Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-02-08
EDGEFIELD, Sc; FEBRUARY s. 1854.

with that sum sufficient accommodation can
be supplied for our immediate wants, and
such comforts furnished as will enable US 10
compete with the institutions Of the neigh.
boring States. 10.
Thus.it appears that but twelve months
ago. a bcation on the grounds Of the Asy-
lum was regarded not rery bad one by the
Board of Regents or the Physician; and it
may be added, that the Superintendent con.
Cured with them. This fact should go far
to excuse those who still think that the idea
is not preposterous. 1t is respectfully ask
ed, has there been such vast change in the
condition of things within. this brief period,
as to make that absurd which but yesterday
recommended itself to this body of respecta.
BILE and intelligent gentlemeng The Asylum
has parted with none ofits lands; it still has
ffy.6ve acres; they stand in the same place;
present the same surface have the command
of the same water; are just IS favorable for
drainage in short, all the natural advantages
remain unchanged. There is the same bar.
rier Of woods on one side to prevent int:u.
sion and secure the necessary privacy. |
must invoke little mercy for those who
honestly think that these grounds still fur.
;nish a very fair site, and they are not to be
held up as wanting in proper zeal because
Of their opinions. So far as | know, the is.
sue always has been between this place and
the Lightwood Knot Springs. This latter
place is about six miles distant from the
town. and has but the advantages ofbeirg a
large body of land, healthy afording an
abundance of water, and far removed from
the town. There is more land than is wan.
ted. The site in town is believed to be
healthy as much water as is needed can be
procured without difficulty, and The distance
is not too far. The absence of springs is
not very formidable objection, and may be
easily overcome. The building can be read.
lily and amply supplied by wells, cisterns and
pipes, and this is done in many Of the best
Institutions of the world. The location of
an Asylum near town. or on its confines,
is not without signal advantages; and, as
will be seen presently, it is peculiarly so with
ours. A lunatic must he made to feel that
he is yet in the living world, and too great
isolation makes prisoner Of him. Every
thing must be done which can be done to
inspire cheerfulness, and raise him from the
depth of his gloomy medtations. There is
no harm done by permitting him to look up
on The town, and, in the exercise Of a proper
discretion, to walk in its streets and partici.
pate in some of its services. | have often
seen themin charge Of keeper or matron
walking in the midst Of the moving masses,
and have often witnessed the earnest devo.
ton with which in our churches they join in
the worship of the Great Jehovah. speak
the language of hundreds, when say. that
Lightwood Knot is cherries spot, where
there can he nothing to break the dismal
continuity" but the sound of the iron horse,
as he moves over her waste aud barren sand
hills. But where is the great annoyance
from the town, if the buildings are placed on
the other side of the street! Many plain
people think that it is quite retired spot in
one corner of the town, and from the very
nature of the location it must be free from
any great encroacbment. 1t is further be-
leved by not few that removal to point
so distant must lead to reorganization Of
the institution; a reorganization in which
its hest interests cannot lie consulted. What
is to become of the Board Of Regents
There can be no Board. Gentlemen can.
not be found to render the thankless service.
If it be said, that there are asylums in the
world FIVE miles distant from cities, answer
that those cities contain a population OF
hundreds of thousands, and that in such q
multitude there are to be found good men Of
leisure and fortune who, to their great honor
be it said, make a professional conservation
of themselves to all works of charity. This
is not to be expected in n small town like
Columbia, and it is confidently predicted,
that let the experiment be made when it may,
there will lie only in name Board of Re.
gents. If there be no Board Of Regents,
what then9 The Asy lum must be placed
under the control of one man, for the offices
Of physician and superintendent must be con.
solidated. If be ga slumbering regency"
it is all we'll; but there are those who believe
that the present organization is one Of great.
er efficiency. And here, to protect myself
against misapprehension, | think proper to
state, though opposed to Lightwood Knot,
and seeing plausible reasons for the location
in the town, I am yet willing for a removal
to the country, provided an enligibie site
can be found uithin mile and a half
We are tod that the Asylum is a failure
and so boldly and perseveringly has this opin.
ion been pushed Of late, and so we'll calcula.
ted is it to prejudice its interests. that it must
be met and put dozen. 1t is disproved by
the whole tenor Of the reports of the Board,
the physician, superintendent, chaplain and
committees of the Legislature. Perhaps in
no way can the matter be rs satisfactorily
concluded as by looking at the average OF
cures and the most competent witness is
the physician. will take the liberty of re-
ferring to one or two of his published re.
ports, which are before me. In that Of 1914,
he says that since 1885 there have been re.
cevcd into the Asylum 233 patients, and Of
this number 100 have been discharged cured
and adds that by comparison with some o
the best institutions in Europe and America
we will have no cause to be dissatisfied with
the number we have been enabled to return
to their friends. But lest some may suppose
that the Asylum has had a worse success re.
Gently, and that, either from unavoidable
causes or the neglect Of the Regency, or the
want Of skill in the physician, fewer patients
are restored to health and reason, will cite
the report of 1852. III understand that re.
port the physician reports as cured 260 pa
finnte ont of sQa of this nnn,her hain0 ra