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

tabliShmGut; TIC r-.
patients more amp provided for; anu =.
whole system, as formerly adopted in the
Bicctre and Salpetricrc, where the insane
were regarded as condemned felons or brutes,
was superseded by more gentle and hu'
name treatment. But since that period,
whilst this Institution, from the character Of
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 il this country and in
Europe, have lett it far behind in the i'm
provcments which science aud experience
have suggested; and they now present US
in tara examples from which our own sys.
TEN can be greatly amended.
have made it Il portion of my public
duty to examine into the condition OF the
State Asylum for lunatics, and the result OF
my observation has been to recommend to
you thorough change from all the present
arrangements. Provision is made only Tor
l20 patients-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 imperIectly dis
charged as long as there remains single
lanatic within her limits unprovijed for
The situation is within the corporate limits
of the town of Columbia, exposing the in
mates, without the possibility Of avoiding
the difficulty, to all the noise and hustle
which prevails i, city, thus defeating very
ot,ea all the regulations for their perfect re.
pose by the Physician and Superintendent
4 location in the country, surrounded by a
farm and gardens, with other conveniences
Of air and exercise, are regarded as lndIs'
pensable to il proper treatment of malades
of the mind. These advantages cannot be
had in its present position, no: can there
ever be 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 cdfco is alto
gether defective. The population within are
50 thrown together as to prevent any thing
like q classification Of the patients. The
rellncu anu SENSITIVE, more allNe perhaps ~
uncongenal associations, than persons oil
sound mind, are from necessity made to as
sociato to some extent with those who by
their misfortuncs have descended To the low.
est thoughts and habits possible for human
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 arc
more judiciously arranged. The basement
which was intended for patients of q certain
description, and which is perhaps one OF TIT
most important portions OF the structure
from its excessive dampness and wretchef
ventilation is totally united for habltatlon
The dormilories also, or rather cells, TO
they can hardly be digniied with " "am'
implying convenience and comfort are no
large enough for Il person in health, still les
are they adapted to a class who, from one
of the peculiarties of their disease, require
a greater amount of pure air. Their dI
mensons are six feet by eight, and ten fee
in height, alTording only 3S4 cubic feet o
air, which by persons scientifically and prac
tically acquainted with the treatment ot III