wood, Mr. Kyte, Mr. Riley, Mr. Finton, Mr. Proctor, Mr. Manro, Mr. Hirsh, Mr. J. MacG. Smith, Mr. Rogers.

Committee on Standardization of Supplies: Dr. Smith, chairman; Dr. Ashley, Dr. Howard, Mr. Watson, Mr. Mosher, Mr. Kyte.

Committee on Statistics: Dr. Hutchings, chairman; Dr. Hoch, Dr. Kirby, Dr. Ryon, Dr. Harris, Dr. Pollock.

Committee on Nursing: Dr. Howard, chairman; Dr. Hurd, Dr. Wagner, Miss Ida J. Anstead, Dr. Ryon.

The fourth conference was held at Hotel Astor, New York City, May 28, 1917. The principal topic before the meeting was hospital development, and particular attention was given to the needs of the Brooklyn, Manhattan and Binghamton State Hospitals. In connection with the work of the first two hospitals named, the need of psychopathic hospitals in Manhattan and Brooklyn boroughs was discussed. A review of new legislation affecting the State hospitals was submitted by the chairman of the Committee on Legislation, Dr. Wagner.

Many of the members of the conference attended the annual meeting of the American Medico-Psychological Association which convened at Hotel Astor the day following the conference.

THE JOINT PURCHASING COMMITTEE

The total value of joint contracts made by the Purchasing Committee for State Hospitals during the year was $2,130,168.79. Coal, the largest single item, cost $617,021.52. Combining the bituminous and anthracite coal as to tonnage, the average cost per ton was $2.90. Flour and cereals cost $337,627.73. Fresh meats of all kinds cost $630,229.74.

The extraordinary disturbance of markets of all kinds resulting from the government's demands for war supplies during the year has continued, and as to the one item of coal, the Committee, although making the most strenuous efforts to induce operating companies to bid, were unable to secure proposals on which any joint contract could be made; and up to the time the government fixed prices for coal at the mines the Committee did not feel justified in paying the prices asked even though in some instances supplies could be obtained. It was necessary in order to secure

any consideration at the hands of mining companies even for deliveries of small lots, to waive the Committee's requirements as to B. T. U. content, and also the penalties heretofore imposed upon contractors furnishing coal below a certain minimum value. As to flour, the Committee was obliged to pay $13.40 per barrel before the close of the year.

It will probably be necessary, because of the constantly advancing prices of meats, to recast the specifications heretofore used by the Committee and which called for a grade of meat, the price of which will soon be prohibitive. A conference will be arranged with the Federal Food Administrator before action is taken on this subject.

Chapter 142 of the Laws of 1917 provided for an investigation of the method of purchasing materials and supplies for State departments, boards, commissions, offices and institutions. Two meetings were held, at the second of which Mr. McGarr was made Chairman of the Committee on Laws and Contracts pertaining to joint purchasing; other committees were also appointed to study all methods now prevailing in the making of purchases within the State; also methods now being followed by city, State and federal authorities in this work.

The results of the investigation are to be communicated to the Legislature in February, 1918.

Superintendent Hutchings, of the St. Lawrence State Hospital, who has rendered valuable service as a member of the Committee during the past three years, enlisted as a medical officer in the Federal service and has been assigned to duty at Camp Hancock, Columbia, S. C. The vacancy caused by his resignation has been filled by the appointment of Superintendent Potter of the Gowanda State Hospital.

PSYCHIATRIC INSTITUTE

The Commission feels that the Psychiatric Institute should be provided with a suitable building, and that its functions should be enlarged and extended. The present quarters of the Institute at the Manhattan State Hospital are inadequate and poorly planned.

Following the recommendation of the Commission, the Legis

lature made provision in the Appropriation Bill of 1917 for an assistant director of the Institute, the purpose being to strengthen the teaching staff and to enable the director to make more frequent visits to the State hospitals, and thereby maintain closer supervision of the medical work throughout the hospital system.

The research departments of the Institute have been active during the year, and progress has been made in several important lines of work. An account of the results accomplished is found in the director's report, page 159 of this volume.

The members of the staff of the Institute have promoted mental hygiene work by conducting the Cornell clinic, by giving courses in psychiatry in the Cornell Medical College, by public lectures, and by co-operating with the National Committee for Mental Hygiene and the Mental Hygiene Committee for War Work.

BUREAU OF STATISTICS

The statistics of mental diseases prepared by the Bureau of Statistics are increasing in value as the number of cases in the files accumulate. The annual statistical review of the insane in the State hospitals and private licensed institutions not only gives detailed statistics concerning the admissions, readmissions, discharges and deaths of the year, but sets forth important comparisons of results in the several hospitals and of trends from year to year in the various mental disorders. In addition special studies are made from time to time dealing with all the cases in a single group of psychoses admitted since the establishment of the present system, October 1, 1909.

The system of statistics and the classification of mental diseases used by the Commission were adopted, with slight modifications, by the American Medico-Psychological Association at its meeting in New York City in May, 1917.

Special studies made by the Bureau during the year deal with the following topics: "Decline of Alcohol as a Cause of Insanity," "A Statistical View of Mental Diseases in the State Hospitals," and "Occupation and Dementia Praccox."

For the purpose of stimulating production on the State hospital farms, the statistician made a study of the relation of the institution farm to the cost of maintenance, and presented a paper

thereon at the meeting of State institution stewards and farmers in Ithaca on February 13, 1917, and at the quarterly conference held in Albany, February 27, 1917. Pamphlet copies of the paper were distributed to members of the American Medico-Psychological Association at the request of the special committee in charge of the session relating to increased production on institution farms.

The statistician co-operated with the National Committee for Mental Hygiene in the taking on January 1, 1917, of a national census of the insane, feeble-minded, epileptics, and alcohol and drug addicts in institutions. The census was published in the State Hospital Quarterly, August, 1917, and in Mental Hygiene, October, 1917.

As in previous years the Bureau has conducted the editorial and exhibit work of the Commission.

EXHIBITS

During the summer of 1916 the State Fair Commission, with the co-operation of this department, remodeled the interior of the State institutions building on the State Fair Grounds, using a uniform architectural and color scheme, and thereby making very attractive booths for the exhibits of the various departments. The Commission's State Fair exhibit in its new setting was more attractive than ever before. The show cases, charts and models brought from the Panama-Pacific Exposition were used to good purpose, and the display articles sent by the hospitals were of unusual excellence. A new feature of the exhibit was a model hospital ward constructed therefor by the patients of the Gowanda State Hospital. The fruit and vegetable exhibit contributed by the Binghamton and Manhattan State Hospitals attracted considerable attention. The high standard of excellence of all the goods shown in the Commission's booth gave rise to much favorable comment.

The Commission and several of the State hospitals participated in the exhibit held under the auspices of the American MedicoPsychological Association, May 29 to June 1, 1917. This was an industrial and scientific exhibit in which many institutions, both public and private, were represented. The St. Lawrence

and Binghamton State Hospitals received certificates of award for the superior excellence of the articles displayed.

BUREAU OF DEPORTATION

Dr. Isham G. Harris, formerly superintendent of the Mohansic State Hospital, was appointed medical examiner of the Bureau of Deportation July 1, 1916; after serving one month, he resigned to accept the superintendency of the Brooklyn State Hospital, and Dr. John L. Van De Mark, who had been medical deputy for four years, was promoted to the position of medical examiner. Dr. Spencer L. Dawes, who was Special Commissioner on the Alien Insane from 1912 to 1914, was appointed from the civil service eligible list to the position of deputy medical examiner on February 1, 1917.

The work of the Bureau during the year has been greatly handicapped by the extension of the present world conflict. The United States Immigration Service has practically stopped the deportation of the alien insane to European countries and repatriations to these countries have been almost impossible. The total number of aliens deported during the year was 52, as compared with 208 in 1916, 490 in 1915, and 825 in 1914. On June 30, 1917, there were 416 deportable aliens in the State hospitals on whom warrants of arrest had been served, and 216 others were under investigation.

There were 268 nonresidents returned to their homes during the year; the number so returned in 1916 was 284; in 1915, 304; and in 1914, 399.

The detailed report of the Bureau is found on page 166.

THE NEW IMMIGRATION LAW

The new immigration law which passed both houses of Congress over the President's veto and became effective May 1, 1917, contains many provisions that will aid this State in its efforts to free itself from the burden of the alien insane. The new provisions by which the law is strengthened are the direct results of the efforts of this Commission aided by the Special Commissioner of the Alien Insane, appointed in 1912, and the Commis