"Standards of Medical Care in the State Hospitals and Licensed Institutions in New York State.

"The Care of the Insane Pending Commitment, "" a report which covered an inspection of practically all the detention rooms and pavilions in the State of New York, with recommendations for their improvement.

He is also the author of the medical inspector's reports for the years 1912, 1913, 1914, 1915 and 1916.

Dr. Ryon is a member of Ogdensburg Chapter, R. A. M., No. 63; Nu Sigma Nu Fraternity; the American MedicoPsychological Association; the Albany County Medical Society; the New York State Medical Society and the American Medical Association.

APPOINTMENT OF DR. HEYMAN AS MEDICAL

INSPECTOR

Dr. Marcus B. Heyman, assistant superintendent of the Central Islip State Hospital, was appointed medical inspector by the State Hospital Commission on April 24, 1917, the appointment to take effect May 1, 1917. Dr. Heyman succeeds Dr. Walter G. Ryon, who resigned to accept the appointment of superintendent of the Hudson River State Hospital.

Dr. Heyman has had twenty-seven years experience in the care of the insane. He was appointed junior physician in the New York City Asylum for the Insane at Ward's Island, April 1, 1890, and was promoted to assistant physician in the same institution on March 1, 1891. He resigned this position to accept appointment as second assistant physician in the South Carolina State Hospital for the Insane, January 1, 1893. He served in this position two years, and was then reappointed assistant physician in the New York City Asylum. He became first assistant physician of the Central Islip State Hospital, December 1, 1901, and was promoted to the position of assistant superintendent December 1, 1912.

On the date of his appointment as medical inspector Dr. Heyman was elected a vice-president of the New York State Medical Society.

In December last Dr. Heyman was offered the superintendency of the Arkansas State Hospital for Nervous and Mental Diseases, at Little Rock, but after careful consideration of the matter he decided to remain in the New York State Hospital service.

He is a member of the Suffolk County Medical Society; New York State Medical Society; New York Neurological Society; Society of Medical Jurisprudence; American Medical Association; American Hospital Association; American Medico-Psychological Association; and Associated Physicians of Long Island.

DELEGATES FROM FIFTEEN STATES FORM AN INTERSTATE IMMIGRATION COMMITTEE

As a result of a conference in Washington, delegates appointed by the Governors of fifteen States east of the Mississippi and north of the Ohio rivers are perfecting a permanent organization whose object is to induce the Federal Government to assume its financial responsibility for the care of alien dependents now maintained by the States at a heavy cost, to have the Government reimburse the several States for the maintenance of persons who can not be deported on account of war conditions, and to facilitate the effective and equitable enforcement of the new Immigration Law which goes into effect May 1.

The delegates comprised heads of departments of health, charity, prisons and mental diseases. Everett S. Elwood of Albany, secretary of the State Hospital Commission, one of the New York delegates, was elected chairman of the permanent organization. Robert W. Kelso of Boston, secretary of the Massachusetts State Board of Charity, was chosen secretary.

The initiative in the appointing of delegates was taken by Governor McCall of Massachusetts, who urged the chief executives of fourteen other States to send delegates to a conference at this time. It was believed that the opportune moment had arrived for the States to reach an understanding with the Federal Government in this matter.

The new Immigration Law imposes more thorough examination both at the ports of departure and the ports of entry. It also extends the period during which an alien may be deported from three to five years. Under the old law it was necessary to deport within three years from the date of admission while five years' actual residence was required before one could become a citizen.

The delegates conferred with Hon. William B. Wilson, Secretary of Labor, and submitted for his consideration a proposed contract which would bring the departments of

the several States and the Federal Government into closer relationship in securing the most equitable application of the new Immigration Law. The contract contains a schedule of prices which the States want the Government to adopt for the payment of the care of alien dependents in the States and is very similar to the previous contract between the Government and Massachusetts. It was proposed that the Government sign a contract separately with each State. The delegates are also asking to have the States reimbursed for past expenditures.

Secretary Wilson informed the delegates that, in order to adopt their plan including the reimbursement of the States for money already spent, a special appropriation would have to be made. At the present time his department has no funds which could be made available for such purposes. The delegates then formed a permanent organization and planned to continue their efforts till they had secured federal reimbursement.

It was brought out that the Government, through the collection of the head tax within the last few years has profited to the extent of $9,000,000. This money ought to be used in reimbursing the States. The head tax under the new Law is $8.00 instead of $4.00 as formerly.

A committee of delegates was named on medical examination. This committee believes that many of the alien dependents might have been refused admission to this country if more well trained medical officers had been engaged to make examinations at the ports of entry. They recommend to Surgeon General Blue of the Public Health Service that he name as medical officers to examine immigrants, men who, in addition to their general professional qualifications, shall have some knowledge and experience in the detection of mental diseases and mental defect.

NEWS OF STATE HOSPITAL SERVICE

GENERAL ITEMS

On April 24, Governor Whitman announced the policy of having all men condemned to die in the electric chair, examined by a commission of insanity experts, after the Court of Appeals fixes the time for their death. As such commission, he appointed Dr. Charles W. Pilgrim, medical member of the State Hospital Commission; Dr. R. F. C. Kieb, medical superintendent of the Matteawan State Hospital, and Dr. George A. Smith, medical superintendent of the Central Islip State Hospital.

The first duty of the Commission was to examine Antonio Impoluzzo, Frank Ferrera and Arthur W. Waite, now awaiting electrocution in the death house at Sing Sing.

-On April 3, the Commission through Secretary Elwood wrote Governor Whitman offering the new unoccupied hospital buildings and the service of the State hospitals for military purposes in case their use was required by the development of the war. The Governor was advised that the occupational classes and industrial departments of the State hospitals would cooperate by making clothes, bedding, bandages and other war supplies, and that the employees of the hospitals could be counted on for voluntary emergency service in the care of the sick and wounded, and the preparation of materials. The Commission also offered the use of its thirteen schools of nursing for the training of volunteer nurses in first aid to the injured and general hospital work.

— On April 23, the Commission wrote to Adjutant General Stotesbury, offering to establish a mental clinic or dispensary at each of the large military encampments in this State. It is proposed that a physician from the State hospital most conveniently located, visit the encampment once a week or oftener if necessary, and examine all mental cases referred to him by the commanding officer or the medical officer in charge and report thereon to such officer.

In view of the fact that mental disease of one form or another has been a frequent cause for discharge from the army, and was especially frequent among the troops stationed on the Mexican Border last summer, it is believed that the mental clinic will serve a very important purpose and will result in more intelligent disposition of many troublesome cases.

- On March 7, 1917, Secretary Elwood and Doctor Dawes, medical deputy of the Bureau of Deportation, went to Washington to confer with the Commissioner of Immigration relative to the deportation of the alien insane and the reimbursement of the State for the cost of the care of such aliens pending deportation.