Twenty-fourth annual report of the trustees of the State Lunatic Hospital, at Worcester. December, 1856.

  • State Lunatic Hospital at Worcester.
Date:
1857
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Twenty-fourth annual report of the trustees of the State Lunatic Hospital, at Worcester. December, 1856. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    close of tlie year 1853. In 1854 the State Lunatic Hospital at Taunton was opened for the reception of patients, and the num¬ ber at Worcester was consequently greatly reduced. For a few years prior to 1854, the hospital at Worcester was greatly crowded with patients. In the summer of 1853, the number reached 567, and although during that year, and a few years preceding, the number of patients was far too great to be properly cared for, yet as one result of the great number, the cost of support per patient was less than since, or during the earlier history of the institution. One fact should here be stated, that the Commonwealth’s patients are usually of a class which remain for a period of at least one year, so that substantially the Commonwealth pays for its patients at the rate of 1100 a year for support and clothing and other expenses. A few statements of the number of State paupers, and of other patients, and the cost of the support of patients at the hospital, will place the whole subject in a clear light. In 1853 the number of State paupers in the hospital was 216 “ all other patients, ...... 304 1854, State paupers, ....... 151 “ all others,........ 230 1855, State paupers, ....... 115 “ all others, ....... 221 1856, State paupers, ....... 141 “ all others, ....... 235 In 1853 the expense of supporting each patient, was 1854 a « « « 1855 “ “ “ “ » 1856 “ “ “ “ . 1103 00 123 77 157 29 128 64 It will thus be seen that under the present law the amount allowed by the Commonwealth for the support of its patients at the hospital is from thirty to fifty per cent, less than the actual cost of their support. During the last year the price charged upon all the patients per week, except State paupers, was, for the first six months, $3, and after that- $2.75 per week, while the State, for its pa-