Half-Pearly Summary.

CALIFORNIA.-On June 10, 1909, the State Commission in Lunacy decided upon an increase in salaries of the medical officers of the State hospitals, those of superintendents, which are now $3000, being $3600, and those of the assistant physicians being increased proportionately.

-Southern California State Hospital, Patton.-There are now under construction the following buildings: A receiving cottage, which is really a group of three, consisting of two wings, one for male and one for female patients, which will hold 30 patients each, and connected by a two-story building, the first floor of which will be used for hydrotherapeutic purposes, and the second floor to be occupied by nurses. There will be an extra large corps of nurses on duty in this building, and the ratio will be one nurse to six patients. There is also building a cottage for the first assistant physician. Contracts have been made for the following buildings: One large two-story cottage for 80 female patients and to cost $40,000; another cottage of cheaper construction for 75 patients, which will cost $20,000. In addition to the above work the erection of a second story of the building, known as the Congregate Dining Hall, will soon be begun. This second story will be divided into small wards and occupied by 100 male patients. It is to be an open ward and patients confined here will be employed about the farms, grounds and orchards. The cost of these buildings are covered by special appropriations passed by the last legislature.

In addition to the foregoing, contracts have been let for the erection of two small cottages at a cost of $7000, which will hold 30 patients each. These two cottages are especially designed and adapted for tubercular cases, and these will complete a group of four cottages, the four having a capacity about 100 beds.

COLORADO.-The legislature recently made an appropriation to establish an institution for the care of the feeble-minded, to be located on farm land near Denver.

-Colorado State Insane Asylum, Pueblo.-The Board of Lunacy Commissioners awarded contracts August 10, 1909, for the erection of three new cottages, for 100 patients each, at a total cost of $150,000.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.-Government Hospital for the Insane, Washington.-The Training School held its graduation exercises recently and 12 nurses, 10 women and two men received diplomas. Seventeen attendants

successfully passed the examination of the junior year and are eligible for membership in the senior class. With the appointment of a chief of the Training School, which has been recently effected, it is proposed to outline a course of even more practical instruction than heretofore, and it is the intention to have a complete canvass made with the object of inducing a many attendants as possible to enter the school. This hospital is frequently called upon to furnish to the community in which it is located employes trained as mental nurses in order that their services may be made use of in private work, and it is hoped to train in the future a much larger number, so that, as the community may wish from time to time to be supplied, the institution will be in a position to meet the demands upon it in this particular.

As a result of a series of staff meetings, which have been attended by the members of the medical fraternity in Washington generally, a bulletin containing the papers presented at these gatherings has been issued. This publication has been put forth as an effort toward fulfillment of what is conceived to be the true position of a hospital for the insane, viz., that it should not only be a center for psychiatric information, but a center for the distribution of that information. The bulletin contains the following papers: 1, The Relation of the Hospital for the Insane to the Medical Profession and to the Community, by Wm. A. White, M. D.; 2, The Pres ent Status of Psychiatry in America, by Henry W. Miller, M. D.; 3, The Morbid Anatomy of Mental Disease, by I. W. Blackburn, M. D.; 4, The Functional View of the Insanities, by Shepherd Ivory Franz, Ph. D.; 5, The Standpoint of Histopathology in the Study of Mental Disease, by Nicolas Achucarro, M. D.; 6, The Use of Association Tests in Determining Mental Contents, by Shepherd Ivory Franz, Ph. D., and Wm. A. White, M. D.; 7, A Case of Unilateral Hallucinosis (Alcoholic), by Wm. A. White, M. D.; 8, A Case of Delirium Produced by Bromides, by Mary O'Malley, M. D., and Shepherd Ivory Franz, Ph. D.; 9, The Cytological Examination of the Cerebro-Spinal Fluid, by William H. Hough, M. D.

The Amusement Hall has been practically completed, the contractor's work having been nearly finished, while contracts have been let for the furnishing of the building. It will seat approximately 1200 people, provision being made for the accommodation of more than 800 downstairs and over 300 upstairs. The building is a modern one in every respect; it has been built of brick with white terra-cotta trimmings, to harmonize in appearance with the buildings of the hospital extension, contiguous to which it is located, and is admirably adapted in every detail for the purpose for which it was designed.

A new boiler house is being erected and will contain four 300-horsepower boilers. When it is completed it will be coupled up with an existing boiler house and from this source there will be supplied all of the power and heat for the entire plant.

With a view of adding profitable stock to its herd of cows, the hospital has had erected on its farm at Godding Croft, Md., a modern barn to pro

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vide for the housing of 60 calves. It is the intention to supply the cows for the hospital herd hereafter through the medium of the retention and the raising of calves on this farm and fifty are already being cared for at this place, to which have been removed also the poultry yards maintained by the institution.

The plumbing in the home and the relief buildings has been completed and Oaks A Building has been remodeled, so that the tubercular ward has been made materially less, and the remainder of the second floor has been given over to white female patients, with physicians' quarters in the front. The capacity of the building has been increased by approximately nd 15 beds.

With the opening of a number of additional wards in the hospital during recent months, all the space available for patients has been practically taken up. As all the wards are now occupied, and as the population of the he hospital is rapidly increasing, the time seems not far distant when they will be crowded.

Meters have been ordered for the wells, kitchens, pumping station and power house and when they are installed it is expected to be able to keep account in a more systematic manner as to the cost and the use of hot and cold water.

In the laundry a female assistant to the foreman has been appointed to MD have direct charge of the women employes and to act as the housekeeper for this class of employes.

A work of importance is about to engage the attention of the electrical division of the institution in the re-wiring of the old buildings of the hospital and the laying of conduits throughout the grounds for the proposed change in the electrical plant from a direct to an alternating current.

ILLINOIS.-On July 1, 1909, the State hospitals changed names: that at Bartonville, which has been known as the Illinois General Hospital for Insane, will hereafter be called the Peoria State Hospital, and the others will be known as Jacksonville State Hospital, Elgin State Hospital, Kankakee State Hospital, Watertown State Hospital and Anna State Hospital. These were considered more convenient than the old titles.

At the last session of the legislature an appropriation of $803,000 was asked by the State Board of Charities to establish colonies of epileptics at Kankakee, Anna, and for feeble-minded epileptics at Lincoln.

-Anna State Hospital, Anna.-On April 16, 1909, a new psychopathic hospital was opened here with appropriate ceremonies, addresses being made by Dr. William L. Athon, the superintendent, by Governor Deneen, by Dr. Frank Billings, president of the State Board of Charities, and by Judge Monroe C. Crawford, county judge of Union County. The cost of this hospital was $50,000 and it is modern in every respect. A similar hospital was recently opened in connection with the Watertown State Hospital, which cost $100,000, and two, one for men and one for women,

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[Oct at the Peoria State Hospital, the two costing $100,000. At the Kankake State Hospital a building for a psychopathic hospital is nearly comple at a cost of $75,000, but an additional appropriation of $20,000 will be re quired to complete and furnish it. An appropriation of $25,000 for a similar building at the Elgin State Hospital was found insufficient, so that $15000 was asked of the legislature. At Jacksonville State Hospital there are two psychopathic wards, one new and the other an old ward which has been refitted.

INDIANA.-Northern Hospital for Insane, Longcliff.—The improvements contemplated are a new local telephone system; new electric lighting and power plant; new plumbing in all old buildings, and a new $15,000 pathological building to be erected next summer.

Arts and crafts for female patients and out-door and in-door games for male patients have been proved and are proving a valuable branch of

treatment.

Iowa.-Institution for Feeble-minded Children, Glenwood.—Two hun dred acres of land has recently been purchased at a cost of $20,000, which makes the total acreage at present 870 acres. There is being constructed a new fireproof wing to the Boys' Custodial Building which it is estimated will cost $40,000. Additional reservoirs and other changes in the water system are being made at a cost of $10,000, and the total outlay for the completed water system will be $60,000.

The population of inmates is now 1206.

-Cherokee State Hospital, Cherokee.—Contract for a fire station 46 x 26 feet, one and one-half stories, will be let on or before the 31st inst.

A concrete tunnel, 6 x 5 feet 6 inches, and over a thousand feet in length is being constructed, through which all steam and water pipes, also electric wires will be carried from the main station to the psychopathic hospital now being completed.

A concrete underground root cellar, 110 feet long by 30 feet wide is being completed to afford additional room for vegetables of all kinds. Much grading and road-making has been done during the summer and

the work is still in progress.

All of the work, with the exception of the fire station, is being done by the institution, and for the most part with the patients' help.

MARYLAND.—Springfield State Hospital, Sykesville.-A new cottage for 75 women patients has been recently completed at a cost of $30,000. The new private railroad connecting with the Baltimore & Ohio was recently completed at a cost of about $100,000. It is believed that it will effect a considerable saving in the hauling of coal and general supplies.

MISSOURI.-City Asylum, St. Louis.-The new additions to the St. Louis Insane Asylum are well under way in construction and will be completed

robably by June, 1910. As the completed plant will cost about one and ne-quarter million, it should be one of the most modern and handsomest ha this country. There is not a feature in modern construction which has een neglected. No expense has been spared in the material, and as a harity institution it should stand out as one of the ornaments of St. Louis Eind a beneficence of its people. Besides the two additional wings, which will accommodate 2000 patients, the cost of which is $962,000, there will be in isolation building for the disturbed insane, also a local power and heating plant for this institution, female hospital and poor house; also a three-story kitchen and a laundry with an equal number of stories. As the city charter is now being revised by a board of freeholders, it is advised that a treceiving hospital be located on the same grounds as this institution, which will be under the control of a board of experienced alienists, at the same time be of service to not only the medical profession, but also to any citizen who cares to have the advice of this board; also that it be requisite in any court case where insanity is plead in defense. The alleged insane person shall be sent to this hospital and there remain until a decision is rendered by the board of alienists. All patients to be admitted to the general hospital on the affidavit of this board. This should make a complete system, se as it will encompass a psychopathic hospital and building for the acute and disturbed insane and a general hospital.

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-State Hospital No. 2, St. Joseph.-As a result of a disagreement between the board of managers of this hospital and the superintendent, Dr. W. F. Kuhn, the latter was summarily removed from office. Dr. Frederick A. Patterson, a member of the staff, was appointed acting superintendent. Resolutions of censure were adopted by the board, which claim that Dr 33 Kuhn has been guilty of inattention and misconduct.

NEW JERSEY.-New Jersey State Hospital at Trenton.-During the year a great many important improvements have been made.

The legislature during 1908 voted $111,000 for extraordinary improvements, which included the following: Replumbing, remodeling and the sanitation of the old building, at a cost of $50,000; tiling all bath rooms, toilets, etc., at a cost of $20,000. These improvements were very necessary, as the plumbing in this building had not been renovated since its construction 60 years ago.

This includes an equipment of a number of continuous baths for the treatment of excited patients on both wings of the hospital. Each equipment consists of four tubs, controlled by a central table, also electric thermometers which register when the water reaches 110°, or falls below 90°, so that patients are protected, even if an attendant is inclined to be careless. The hot water system has been further regulated by installing Tobey heaters, which control all hot water in the building, and prevent scalding patients through negligence.

In the bath rooms on the male wards the rain baths have taken the place