CHAPTER 20. General Administration-Licensed Asylum System. Private The number of private institutions remains unchanged, there being 18 in all, with a total population of 819 patients. The inmates of the Bloomingdale Asylum were transferred to the new buildings at White Plains during the month of August, 1894. In point of organization this is among the oldest institutions for the treatment of insane persons in this country, while the recent change of location is the fourth it has undergone since its establishment in 1821. The new buildings and location are regarded as well adapted to the object in view, while, under its present management, the commission believes the institution is worthy of commendation and public confidence. During the past year the litigation in regard to the Brunswick Home has ceased, the corporation having stipulated to abandon further proceedings, and to comply with the requirements and recommendations of the commission as to the employment of a competent resident physician of experience in the care and treatment of the insane, who should have proper control of the institution, and as to the making of certain needed repairs and improvements. The Home was reorganized upon these lines early in the year, since which time a marked improvement in its discipline, condition and order, and in the condition and appearance of the inmates has occurred, and the commission is gratified to say that it is now being conducted in a satisfactory manner. The jurisdiction of the commission over this institution will cease on January 1, 1895, pursuant to a provision of the new Constitution which relieves it of supervision of institutions other than those for the insane (chap. 24, p. 507). General Administration — Licensed Private Asylum System. The commission would recommend that more stringent provisions of law be enacted to guard against the danger of mentally unbalanced persons becoming inmates, without their consent, of so-called sanitariums or private hospitals which have not received a license from any source, and over which the State does not, through any of its constituted authorities, exercise jurisdiction and supervision. From the management of duly licensed private institutions, subject to official scrutiny and visitations at all times, there is little to apprehend; self-interest of their proprietors, if there were no higher motive, will be sure to keep their conduct on lines of due regard for all the considerations that make for the comfort and safety of the inmates: but from these unlicensed and unregulated concerns the worst may always be feared. As the law now stands, the commission can not find any adequate warrant for interfering even when it may be morally convinced that persons really insane, though not legally adjudged to be so, are unlawfully held in custody within their walls. To partly, if not entirely, overcome this difficulty, it is advised that the Legislature regulate the maintaining of private establishments of the class referred to, that is, for "nervous invalids," by prohibiting them, under heavy penalties, except under and subject to a license from the State Board of Health. CHAPTER 21. Special Reports of Private Asylums. As noted in the case of the special reports of the State hospital system and the exempted county system, the questions for the special reports of private asylums have been carefully revised, and so far as applicable to these institutions are made to conform to those of the other two systems. For convenience, however, the answers to the various questions of the different institutions have been grouped. 1. State the capacity of the institution, the number for which it is licensed, and if it receives voluntary as well as committed patients? BLOOMINGDALE ASYLUM. There is no special number for which it is licensed. It receives none but committed patients. Capacity about 375. PROVIDENCE RETREAT. Licensed for 100 women and 50 men. It receives only committed. patients. MARSHALL INFIRMARY. It is licensed to receive 130 patients. It does not admit voluntary patients. LONG ISLAND HOME. Capacity, 114. Licensed, 114. Voluntary patients not received. BRIGHAM HALL HOSPITAL. Licensed for 78 patients. Not permitted to receive voluntary patients. Special Reports of Private Asylums. ST. VINCENT'S RETREAT. The capacity of the institution is 60. Does not receive voluntary patients. WALDEMERE. Capacity, 20. License, 18. Receives voluntary and committed patients. SANFORD HALL. Capacity of the institution, 36. Number for which it is licensed, 36. Voluntary patients have not been received. BREEZEHURST TERRACE. The capacity is 25, and voluntary patients are received. DR. WELLS' SANITARIUM. Capacity of institution, 16. Number for which it is licensed, 16. The institution receives voluntary as well as committed patients. DR. PARSONS' HOME. Capacity, 12. Licensed for 12. Receives both voluntary and committed patients. Has capacity for 10. patients. DR. CHOATE'S HOME. Is licensed for 10. Does not receive voluntary DR. COMBES' SANITARIUM. Dr. Combes' Sanitarium has capacity for, and is licensed to receive, 18 men and 16 women, in all 34 patients. Although the terms of our license permit us to take voluntary patients, none have been admitted during the year. GLENMARY. The capacity of the institution is 50 patients, for which number it is licensed. It also receives voluntary as well as committed patients. FALKIRK. Capacity, 34. Licensed for 34. Receives committed and voluntary patients. VERNON HOUSE. We are licensed for 16 patients, sex not mentioned. If all my room was fully utilized I could receive 15 patients. Voluntary patients are received. |