Excerpts From Annual Reports of the Illinois Department of Public Welfare Manteno State Hospital - July 1, 1956 - June 30, 1957 Manteno State Hospital continues to be the largest state mental hospital in Illinois. The resident patient population on June 30, 1957, was 8,091 or 244 more than on the same date the preceding year. This is the first increase in population noted for the past 3 years. Average daily population for the year was 7,964. Admissions for the past year totaled 3,894, or 743 more than in fiscal 1956. Voluntary admissions account for an increasing number of additions. Chronic alcoholism accounted for most of the voluntary admissions. As in previous years, Cook County provided a high percentage of all patients admitted. Absolute discharges were 3,158 as contrasted to 2,503 for fiscal 1956 - an increase of 21.3%. Conditional discharges numbered 643 as contrasted to 795 the year before. 75 patients were placed in family care. There were 568 deaths (680 in fiscal 1956). The pharmacy handled an increased amount of drugs and medications, especially of the tranquilizing drugs. Various types of these drugs have been used extensively. The results, while gratifying, have not been phenomenal. Their increased use indicated improved medical care and attention. The pharmacy is handicapped by lack of adequate space. The pathology laboratory was moved from Singer Building to the basement of Bowen Hospital, where it has better facilities. 115 autopsies were performed, or slightly over 20%. Another dentist was added in the past month increasing the staff to four full time dentists. Better service can now be provided infirm patients by having the dentists visit the cottages on which they are located. Research in schizophrenia and epilepsy was continued. Dr. William J. Gallagher, a full-time staff physician, devoted all his time to research, and Dr. N.S. Apter and Dr. Carl Pfeiffer participated on a consultant basis. Research studies included: Chronic and irreversible reactions in chronic schizophrenia Efficacy of tranquilizing drugs Pharmacological studies Student research activities Follow-up studies on bilaterally adrenal-ectomized chronic schizophrenic patients Special antischizophrenic acting drugs Social science studies Epilepsy studies Chronic involutional psychotic studies Medical students from the University of Chicago were on special assignments to this untu for orientation and case studies. In addition 5 students spent three months doing psychiatric case studies and receiving training on research projects. As of June 30, 1957, nursing service personnel totaled 817, as compared to 809 a year before. The turnover was high, and the supply of male employees is never adequate. Registered nurses numbered 35, eight less than at the close of fiscal 1956, and far below estimated requirements. In-service training of the approved type was given to all new nursing personnel. 280 completed the course for psychiatric trainees; 108, the psychiatric aide I course; 42, the aide II course; and 11 the aide III course. Miss Cecilia N. Perrodin, RN, provided a 16-week course for professional nurses sponsored by the Department of Public Welfare. Woodwork activities are now located in the Barton basement woodshop. An expanded occupational therapy program for blind patients under a therapist and two volunteers has been in operation during this year. There are 14,743 books in the library. The safety and protection service has been improved by the addition of needed personnel. A 24-hour patrol has been in effect. The addition of a passenger bus, the first for this hospital has facilitated the transportation of patients about the hospital grounds. It has been invaluable in the chest X-ray surveys and is also used for special activities by patients and employees.