this sick at heart condition into one of moroseness or sourness from which he seldom if ever recovers when released.

The problem of what to do with the criminals is a very large and very serious one. It is the greatest expense that society has and yet society does not seem at all interested in it. Probably this arises from the fact that for so many ages society has demanded a certain number of sacrifices per year, that it does not seem to consider that there is any other way in which to act. Yours very truly, CHAS M. BRUCE.

Brookline, Mass. There were during the year ending October 1, 1910, 277 cases of drunkenness before the court. Of these 9 were committed to the State Farm at Bridgewater and 4 were committed to the State Hospital at Foxborough.

It is undoubtedly true that these institutions are aiding in the care of inebriates in our state, but to what extent it is difficult for me to form an opinion. You can see there are but very few committed to either institution from this court. I am using the system of suspended sentence in connection with probation a good deal in cases of this character and I find that it works satisfactorily in a large majority of the cases.

New Bedford, Mass. In answer to your inquiry of how many alcoholics came before our court during the year 1910, would state that the number was 2,207, of which number 290 were sent to the State Farm at Bridgewater. We cannot commit to Foxborough any person committed as a criminal. Probably an average of six or seven are sent there by the court after examination by two doctors on the application of a relative. Most persons go there of their own will and are allowed to leave at their pleasure when they go of their own accord.

Personally, I do not believe that confining a person in a penal institution is the proper method of handling inebriates. I believe that open air work and the building up of their health will do more to help them to give up the habit than confinement.

Cambridge, Mass. My clerk informs me that there were 1,081 men before the court for drunkenness in 1910. There were sent to the State Farm at Bridgewater 83, and to the hospital for dipsomaniacs at Foxborough 10.

The State Farm at Bridgewater is an admirable institution where the labor of the inmates is mainly directed to the reclaiming waste land and bringing it to a high state of cultivation. It has all the possibilities and machinery for doing great work, and is admirably managed as an institution, but the reformatory side is not given the attention it ought

to have. The hospital at Foxborough takes a smaller number of cases, and I believe is doing a good work towards reformation.

Holyoke, Mass. I sent 9 persons to the State Farm at Bridgewater and 3 persons to Foxborough during the year 1910.

E. A. CHAPIN, Justice.

The Prison Commissioners of Massachusetts summarize their 1910 report as follows: The number of arrests throughout the state for drunkenness during the year was 95,669; this number is 5,119 in excess of last year. The cities of Boston, Fall River, New Bedford and Worcester contributed largely to this increase. Quite a number of cities report a less number than that of last year, and the towns as a whole show a reduction of 499 as compared with the year before. For all other crimes the number of arrests during the year was 54,011, as against 56,469 last year. The total number of arrests for all crimes in the state during the year was 149,680. Of this number 11,183 were females. There was an increase of 2,839 in the number of males and a decrease of 178 in the number of females, as compared with the total arrests of last year. This summary shows that 62 per cent. of the total of all arrests in the state of Massachusetts during the year were for drunkenness.

The Massachusetts State Farms are still working out the problem of how best to treat alcoholic patients committed to them; as yet, of course, they are in the experimental stage. The following is a summary of the results as far as their report shows for the year 1910: Foxborough report shows that during the past thirty months (two and a half years), covering the period from April 1, 1909, to October 1, 1910, 927 patients have been committed or voluntarily admitted to the hospital. Of these patients 150 who were recommitted or readmitted are not considered in the statistics. The following remarks concern the 777 new admissions:

AGES.

Favorable-18-20 years, 4; 20-25, 28; 25-30, 52; 30-35, 85; 35-40, 82; 40-50, 60; 50 and over, 13. Total, 324.

Unfavorable— 18-20 years, 7; 20-25, 27; 25-30, 36; 30-35, 65; 35-40, 82; 40-50, 153; 50 and over, 83. Total, 453.

Total-18-20 years, 11; 20-25, 55; 25-30, 88; 30-35, 150; 35-40, 164; 40-50, 213; 50 and over, 96. Total, 777.

It is understood by a favorable or hopeful case that the patient's habit may be eradicated or that improvement more or less prolonged may follow hospital treatment. It is understood by an unfavorable case that the patient is unlikely to receive permanent benefit from treatment at the hospital.

Three hundred and four, or 39 per cent., were men of the age of thirtyfive or less; 473, or 61 per cent., were of the age of thirty-six or more. After careful examination and observation of cases, 324, or 41 per cent., were considered hopeful from a hospital point of view.

DURATION OF HABIT.

1-5 years, 109; 5-10 years, 188; 10-15 years, 158; 15-20 years, 99; 20-25 years, 91; 25-30 years, 59; 30 years and over, 73. Total, 777.

Three hundred and twenty-two patients, or 41 per cent., had used liquor to excess for fifteen years or more. Of the 777 new patients received, 164, or 21 per cent., were voluntary cases. Since the operation of the state law permitting the admission of voluntary cases, July 1, 1909, they received 198 voluntary cases, or 35 per cent. of all admissions.

DISCHARGES.

Of the 777 cases, 630 have left the hospital; 41 patients who have been given employment at the hospital at various times are not included in the statistics. Of the 777 patients, 104 were at the hospital October I of the present year. The 630 discharged patients are classified as follows. Authentic after-history of 209 of these men was not obtainable; they were therefore not included in the percentages.

Abstinent since discharge, 120 or 28 per cent.; much improved, earning livelihood, 90 or 21 per cent.; unimproved, 152 or 36 per cent.; escaped, 24 or 6 per cent.; insane when discharged, 24 or 6 per cent.; died, II or 3 per cent.

CASES OF DRUG ADDICTION.

Seventy-three cases of morphine and opium addiction, received since July 1, 1909, are included in the above statistics. Of these patients 62 have been discharged from the hospital. We have obtained authentic histories of 50 of these discharged cases; 9, or 19 per cent., have been abstinent since they left the institution.

The importance of after-care of the patients under the jurisdiction of the hospital cannot be overestimated. The system of after-care was

begun last year and has proved its value and merits continuation. As the method is somewhat of an innovation, a short description of it is given. The department, since its inauguration, has been in charge of Dr. John A. Horgan of Boston, who has given his entire attention to the development of this work. Briefly expressed, the essentials of the department are as follows: a preliminary examination of prospective patients, to determine their fitness for hospital treatment; weekly visits to patients at the hospital; visits to the homes of the patients before their discharge from the hospital; visits to patients after their discharge from the hospital. Such a routine gives the patient, prior to his admission, a knowledge of the hospital and its purposes; makes it possible for us to secure an accurate and sequential history of the patient; and, lastly, it supplements the medical educational work begun at the hospital. The following summary gives statistical facts of the department for the year ending October 1, 1910:

Visits to hospital during the year, 57; visits to patients during the year, 2,084; visits to office in Boston, 13.

One hundred and twelve patients on leave of absence have been in charge of the out-patient department. Accurate and consecutive history has been obtainable in 90 of these cases. Of these 90 cases, 35, or 38.8 per cent., have continued abstinent; 10, or II per cent., have improved.

Of the 76 voluntary cases, 27, or 35.5 per cent., have continued abstinent. Of the 98 patients who were given final discharge, 6, or 6.1 per cent., have been abstinent; 22, or 22.4 per cent., have improved.

Compiled statistics of 264 cases, of which consecutive reports have been obtainable, 25 per cent. have been abstinent; II per cent. have improved; 36 per cent. of these 364 cases have been decidedly improved by hospital treatment. IRWIN H. NEFF, M.D., Superintendent.

I was unable to find any detailed statistics from the State Hospital at Bridgewater, but take the following from the superintendent's report.

There were remaining one year ago this date, November 30, 1910, 2,429 inmates. The number now remaining is 2,593 or 144 more than last year, 76 more prisoners, 64 more insane and 4 more paupers. Prison commitments were 374 more, insane 32 more, and paupers 49 less, a net increase of 357. Prison commitments have been 4,373, as against 3,999 last year. All commitments of prisoners and insane and admission of paupers have been 5,037, as against 4,680 last year. Of these 3,783 were cases of drunkenness.

Of the 4,373 prison commitments, 2,856 had been previously committed here; 790 of these were returned this year for violation of parole or probation. They make 18 per cent. of the year's commitments; I per cent. more than last year.

The following, taken from a paper written by Dr. I. H. Neff, superintendent of the State Farm at Foxborough on the "State Care of the Inebriate," shows very well conditions as they exist at present both in foreign countries and in the United States. Dr. Neff has given a large amount of time and study to statistics, and there is probably at the present time no man in this country more thoroughly posted on the subject of state farms for inebriates. He says the increasing prevalence of drunkenness is responsible for the concerted movement for the care and treatment of inebriates in England some thirty years ago. They have devoted time and money to the elucidation of this problem. At the present time there is under consideration progressive legislation which will increase the usefulness of their methods. Australia, Germany, Switzerland, Hungary and Denmark have laws which provide for the care and treatment of the inebriate. Recent correspondence with these countries show that they are making steady progress and that the authorities are keenly alive to the fact that state and municipal care of the inebriate is not only a reform measure but is of decided economic value. The need of state care of the inebriate was almost simultaneously recognized in the United States. Massachusetts in 1893 established a hospital exclusively for the treatment of the inebriate. Iowa and Minnesota have established institutions, and in many states provision has been made for the compulsory commitment of inebriates to state institutions. During the past year many states have appointed committees for the investigation of drunkenness and with power to advise on conditions and remedies. Maryland, Michigan, Connecticut, Ohio, Indiana, New Jersey and New York are actively concerned in such investigation. Pennsylvania is engaged in this reform and undoubtedly will eventually succeed in carrying out the purposes of the bill so actively championed by her medical profession. New York City has recently passed a bill which provides for the care and treatment of the inebriate;