When the care and treatment of mental diseases was first undertaken in our state institutions it was soon found necessary to take advantage in every way of such material assistance as could be offered by the more intelligent class of ablebodied patients in carrying on the routine work of the hospital. There were never employees enough to dispense with their services. In this way it came about that they were employed in the farms and gardens, assisted with the kitchen and housework, shared the tasks of the nurses and attendants in the wards and were busily engaged in almost every department of the hospital activities. It became apparent that occupation, undertaken originally for purely economical purposes, constituted one of the most important therapeutic agents at the disposal of the institution. The next step was the development of industries. Patients were taught by instructors to make clothing, underwear, stockings, shoes, brooms, mats, brushes, mattresses, furniture and many other useful products needed by the hospital. The end products were in every instance utilitarian. These accomplishments led to a still further development—purely occupational in character. Women were encouraged to take up such activities as rug making of all varieties, basketry, weaving, crocheting, embroidery, and needlework of every description. Men usually make towelling on looms, weave rugs, renovate mattresses, do repairing of all sorts and manufacture small articles which interest the masculine mind. Brass work, clay modelling and making jewelry of various kinds have been extensively employed. All of these forms of employment mean, of course, that the patient must leave the ward and go to some place designed for the purpose. The others, however, have not been overlooked and occupational therapists, who devote their entire time to stimulating the interest of the patients who cannot leave the wards, on account of their mental or physical condition, in some absorbing and diverting occupation, are an important part of the personnel of every institution. No other form of treatment employed in hospitals for mental diseases has been so productive of results. It is interesting to note that the medical officers of all of the forces engaged in the recent war found that occupational therapy was of great value in cases of shell shock and war neuroses.