the wards are supplied with phonographs and new records are purchased frequently. All wards are supplied with cards, checkers and dominoes. NOTEWORTHY OCCURRENCES Escapes. During the year four patients escaped, two being returned, one heard from but not returned, and the other not heard from. Three patients attempted to escape, but were found on the grounds. Three patients attempted to escape by jumping into the river. One man was rescued by the crew of the steamer Wm. L. Parkhurst," another was rescued by being thrown a rope, and the third was rescued by female nurses who jumped into the river after her. Suicides. A male patient committed suicide by jumping into the river at Hell Gate. He sank in a whirlpool before help could reach him. A female patient attempted suicide by jumping off the steamer "Wanderer" while at the foot of East 26th street, but was rescued by the mate, after considerable difficulty. A male patient attempted suicide by cutting his throat. The wounds were only superficial and required no stitches. A male patient committed suicide by suspending himself with a sheet to one of the steam pipes. A female patient attempted suicide by jumping into the river, but was rescued by nurses. A male patient attempted suicide by swallowing bedbug exterminator from a bottle which he had snatched from a nurse after tearing her clothing. Gastric lavage was performed, and he recovered. A female patient committed suicide by jumping into the river. was found by the harbor police. Her body Accidents. An attendant was struck over the head with a bottle in the hands of a patient. A patient hit another over the head with a floor polisher, causing a considerable hemorrhage. A female patient was struck in the eye with a cup thrown by another patient, and hemorrhage resulted. An explosion took place in the power house, blowing off the flange joint and resulting in the death of Frank Logan, fireman. A male patient was missed from the ward at 7 a. m. Search was made, and he was found lying on the grounds in a corner of the building. He had on very little clothing, and as a result of exposure he died at 3:20 p. m. A female patient, while carrying coffee from the dining room, slipped on the pantry floor and spilled it over her chest, back and arms, resulting in second degree burns. Fires.-There were no fires of any importance during the year. CHANGES IN THE PERSONNEL of the MEDICAL STAFF Dr. James P. Kelleher was promoted from assistant physician to senior assistant physician, July 1, 1916. Dr. Arthur E. Soper, assistant physician, was promoted to senior assistant physician, July 1, 1916. Dr. Francis E. Weatherby, medical interne, was promoted to assistant physician on July 1, 1916. Dr. Robert L. Clark, clinical assistant, resigned July 20, 1916. Dr. Morris M. Sherman, assistant physician, resigned on September 4, 1916. Dr. William H. Mason, medical interne, was promoted to assistant physician on September 13, 1916. Dr. Meade C. Edmunds, assistant physician, resigned on October 9, 1916. Dr. John J. Hughes, medical interne, resigned on October 21, 1916. Dr. Benjamin Shapiro, medical interne, resigned on October 26, 1916. Dr. William A. Murphy was appointed assistant physician, November 1, 1916. Dr. George P. Carr was appointed medical interne, November 16, 1916; resigned on May 22, 1917. Dr. Franklin C. Wagenhals, medical interne, resigned November 30, 1916. Dr. Robert F. Zeiss was appointed medical interne on December 1, 1916; resigned on June 28, 1917. Dr. Chester C. Curtis was appointed medical interne on December 14, 1916. Dr. Joseph La Sala was appointed medical interne on December 18, 1916. Dr. William Mabon, superintendent, died on February 9, 1917. Dr. Fred G. Benton, assistant physician, resigned on February 20, 1917. Dr. William Mason, assistant physician, resigned on February 24, 1917. Dr. Henry M. Chandler was appointed assistant physician on April 1, 1917. Dr. George A. P. Boulden was appointed assistant physician on April 2, 1917. Dr. Walter F. Stillger was appointed medical interne on May 25, 1917. Dr. Marcus B. Heyman was appointed superintendent on June 1, 1917. Dr. John R. Richards, assistant physician, resigned on June 16, 1917. OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST The death of Dr. William Mabon, superintendent of this hospital, which occurred on February 9, 1917, after a brief illness, was a severe shock to the entire State hospital system. For nearly 11 years the doctor had served as superintendent at this institution, receiving his appointment while Chairman of the State Hospital Commission. A memorial pamphlet containing tributes to the doctor was published by the State Hospital Commission. During the months of April, May and June the hospital experienced an epidemic of typhoid fever with a total number of 49 cases and 6 deaths. All of the cases were confined to a group of 600 patients, composed of the chronic, generally deteriorated classes. The infection is considered to have been introduced to the hospital by means of infected food brought to one or more of the patients, who becoming infected, were not at first recognized as having typhoid because of their lack of subjective complaints. About 60 patients of the group assisted in serving or waiting in the dining room which was common to all of them, and it has been concluded that the infection was spread through this means. Careful investigation of the employees and all of the patients of the involved group showed no evidence of a carrier as a source of infection. Because of the mental condition of the patients it was necessary to rely entirely upon objective methods in diagnosis; the temperatures of all the patients of the involved group |