In addition, the overseers of the poor report (March 31, 1907) 33 epileptics in city and town almshouses.

INCREASE OF THE EPILEPTIC

under care for the year was 38, compared with 20 the previous year, and 55, the average the last five years.

The increase of the epileptic under public care was 36, compared with 21 the previous year, and 54, the average the last five years.

The increase of the epileptic under private care was 2, compared with a decrease of 1 the previous year, and 1, the average increase the last five years.

The increase of the epileptic under public care, like that of the feeble-minded, does not represent the rate of increase in the frequency of occurrence of epilepsy. They are coming under public supervision in greater numbers, probably because of the establishment of a special hospital for them.

It would be wise to continue the recent policy of progressive enlargement of accommodation for this class, especially for children. The experience of the Hospital Cottages for Children, where the average age at admission is about ten years, shows that about 1 in 10 recovers or ceases to have epileptic seizures for a considerable period, whereas adult epileptics have rarely recovered after their admission to the Hospital for Epileptics.

THE WHOLE NUMBER OF INEBRIATES

under hospital care Oct. 1, 1907, was 107, being 1 inebriate to every 29,120 of the estimated population of the State. This number is but a very small fraction of inebriates, there being some 20,000 commitments made annually to penal institutions, and some 7,000 persons committed for the first time.

It is the intention to exclude from hospital care the criminal inebriate and those who are not of good character and reputation apart from habits of inebriety.

The State provides a special hospital for the treatment of male inebriates, but women are excluded therefrom, and continue to be committed as inebriates to State insane hospitals. The private institutions receive only a few such patients.

Their number and distribution in these locations Oct. 1, 1907, are shown as follows:

DECREASE OF THE INEBRIATES

under such care for the year was 29, compared with 34 the previous year, and 19, the average for the previous five years.

The decrease of the inebriates under public care was 26, compared with 37 the previous year, and 20, the average the previous five years.

The number under private care shows little variation.

The effort to eliminate the criminal and unsuitable class of inebriates from hospital care accounts largely for the recent decrease in their number.

Further details in regard to inebriates will be found under Foxborough State Hospital and in Table IX. of the Appendix.

THE STATE DEBT,

1 Due in part after one year at the option of the State Treasurer.

INSTITUTIONS.

THE VALUATION OF INSTITUTIONS

for such Dec. 1, 1907, was $12,040,992.74, increase, $431,012.38; real, $10,167,256.25, increase, $353,935.90; personal, $1,873,736.49, increase, $77,076.48.

The details for each institution are set forth in Tables II. and III. of the Appendix.

STATE EXPENSES

on account of these classes are incurred by the State Board, at the institutions under its supervision, and in family care of the harmless insane. They amounted to $2,892,161.52 for the fiscal year ending Nov. 30, 1907.

EXPENSES OF THE STATE BOARD

were $5,999.07 for office, travelling and contingent expenses and printing its annual report; $25,731.76 for salaries; $11,200.27 for transportation and deportation of patients.

Details of these expenses may be found in the financial statement of the Board on a later page.

EXPENSES AT INSTITUTIONS

for the insane, feeble-minded, epileptic, inebriates and of the harmless insane boarded in families were $2,892,161.52, of which $2,185,710.38 were for maintenance, $225,053.42 for depreciation, and $438,466.61 increasing value of institution plants.

RECEIPTS OF INSTITUTIONS

for support of such patients, from sales and other sources, for the year were $491,493.34, so that the net expenses on account of these classes were $2,400,668.18.

Such expenses and receipts are tabulated according to classes and institutions as follows:

printing annual report,