Six patients died; 1 after boarding less than a year; 1, two to three years; 2, three to four years; 1, six to seven years; 1, eighteen years.

In addition, 3 died in institutions within six months after returning.

Families.

The 275 patients remaining Sept. 30, 1907, were in 128 families, a loss of 10. Fifty-nine had 1 patient each; 26 families, 2; 12 families, 3; 27 families, 4; 4 families, 5.

Sixteen of these patients were with relatives, 6 with interested friends, 3 self-supporting in families of their own choosing, 1 in a family in each case.

Fifty-five new families applied for patients, 9 being rejected. Twenty-two new families were given patients within the year.

Two families became unsuitable and patients were with

drawn.

Nine other families voluntarily relinquished their patients, 2 because of low rate of remuneration, 3 because of change of residence, 2 because of illness and 2 died.

Cities and Towns.

The patients remaining Oct. 1, 1907, resided in 59 cities and towns:

Amesbury, 1; Andover, 1; Arlington, 1; Ashfield, 4; Bellingham, 1; Beverly, 2; Billerica, 5; Boston, 4; Brookfield, 4; Cambridge, 1; Chelmsford, 2; Chelsea, 1; Cummington, 1; Danvers, 1; Dennis, 1; Dover, 7; Dunstable, 3; Easthampton, 2; Easton, 6; Goshen, 2; Haverhill, 1; Hawley, 4; Holliston, 20; Leicester, 4; Lowell, 3; Lynnfield, 1; Malden, 2; Medway, 1; Melrose, 3; Needham, 4; New Bedford, 1; New Braintree, 1; Newton, 1; Northampton, 1; Northborough, 2; North Brookfield, 15; Norton, 7; Peabody, 1; Petersham, 1; Plymouth, 1; Prescott, 1; Reading, 4; Revere, 1; Royalston, 7; Salem, 2; Somerville, 4; Southborough, 5; Sterling, 1; Taunton, 9; Tewksbury, 69; Tyngsborough, 1; Upton, 1; Walpole, 9; Westborough, 12; Whitman, 1; Williamsburg, 7; Wilmington, 11; Woburn, 5; Worcester, 1.

FAMILY CARE OF THE INSANE UNDER TRUSTEES.

The trustees of institutions were authorized, by chapter 458 of the Acts of 1905, to place their patients in the care of private families under substantially the same conditions as the State Board.

First patient boarded in a family, June 13, 1905. Since placed, 18 different patients.

Number in families Oct. 1, 1907, 8; 0 men, 8 women.

Placed during the year, 2 persons, a decrease of 9.

Number of families having patients, 5, a decrease of 1; 3 families having 1 patient; 1 family, 2; 1 family, 3.

Number of towns in which patients are boarded, 4, — a decrease of 1. Largest number of patients in any one town, 4; of families, 2.

The general statistics for each institution for the year are:

NEW LEGISLATION.

General legislation relative to the institutions and persons under the supervision of the Board was enacted by the Legislature of 1907, as follows:

The essential provisions of chapter 520 are:

(1) The requirement that preliminary plans, specifications and at least one estimate of cost of construction of buildings at the institutions be submitted to the State Board on or before November 1 for its approval or modification.

(2) Authorization of the trustees, after the State Board's approval, to incur the expense of preparing working plans and specifications and estimates of the cost, and of the State Board to employ expert assistance in their consideration.

(3) The submission of such working plans and specifications to the Legislature, with the recommendations of the State Board.

(4) Filing copies of such working plans and specifications with the State Board, and prohibition of their modification without its written approval.

(5) Public advertisement for competitive bids for all such contract work.

ACTS OF 1906, CHAPTER 520.

AN ACT RELATIVE TO THE CONSTRUCTION AND IMPROVEMENT OF BUILDINGS AT STATE AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS.

Be it enacted, etc., as follows:

SECTION 1. Preliminary plans, specifications and at least one reliable estimate of the cost of any new construction, including plumbing, heating, lighting, ventilating and equipment, or alteration or repair of existing construction at an expense exceeding two thousand dollars, for which it is intended to petition the general court for an appropriation of money, shall be submitted, on or before November first next preceding the legislative session in which it is intended to request the consideration thereof, to the state board which has supervision of the institution, public or private, for which such work is proposed. Said state board may require such modifications thereof and additions thereto and such additional information as it may deem necessary.

SECTION 2. After the approval of said preliminary plans and specifications by said state board, working plans, specifications and at least one reliable estimate of the cost of the proposed work shall be procured by the trustees of the institution, and shall be submitted on or before said November first to said state board for its approval. Said state

board may employ expert assistance in its consideration thereof, and may recommend such modifications of and additions to said working plans and specifications as it may deem necessary, and if said working plans, specifications and estimate shall be submitted to the legislature without its approval, it shall recommend to the committees by whom such new construction, alteration or repairs shall be considered such modifications and additions as it may deem advisable, with its reasons therefor. All work to be done by persons regularly employed at the institution shall be excepted from the provisions of this section.

SECTION 3. Copies of said working plans and specifications relative to work for which an appropriation has been made shall be filed with said state board, and shall not be modified except with its approval in writing. The trustees shall solicit bids for the performance of such work by advertising in a reasonable number of newspapers, and shall award the contract to the lowest responsible and eligible bidder; but no contract shall be awarded for a sum exceeding the appropriation available therefor. Any petition subject to the provisions of this act and presented without compliance therewith shall be referred to the next general court, unless it shall be admitted for immediate consideration under the rules governing the admission of new business after the expiration of the time limit for its introduction.

SECTION 4. Any petition for an appropriation of money by the Commonwealth for such new construction, alteration or repair at an institution which is not under the supervision of a state board shall be accompanied by working plans, specifications, and at least three reliable estimates of its cost for submission to the committees of the legislature by whom it shall be considered; otherwise it shall be referred to the next general court, according to the provisions of section three.

SECTION 5. To meet the expenses incurred under the provisions of section two on account of state institutions, and on account of the Massachusetts School for the Feeble-Minded and the Hospital Cottages for Children, a sum not exceeding two thousand dollars may annually be expended. Bills of such expenses shall not be paid until they have been approved by said state board.

SECTION 6. This act shall take effect upon its passage. [Approved June 15, 1907.

The essential provisions of chapter 139 are:

(1) Requirement of the State Auditor to audit, at least once in each year, the accounts of all State officials, boards and institutions receiving moneys payable to the State.

(2) His authorization to prescribe the form and manner of keeping such accounts.