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Public Document No. 22 SIXTIETH ANNUAL REPORT THE TRUSTEES Taunton State Hospital, FOR THE Year ending November 30, 1913. BOSTON: WEIGHT & POTTEE PEINTING CO., STATE PEINTEES, 32 DEENE STEEET. 1914. Approved b¥ The State Board op Publication. CONTENTS PAGE Report of Trustees, 7 Report of Superintendent, 10 Report of Pathologist, 19 Report of Treasurer, 22 Valuation, 28 Farm Produce, 30 Statistics, 37 OFFICEKS TAUNTON STATE HOSPITAL. TRUSTEES. HENRY R. STEDMAN, M.D. (Chairman), Brookline. SIMEON BORDEN Fall River. JAMES P. FRANCIS New Bedford. EDWARD LOVERING, Taunton. MARGARET C. SMITH, Taunton. ELIZABETH C. M. GIFFORD (Secretary), Boston. LOYED E. CHAMBERLAIN, Brockton. RESIDENT OFFICERS. ARTHUR V. GOSS, M.D., .... Superintendent. HORACE G. RIPLEY, M.D., . Assistant Superintendent. RAOUL G. PROVOST, M.D., . Assistant Physician. JOHN F. O'BRIEN, M.D., .... Assistant Physician. REGINALD ST. E. MURRAY, M.D., . Assistant Physician. FANNIE C. HAINES, M.D., Assistant Physician. ABRAHAM MYERSON, M.D Clinical Director and Pa- thologist. ARTHUR C. ZUCK, M.D., .... Junior Assistant Physi- cian. LINDA A. J. RICHARDS Superintendent of Nurses, Emeritus. REBECCA G. CAMERON, . Superintendent of Nurses. WILHELMINA S. MARSHALL, Eugenic Field Worker. JAMES C. FLYNN, Engineer. OTIS E. WHITE, . Steward. WILLIAM S. HILTZ, . Farmer. TREASURER. FRANK W. BOYNTON, Taunton. Office at Hospital. ®f}e €0mtnonroealt(] of JttassacfntsettB* TRUSTEES' REPORT. To His Excellency the Governor and the Honorable Council. The trustees of the Taunton State Hospital herewith pre- sent their sixtieth annual report of the condition of the hospital, together with the reports of the superintendent, the treasurer and the clinical director and pathologist and the statistics re- quired by law. • During the past year 686 patients — 370 men and 316 women — were admitted and 1,789 were under treatment, — 184 more than during the previous year and a larger number than ever before in the history of the hospital. Of those discharged 44 had recovered, 96 had sufficiently recovered to be able to sup- port themselves, 85 had improved, 30 had not improved and 163 died. The general condition of the patients has been good apart from their mental state, and with few exceptions more quiet and order on the wards has been the rule. This is largely due to the influence of the employment of the patients in large num- bers and in a great variety of work. Another factor has been the increased efficiency of the nurses. There has been a pro- nounced and steady growth in the size of the graduating classes of the training school in the last few years, and the increasing number of men nurses who are taking the full course is es- pecially gratifying. The recent affiliation of the school with the New York Nursery and Child's Hospital, where our nurses can now obtain three months' instruction in obstetric nursing dur- ing their course here, together with the six months' course in general nursing at the Boston City Hospital, offers special in- ducements to applicants by providing more variety in the hospital work and greater scope for the exercise of their calling in the future. 8 TAUNTON STATE HOSPITAL. [Dec. As a general rule the nurses are faithful and ambitious to make a good record through attention to and careful treatment of their charges. As a body, though greatly varying in indi- vidual dispositions, intelligence and skill, they are self-respect- ing men and women of a fairly good class in the main. Now- adays, however, as a result of sensational newspaper reports of happenings at our institutions, they are most unfortunately and undeservedly classed in the public mind with the undesir- able few, — the exceptions, — who disgrace our institutions and a noble calling, are soon found to be worthless, and are discharged from the service. Special attention has been directed by the Board throughout the year to the food supplied to the patients, and we have satisfied ourselves by rigid inspection that the quality and quantity are now such as to give no just cause for complaint. A beginning has been made, which shows signs of promise, toward increasing the number of patients who are placed out in families in the neighborhood under State supervision, — a most desirable provision for the chronic and harmless patient. The amusements for the patients have been considerably in- creased and are being still further extended. The clinical and pathological service is being reorganized under the direction of Dr. Myerson, formerly pathologist at the Boston Psychopathic Hospital, who recently has been appointed clinical director and pathologist. The new group of buildings on Davis Street and the dining room and kitchen building at the Raynham farm are nearly finished, and the work has afforded an excellent opportunity for the employment of a number of patients. We would call attention to the superintendent's account of the resources of the farm, which has become very productive and a source of considerable saving of expense to the State. The administration building, which was originally intended to accommodate a quarter part of the number of officers now required to serve the institution, is greatly outgrown and over- crowded and increased space for office quarters is imperative. By building a house for the superintendent in keeping with similar residences at other State hospitals, this condition of affairs would be obviated. - 1913.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 22. 9 The Commissioner of Public Records calls for a fireproof vault in which to preserve the hospital records. The ancient horse barn at the Raynbam farm colony is in bad condition and past economical repair. It should be re- placed by a new one. We accordingly request the incoming Legislature to make the following appropriations: — Constructing and furnishing house for superintendent, . $11,500 00 Constructing fireproof vault 2,000 00 horse Constructing barn at Raynham farm colony, . 5,500 00 Total, $19,000 00 Respectfully submitted, HENRY R. STEDMAN. JAMES P. FRANCIS. LOYED E. CHAMBERLAIN. MARGARET C. SMITH. ELIZABETH C. M. GIFFORD. SIMEON BORDEN. EDWARD LOVERING. 10 TAUNTON STATE HOSPITAL. [Dec. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT. To the Trustees of the Taunton State Hospital. In compliance with the by-laws of your Board, I present you with the sixtieth annual report of the superintendent for the year ending Nov. 30, 1913. At the beginning of the year there were in the hospital 1,103 patients, — 597 men and 506 women. During the year 686 patients — 370 men and 316 women — were admitted; 290 men and 261 women by regular commitment, 3 men and 1 woman by voluntary commitment, 20 men and 2 women for temporary care, 7 men and 13 women by transfer, 10 men and 2 women from visit, 2 men from escape and 38 men and 37 women nominally admitted for discharge, making the whole number under treatment, 1,789, — 184 more than the previous year. Forty-four were discharged as recovered, 96 as capable of self-support, 85 as improved, 30 as not improved, and 163 died. Of the 646 cases dismissed, 8 women were under treatment as dipsomaniacs or inebriates, of whom 4 were discharged as ca- pable of self-support. The daily average number of patients was 1,123.3, — 89.12 more than the previous year. Of those discharged recovered, 16 had been insane less than one month, 4 less than 12 months, and the whole duration of insanity in 45.5 per cent, of those who recovered did not exceed one year. The number of recoveries is 3 less than the previous year. The percentage of recoveries calculated on the admis- sions is 6.4; calculated on the discharges, 6.5. Transfers by the State Board of Insanity were as follows: 84 to the Worcester State Asylum, 20 to the Foxborough State Hospital, 3 to the Boston State Hospital, 3 to the Danvers State Hospital, 2 to the Westborough State Hospital, 2 to the Waverley School for the Feeble-minded, 1 to the Monson State Hospital, 1 to the Bridgewater State Hospital, 1 to the Arling- 1913.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 22. 11 ton Health Resort, 1 to Dr. Coon's Private Hospital, 4 to family care, 18 to leave State and 32 to be deported by the Commissioner of Immigration. One hundred and sixty-three patients died during the year, — 9 less than the previous year. The percentage of deaths cal- culated on the daily average number of patients is 14.5; cal- culated on the whole number of patients under treatment, 9.2. Sixty-two patients suffering from tuberculosis were under treat- ment during the year, of whom 20 died. During the year we have fitted 68 patients with glasses where the necessary correction was slight. Six more difficult cases were examined and fitted with glasses by an oculist. Dr. Charles F. Davis has rendered satisfactory service as dentist, having treated 476 patients. Besides the work done by Dr. Davis, a number of private patients have employed out- side dentists. As usual we have made use of systematic employment in the treatment of patients as soon as possible after their more active symptoms have subsided with marked benefit. Thirteen hun- dred and forty-nine patients, — 735 men and 614 women, — or 78.9 per cent, of the whole number under treatment, were em- ployed to a greater or lesser extent. Of this number 833 were employed in other than ward work and 516 in ward work only. The daily average number of patients employed was about 796,-437 men and 359 women. Of these, 542, or 68 per cent., were engaged in other than ward work, and 254, or 32 per cent., in ward work only. Our industrial work has been continued along the lines and according to the same general plan as outlined in previous reports, with some additions.

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