. MEX., June 30, 1902. SIR: In compliance with your request I take pleasure in submitting the following report of the Ladies' Hospital at Deming: Financial statement: Balance on hand Received from Territorial auditor, warrant No. $290. 74 $75.98 192.57 Jan. 22, 1902. Received from Territorial auditor, warrant No. 404. 41 June 6, 1902. Received from Territorial auditor, warrant No. Total amount received from Territory June 24, 1902. Received from pay patients during past year Paid out from June 30, 1901, to June 30, 1902, as per 117 vouchers on hospital treasurer, numbered from 280 to 397, signed by secretary and president 1, 119.27 632.70 1,827.95 1,557.35 We have labored under great disadvantages in the past owing to insufficient funds and a very poor hospital building, but we feel that even under adverse circumstances we have done a great deal of good in ministering to the wants of the afflicted. We are better situated now, having rented a much better building. We are hoping to be able to build our own hospital building, and are working with that end in view. The following is a statement of building fund now on hand: CONDITION OF BUILDING FUND. June 30, 1901. Amount contributed from citizens of Deming to date SIR: In response to your call for a report of the operations of the Eddy County Hospital Association, at Carlsbad, N. Mex., for the past year, the following report is submitted, viz: Paid on hospital building December, 1901. Expended in care of patients in hospital. Paid on hospital building February, 1902. Expended in care of patients in hospital. 1902. Expended in care of patients in hospital. 1902. Expended in care of patients in hospital. 1902. Expended in care of patients in hospital. 1902. Expended in care of patients in hospital. March, April, May, June, Grand total of all moneys expended during year $63.85 100.00 67.50 59.55 112.55 100.00 113.80 80.00 218.70 83.20 120.65 117.45 62.40 138.62 1, 438. 27 |