Annual report of the New York State Hospital

New York Hospital was chartered in 1771 by King George III. Public funding of the charitable institution began in 1772 when the treasurer of the Colony of New York was ordered to pay 800 pounds annually to the hospital. The funds were to become "chargeable upon the Duty of Excise laid or to be laid on Strong Liquors retailed in the City of New York" (Laws of the Colony of New York, Chapter 1550). In 1806, the legislature called the hospital "an institution of great public utility and humanity" and found it in the general interests of the state that adequate provision be made "for the support of such an infirmary for sick and insane persons" (Chapter 54). Funding for the maintenance and improvement of the institution, in the annual amount of $12,500, was extended to 1857. As part of this act, the legislature directed the governors of the hospital to report annually on the state of the institution.

This report summarizes both the medical and financial operations of New York Hospital during the year 1814. Besides a narrative summary of hospital operations, the report contains a statistical account, arranged by specific disease, of admissions and discharges. Statistics on patient nativity are also included. The report contains an itemized abstract of expenditures and a general statement of receipts and expenditures for 1814.

This document was given to the State Archives by the Schenectady County Historical Society in February of 2002 and accessioned in April of that year.

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the material.