been purchased for the installation of a brush-making shop, which will be put in the basement of one of the detached group of buildings. Especial attention has been focused upon increasing the facilities for the actual treatment of the individual patient. Much larger opportunities are given the members of the staff to perfect themselves in the technique for the various laboratories by rotating the younger men for service in these different departments. The field of mental medicine has become so broad in specializing in its various departments and has become so considerable that it is difficult to get the younger physicians to keep from specializing long enough to get a broad grasp of all of the problems involved. To this end they are given special instructions and are required to serve in the pathological laboratory where they come into contact with pathological, histological, and serological, and the psychological laboratory, where they receive special instruction by the psychologist in methods of investigation, diagnosis, and treatment, particularly of organic central nervous system lesions, and disorders of the peripheral mechanisms, and upon the acute services, where they come under the immediate instruction of the clinical psychiatrist. It is believed that more is being done for the individual difficulties of the patients than ever before.

A plan was adopted by the Secretary of the Interior covering the installation of a relative cost system at the hospital, and a contract has been entered into with a meter company for furnishing and installing measuring devices in connection with the power, heating, and lighting system to be used in carrying out such plan. This system, when it is carried into effect, will be greatly in the interest of the better administration of the affairs of the institution.

The House Committee on the District of Columbia, which investigated the accounts between the Government Hospital for the Insane and the District of Columbia covering the support, clothing, and medical treatment of the patients admitted from the District, has completed its work and made a report in which it is stated that the balance due the United States from the District of Columbia for the fiscal years 1879 to 1912, inclusive, on account of unpaid board was $282,754.26; for the interest on unpaid balance $203,770.01, making the total amount due the United States $486,524.27. (H. R. Doc. No. 1628, 63d Cong., 3d sess.)

A very large proportion of the land along the Anacostia River adjacent to the hospital property, which has been reclaimed by the War Department, appears to have been drained to such an extent that it can be used for farming. A portion of this land has been leased by the War Department to certain parties who are now in possession. The interests of the Government and the hospital, it would seem, would be best subserved by a transfer of the supervision

of this land from the Secretary of War to the Secretary of the Interior in order that the hospital might be permitted to cultivate and utilize this land in the interests of the institution. A recommendation to this effect has been incorporated in the estimates that have been submitted to Congress.

In 1912 a committee of six, consisting of Surg. Gen. George H. Torney, United States Army, representing the Secretary of War; Surg. A. W. Dunbar, representing the Secretary of the Navy; Mr. Robert V. La Dow, superintendent of prisons, representing the Attorney General; Maj. William V. Judson, Corps of Engineers, United States Army, representing the Commissioners of the District of Columbia; Mr. Scott C. Bone, representing the board of visitors of the Government Hospital for the Insane; and Dr. William A. White, superintendent of the Government Hospital for the Insane, representing the department, were, after consultation with the President, designated by the Secretary of the Interior to make a thorough investigation of the needs of the hospital and the future policy for its growth and development; their report on the subject was subsequently transmitted by the President to Congress for consideration. (S. Doc. No. 256, 62d Cong., 2d sess.) This report discusses very fully the needs of the hospital under four heads: (a) Defects in the laws governing the conduct of the institution and the commitment of patients. Under this head is included a draft of proposed legislation for commitment from the District of Columbia, along with certain changes in the legislation with reference to the transfer of Federal prisoners to the hospital. (b) The advisability of continuing in the hospital patients committed from the District of Columbia and from the Army and Navy and from distant points. Under this head is discussed the whole question of the future policy of the hospital with reference to the commitment of patients from distant points. (c) The policy to be adopted relating to the growth of the institution, and the matter of additional lands, buildings, equipment, etc. Here the questions of administration, size of the institution, and its physical needs are discussed, together with a special report as to the care of the criminal insane. (d) The present conduct of the institution, including recommendations for improvement of the service and the advancement of the interests of the inmates. Under the third section the needs of the hospital are set forth. The recommendations contained in this report are commended to the further consideration of Congress.

FREEDMEN'S HOSPITAL.

Movements of population.-There were admitted into the hospital during the year 3,348, including 307 births. These, with 187 remaining from the preceding year, make a total of 3,535 indoor patients

receiving treatment. Of those received during the year 1,674 were chargeable to the District of Columbia, 1,389 to the General Government, and 285 paid for their care and treatment.

There were discharged during the year 3,354 patients; of this number 1,559 as recovered, 1,267 as improved, 261 unimproved, not treated 11, and 256 died. Of the total number discharged, 276 were pay patients and 3,078 were indigents. During the preceding year the number of deaths was 276, as against 256 from all causes during the past year. This is not to be regarded as a very high death rate when it is considered that a large number of patients come from homes surrounded by the worst sanitary conditions, half fed, improperly clothed, and seeking hospital treatment as a last resort.

At the close of the year there remained 181 patients; 15 were pay, 102 United States indigents, and 64 District of Columbia indigents. There were 2,296 surgical operations performed, being an increase of 35 per cent over last year, with a mortality of 2.1 per cent; a remarkably low death rate considering the desperate condition in which many surgical cases are found at the time of entrance into the hospital.

In the dispensary, or out-patient department, 5,874 patients were treated. There were 15,185 revisits made by patients while undergoing treatment in the several clinics, and 2,609 surgical dresssings were necessary. Much of the difficulty heretofore experienced in getting patients to revisit the dispensary at stated intervals for continued treatment is gradually being overcome, due, doubtless, in a large measure to the increasing confidence in hospital treatment by this class of patients as well as to the benefits derived therefrom.

At the time of the opening of this hospital in 1875 there were 190 patients; in 1885, 10 years later, the number of patients accommodated was 1,794; in 1895 the number of patients was 2,476; in 1905 the number treated was 2,918; and in 1915 there were treated 3,535. Pay patients. In the act "making appropriations to provide for the expenses of the District of Columbia for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1913, and for other purposes," approved June 26, 1912, provision is made, under the head of "Medical charities," as follows:

Hereafter patients may be admitted to Freedmen's Hospital for care and treatment on the payment of such reasonable charges therefor as the Secretary of the Interior may prescribe. All money so collected shall be paid into the Treasure to the credit of Freedmen's Hospital, to be disbursed under the supervision of the Secretary of the Interior for subsistence, fuel, and light, clothing, bedding, forage, medicine, medical and surgical supplies, surgical instruments, repairs, furniture, and other absolutely necessary expenses incident to the management of the hospital, a report as to the expenditure thereof to be made annually to Congress.

Under this provision the hospital has received a class of patients who had for many years sought the benefits of its care and treat

ment, 285 being received for treatment, including 28 births, during the third year of its operation. The receipts for the care and treatment of this class of patients amounted to $5,750.10.

There is now in possession of the hospital about $160 left by deceased patients. All efforts to locate their heirs or legal representatives have been fruitless. Legislation should therefore be enacted by Congress authorizing the proper disposition of such moneys.

A building for pathological work is urgently needed, as the hospital can not render full measure of professional service to its inmates without the aid of proper facilities for a complete scientific investigation of their ailments. An assistant anesthetist should also be provided to properly safeguard all patients to whom anesthetics are to be administered. An additional engineer is necessary to provide for a strict compliance with the eight-hour law and to operate the central heating plant with the proper force. Provision should also be made for a general storekeeper, the present practice of several persons receiving, checking, and issuing supplies at different times being unsatisfactory and tending to inefficiency.

Receipts and disbursements.-The receipts and disbursements of the hospital may be stated as follows:

The university was incorporated by the act of March 2, 1867 (14 Stat., 438). The object of the incorporation named in the first section of the act was "for the education of youth in the liberal arts

and sciences."

It is declared that the incorporators shall be “a body politic and corporate, with perpetual succession," etc. The management and control of the institution were vested in a board of not less than 13 trustees.

Students.-There were in attendance during the year 1,452 students from 36 States and 6 foreign countries. This number does not include 61 students who took work in the school of theology by correspondence. The number of students in the different departments was as follows:

Names duplicated because of students taking special courses in different departments

117

Correct total____

1,452

It will be seen that this number is slightly less than that of 1913-14, which was 1,463. Two hundred and five students completed their studies in the university, as follows:

School of theology.-No part of any appropriation by Congress has ever been applied to support this department. It is under no outside control or direction. The school is interdenominational and welcomes all who are preparing for the best service in moral and religious work. The service to the people which is being rendered