Three complaint cases investigated. Visited 8 cases referred by physicians and social agencies. Interviewed 40 relatives at hospital concerning parole patients. Referred 10 cases to other agencies. Visited 46 patients on ward 24 preceding parole, 6 at relatives' request, and 16 at patient's own request. Located a discharged patient (who had disappeared) at family's request. Homes of two hospital patients visited at their request to straighten out domestic difficulties. MILDRED HURLEY, Social Worker. ROCHESTER STATE HOSPITAL Attempting to present in numbers philanthropic work, is very inadequate and unsatisfactory. To report that 196 visits have been made, 54 letters written, 216 friends interviewed during the past five months does not give a picture of the work done, whether little or much. One of the problems that presents difficulties, is how to emphasize the need of the social service work in State hospital districts. One plan that we have followed that tends to efficiency and economy is to have the nurse when she goes to the small towns, particularly those at a distance from the hospital, take a list of the names of the patients who are on parole or discharged, living in that town, or the name and addresses of friends of patients still in the hospital. Thus inquiries are made about patients in the hospital and the nurse is able to give the desired information and is often able to get additional history for the hospital records, and learns something of the patient's home environment. This brings the hospital in closer touch with the district which it serves. The reader is frequently asked by friends or neighbors to call upon persons supposedly insane, who are being neglected or who are troublesome for advice as to their care, or for suggestions as to methods of management and nursing. They frequently make inquiries as to steps necessary to have a patient committed to this hospital. I have on occasions secured visiting nurses from general hospitals to attend patients on parole who have been discharged and who are physically ill. Applications were so frequently made to the hospital for mental nurses, that four years ago we instituted a directory. At present we have a list of over 20 persons who have had experience in the care of mental cases. ANNA L. MACPHERSON, ST. LAWRENCE STATE HOSPITAL Visits to paroled patients...... Visits to other patients outside hospital Persons interviewed at office... Cases seen before leaving hospital.. Visits to hospitals....... Individual visits to social service workers. Malone, 3 Social Worker. 80 36 75 10 9 1 3 240 60 12 9 8 30 7 146 cases 54 I recall a clergyman who came to our clinic. He was of foreign birth and had a small charge in a little hamlet in Canada when the war broke out. He was forced out of this charge because of his nationality. With a wife and nine children, the man found himself in an American city without means of support. He tried to get work of any kind but could not even after the most persevering efforts. The family were in dire need and the man's acute anxiety had a marked effect upon his mental health. He read in a newspaper about the Watertown dispensary and came to see the specialist. He was relieved by a frank talk with the doctor, the social worker undertook to help the family, and the associated charities of the city was appealed to. They in turn enlisted the interest of local families of the man's nationality and the temporary wants of the family were provided for. The man's new friends eventually found work for him, his mental condition improved rapidly and markedly. I never have seen a more touching or grateful letter than the one he wrote the physician after the cloud of trouble had lifted and he was himself again. ZAIDEE B. MAXINER, Social Worker. UTICA STATE HOSPITAL For the five months ending December 1, 1916, 180 calls have been made on paroled patients and 14 patients have been returned to the hospital. Five were out of the State and many out of the territory. One preventive call was made with negative result-a manic-depressive case. The calls of paroled patients to the hospital were not recorded. As Utica has no clinic, I try to instruct, in the families of the patients I bring in and wherever possible, as to some of the causes of insanity and mental hygiene. The territory is large, 9 counties, and in the remote districts it is not possible to make a monthly call, nor is it always needed. Besides, I have to be careful of expense. One difficulty is the fear of the public about hiring a paroled patient. In the Utica Daily Press, through the kindness of its editor, Mr. Dunham, who is one of the managers of the hospital, there were two articles on mental hygiene and an appeal was made to the people, explaining the care taken before a patient left the hospital and his supervision during the parole. But the old idea still clings and it is quite evident that education must be more general before it is overcome. CLARA B. JOHNSON, Social Worker. Mr. ELWOOD: I am sorry we have not more time to discuss some of the suggestions offered by the various social workers. We should have these conferences once or possibly twice a year. I suggest also that the agents attend the State Conference of Charities and Correction. On behalf of the Commission I want to express appreciation of the help of the State Charities Aid Association in arranging this conference and for the entertainment which is to be given the workers to-morrow. Mr. HASTINGS: We have been informed that the Commission is willing the agents should remain in town for tomorrow, and on behalf of the State Charities Aid Association, I want to extend to them a cordial invitation to visit our office at 105 East 22d Street to-morrow forenoon. They will have an opportunity to inspect records and to obtain literature, and to visit the Cornell Clinic. SPECIAL REPORT ON OVERCROWDING The following report was submitted to the Legislature by the State Hospital Commission on the evening of January 10, 1917: The State Hospital Commission hereby respectfully reports to your honorable body on the needs for additional accommodations for the insane, in accordance with the mandatory provisions of Sec. 17 of the Insanity Law, which reads in part as follows: "Sec. 17. Commission to provide for the pro spective wants of the insane.— The Commission shall provide sufficient accommodations for the prospective wants of the poor and indigent insane of the state. To prevent overcrowding in the state hospitals, it shall recommend to the legislature the establishment of other state hospitals, in such parts of the state as in its judgment will best meet the requirements of such insane. It shall also furnish to the legislature in each year, an estimate of the probable number of patients who will become inmates of the respective state hospitals during the year beginning July first next ensuing, and the cost of all the additional buildings and equipments, if any, which will be required to carry out the provisions of this chapter relating to the care, custody and treatment of the poor and indigent insane of the state." On January 1, 1917, conditions in the thirteen State hospitals for the insane with respect to certified capacity and patient population were as follows: Number of patients in civil State hospitals excluding ..... 33,988 Number of patients on parole from civil State hos pitals.... ........ 1,625 Total number of patients on books of State hospitals. 35,613 27,890 excluding paroles..... Number of patients in hospitals in excess of capacity, Percentage of overcrowding.. |