Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1853-12-07

taDllSllMent; tho r---2--,; '
patients more amply provided for; anu II:
whole system, as formerly adopted in the
Bicctre aud Salpetricrc, where the insane
were regarded as:condcmned felons or brutes,
was superseded by Il more gentle and hu'
name treatment. But siuce that period,
whilst this institution, from the character oi
the building erected for the accommodation
of patients, together with its uniaVorable
location and the limited extent Of the grounds
about it, has from necessity remained STA
tionary, others, both in this country and in
Europe, have lett it far behind in the i'm
provcmeuts which science and experience
have suggested; and they now present US
in tara examples from which our own sys.
tenn can be greatly amended.
have made it a portion OF my public
duty to examine into the condition of the
State Asylum for lunatcs, and The result OF
my observation has been to recommend to
you thorough change from all the present
arrangements. Provision is made only for
l2O paients-against about 400 lunatics,
which are estimated as the number in the
State. The Accommodations, therefore, are
too small and the duties Of legislation upon
this subject will be but imperlectly dis.
charged as long as there remains a single
lunatic within her limits unprovided for
The situation is within the corporate limits
of the town of Columbia, exposing the ln'
mates, without the possibility Of avoiding
the difficulty, to all the noise and hustle
which prevails il city, thus defeating very
often all the regulations for their perfect re-
pose by the Physician and Superintendent
\ location in the country, surrounded by
farm aud gardens, with other convenlences
of air and exercise, are regarded as lndlS
pensable to Il proper treatment of maladle$
of the mind. These advantages cannot be
had in its present position, nos can there
ever be a sufficient increase Of accommoda
ton from the limited extent of the grounds
as will meet with the present wants, still
less for those in the future.
The construction Of the edifco is alto
gether defective. The population within art
so thrown together as to prevent any thlnt
like classification OF the patients. Th'
refined and sensitive, more alive perhaps tt
uncongenial associations, than persons o
sound mind, are from necessity made to as
sociate to some extent with those who b,
their misfortuncs have descended To- the low
est thoughts and habits possible for huma
beings; so that from this cause many pa
tients of the former class are under the ne
cessity Of being provided for by their friend
without the State, in institutions which ar
more iudiciously arranged. The basemen
! which was intended for patients of certal
, description, and which is perhaps one Of tn
, most important portions of the structure
t from its excessive dampness and wretche
. ventilation is totally untitled for habitat'o'
f The dormitories also, or rather cells, &c
r they can hardly be dsnifed with nam
} implying convenience and comfort are I, nc
F; large enough for u person in health, still les
+. are > they adapted to class who, from on
/. of the peculi;.rities Of their disease, reqnl'
e a greater amount Of pure air. Their d
. mensions are six feet by eight, and ten fe'
t in height, afording only 3S4 cubic feet
e air, which by persons scientifically and pra'
t tically acquainted with the treatment OF II