General Beyer and Harry W. Mack, the attorney for the hospital, it was impossible to secure any evidence sufficient for the conviction of any one in the employ of the hospital except the absconding meat cutter, Martin. Simon Katzenstein, who was concerned in the removal of the meat, but who was not connected with the institution in any way, was indicted on charges of bribery and subsequently convicted. Pending an appeal to the courts the defendant committed suicide. It has been impossible, in spite of every effort on the part of the Commission, to obtain any information regarding the whereabouts of the meat cutter, Martin.

It is believed that the methods since inaugurated on the recommendation of the Audit Company of New York will make any further thefts of this kind impossible.

USE OF PRISON MADE GOODS IN STATE HOSPITALS

Article 7 of the State Prison Law requires the prisons to manufacture such articles as are needed and used "in the buildings, offices and public institutions owned or managed and controlled by the State, including articles used in the erection of buildings." This necessitates the purchase of all such furniture and equipment as can be supplied from the Prison Department; a release must be obtained before the purchase of any such article can be made in the open market. The styles, patterns, designs, quality and prices of the articles manufactured are determined by a board of classification, consisting of the Fiscal Supervisor of State Charities, the State Commission of Prisons, the Superintendent of State Prisons and the State Hospital Commission.

A meeting of the board of classification was held last winter and some rearrangement made as to styles, patterns and prices of the articles manufactured. In spite of that fact, however, there have been numerous complaints from the hospitals in regard to the inferior quality of the goods received from the prisons, and it has been found, in some instances, that the prices exceed those in the open market. The Commission believes that a further revision is indicated and that wherever better articles can be purchased for the same price, or when articles of a satisfactory quality can be purchased at a lower price, a release should be granted.

STATE HOSPITALS BULLETIN

The State Hospitals Bulletin has been issued quarterly as usual. During the past year the preparation of the Bulletin has been delegated by the Commission to an editorial board consisting of the medical member of the Commission, the director of the Psychiatric Institute at Ward's Island, and the director of clinical psychiatry of the Manhattan State Hospital. While the custom of publishing the minutes of the Commission's conference with the superintendents and managers and the proceedings of the interhospital conferences has been continued, it is thought that the scope of the Bulletin can be confined largely to articles which will serve the purpose of giving medical officers of the different institutions an opportunity to keep in touch with the modern progress of psychiatry to an extent not done heretofore. During the past year a special number of the Bulletin was devoted entirely to the subject of immigration and the State care of the alien insane, which has become such an important question.

RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE HOSPITALS

It has long been felt that a general revision of the rules and regulations which govern the administration and operation of the various State hospitals would be extremely desirable. The Insanity Law provides that the rules and regulations covering the appointment and duties of all the employees of the State hospitals shall be prepared by a committee consisting of three superintendents to be appointed by the Commission, such by-laws, rules and regulations to be subject to the approval of the Commission at the end of the quarterly conference of superintendents and managers. The rules now in force have not been amended for many years and are now in process of revision by such a committee.

ESTABLISHMENT OF A CHEMICAL LABORATORY AT THE BINGHAMTON STATE HOSPITAL

It has been necessary for many years to submit samples of materials purchased by the hospitals for analysis in laboratories at a considerable expense. The necessity of such examinations has materially increased since the establishment of the purchasing committee, which has made contracts involving large expenditures. The establishment of such a laboratory at one of the State hos

pitals will involve but a small expenditure and will result in a material saving. With this object in view the Commission, during the last year, has authorized the equipment of such a laboratory at the Binghamton State Hospital, to be under the management and supervision of the experienced chemist who has been employed for years in the capacity of apothecary at that hospital. The awarding of large contracts for coal by the Purchasing Committee has made it necessary to have very frequent analyses for the purpose of determining the quality and grade of the coal purchased. The reports of the inspector of supplies will show that very often the materials supplied on contract do not comply with the requirements of the specifications. The report of the chemist to the purchasing committee will show the scope of the work which has already been done.

NEW YORK STATE HOSPITALS EXHIBIT

For the purpose of showing the system of operation of the various State hospitals and the modern methods of caring for the insane, the Commission arranged for the preparation of an exhibit which was used at the State Fair from September 9 to 15, 1912, at the International Congress on Hygiene and Demography, at Washington, D. C., from September 16th to October 5th, at the State Board of Health Exhibit, Albany, from October 21st to October 27th and at the Mental Hygiene Conference, at New York city, from November 8th to November 16th.

This exhibit consists of charts outlining the work of the State Hospital Commission and showing its organization. It includes a group of photographs showing the type of construction used in the State hospitals for various classes of patients, such as the reception hospitals, the buildings for chronic cases, infirmaries, tubercular pavilions, nurses' homes, farm cottages, etc., as well as interior views showing dayrooms, dining-rooms, dormitories, operating-rooms, laundries, industrial departments, etc. Another group of photographs shows the methods of caring for the insane and includes pictures illustrating the use of the continuous bath, hydrotherapy and open air treatment of tubercular cases. The occupations of patients are demonstrated by photographs of the classes in basketry, arts and crafts, bookbinding, broommaking,

shoe shops, printing establishments, etc. The amusement of patients is shown by photographs of classes in folk dancing, pictures of the amusement halls at various hospitals, and classes in raffia and brass work. Carefully prepared charts show the number of patients cared for, the increase in the insane population, the admissions to the State hospitals, the rate of recovery, ages of patients on admission, average per capita cost, classification of mental diseases, nativity of admissions, death rate, environment of patients previous to admission, frequency of alcoholic insanity and general paresis, and the results of studies in heredity. Other charts show the organization of a State hospital, salary and wage schedules, special dietary, daily ration allowance, etc.

A part of the exhibit is a demonstration of the methods used in the modern treatment of the insane as compared with that in vogue in earlier times. This is illustrated by apparatus formerly used for restraint, such as cribs, chairs, muffs, camisoles, bars, handcuffs, mouth gags, etc.

A large exhibit is shown of baskets, lace, flowers, brass work, shoes, slippers, etc., made by patients at the various hospitals. The work of the Psychiatric Institute is also shown by means of photographs, models and specimens of various kinds.

The operation of the State hospitals is also illustrated by means of moving pictures, which have attracted much attention. The Commission believes that the education of the general public as to the methods used in caring for the insane, and as to the needs of the hospitals, will be of great value. This exhibit has been prepared for permanent use and will be shown generally throughout the larger cities by the State Board of Health.

MEDAL OF HONOR OF THE STATE HOSPITAL COMMISSION

During the summer a request was received from the Board of Managers of the Manhattan State Hospital for permission to confer a medal for bravery upon Edward Ballgowan, an einployee of that institution, who, on February 29th rescued a patient from imminent danger at the risk of his own life. The patient. who had escaped from his immediate escort had climbed to the top of a lofty scaffolding surrounding a chimney in course of repairs and had attempted to leap therefrom. Regardless of per

sonal danger the attendant grappled with the patient and dragged him from the very edge of the scaffold to which he had struggled. The Board of Managers was authorized to confer upon this employee the medal of honor of the State Hospital Commission which was formally adopted after the submission of a number of designs from various firms in New York city. It is the intention of the Commission to confer this medal upon such persons as may have exhibited unusual bravery at any of the various State hospitals, or who may have rendered services deserving of recognition in other ways. The medal will be conferred upon employees upon recommendations made by boards of managers.

HOSPITAL DISTRICTS

The erection of new buildings on the Creedmoor site, a new institution at Marcy, and the completion of the Mohansic State Hospital at Yorktown will render a rearrangement of the State hospital districts desirable. There has been considerable dissatisfaction for some time on the part of residents of Syracuse, owing to the fact that the insane of that city have been cared for at the St. Lawrence State Hospital, which is far distant from the center of population in that district. It is believed that the completion of a new institution at Marcy will render it possible to add the counties of Oswego and Onondaga to the Utica State Hospital district. As Syracuse is only fifty-three miles from Utica this will be a great convenience to the relatives and friends of patients. The overcrowding in the Metropolitan District is such as to make it necessary at frequent intervals to transfer considerable numbers of patients to institutions at more remote points. There is no reason why patients who have no friends or relatives, or who are not frequently visited, should not be transferred from the New York city institutions to the St. Lawrence State Hospital. The rearrangement of the districts of the Manhattan, Kings Park and Central Islip State hospitals is also strongly indicated.

CHANGES IN THE FORM OF ESTIMATES, ETC.

A conference was held at the Manhattan State Hospital on Ward's Island, December 19, 1911, for the purpose of discussing