Fifth annual report of the Trustees of the State Lunatic Hospital, at Northampton : October, 1860.

  • State Lunatic Hospital (Northampton, Mass.)
Date:
1860
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Fifth annual report of the Trustees of the State Lunatic Hospital, at Northampton : October, 1860. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    easy mode of reducing the current expenses would be to diminish the quality or supply of food. It is not, however, to be endured that any imposition, or any parsimony in this respect should be practiced upon the helpless patients com¬ mitted here for treatment, and we are happy in believing that, with reference to their ultimate restoration, and consequent discharge from the condition of pauperism, strict economy as well as humanity is promoted by a somewhat substantial regimen, and a sufficient supply of the other means of health. We have caused a diet table to be made out and appended to the Superintendent’s report. The extensive halls and the high rooms in this hospital, of themselves imply a large expense for heating, and this expense is of course increased by the present system of thorough venti¬ lation. We estimate the cost of fuel for the past year at seven thousand nine hundred and four dollars and seventy-nine cents, and perhaps a reduction from this sum cannot be expected in future. We have also paid careful attention to the other leading subjects of expense, for the purpose of satisfying ourselves in detail, as far as possible, as to the economical management of the institution, and our examinations have served to confirm the favorable opinions entertained by our predecessors of the administrative ability of the Superintendent. During the coming year some increase in the products of the farm may reasonably be looked for, and if the number of patients shall continue as great as at present, it will diminish the average amount of some important items of expense. Still it can hardly be hoped that, for several years to come, the institution will be able, out of its own resources, to supply several important and pressing needs. Time enough lias not yet elapsed for all its various operations to have become thoroughly systematized by experience, and, from the arrange¬ ment of the halls and the number of attendants thereby required, as well as for other reasons which have been already adverted to, the expense per head must be somewhat greater here, under any management, than at the comparatively crowded hospitals at Worcester and Taunton. It is our duty to suggest such measures as seem to be demanded by a proper regard for the improvement of the Commonwealth’s property, and for the furtherance of the purposes of the hospital.
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