The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-03-21

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gregate amount 10 something like $40, 600.
Surely no one will expect the place to be
adequately provided and kept up with a less
expenditure. But If receipts should be
larger than we anticipate, and there should
be a surplus, II will still be in the treasury,
as no funds can be drawn for Hospital pur
poses without an order from the President
and Board Of Trustees.
By reference to the Reports, you will find
the expenses Of this Institution to have
been
For two years previous to Oct. I. 1s55.s9a, $50 %
Oct. ], ls57----IZ7. 55Z y
sept. 30, ls59-. 96,OJI 60
Oct. ], ls6l...-llT, z5 Sc
For two years and s months, ending Apnl
Il Aoo'- yJ,51S 6
And during the period last above mention
ed-that Is, 81 months-the receipts from
private, or pay patients, amounted to the
sum Of S20,049 "A. From Davidson county,
for county patients, the sum Of $3.50 2y."
The amount due the institution is large;
but from the prevailing inability Of the
people 10 pay, it is thought a very large
sum will not be collected, this year. The
cost of all articles of consumption, too, has
necessarily increased. The report contains:
"Wood-an article of which we use a
thousand cords per year-and which, three
j IEnLn hEUH GBsk AnD AA@ -11 - 1@aA @Aa.
since cost us from five TO eight dollars per
cord.
"Formerly, one-half Of those presented
for admission here, were private or pay
patients. Now, but q mOity less than two
thirds are placed here at the charge Of the
State. And, unfortunately for the lnstitu-
ton, and the interests Of the State as con
nected Herewith, the Indebtedness Of this
class Of patients alone, now approximate
forty thousand dollars.
''Your Excellency win remember that
these patients from other States, were ad-
mitted before the war. Very few have been
removed since; and a majority Of bondsmen
heard from are said to be bankrupt. Not
one has yet taken up his bond; and the
bonds, probably in no instance, cover more
than one-third Of present Indebtedness.
Numbers Of bOndsmen, when written TO
for settlement and removal of patients, re-
ply that they have not the means Of paying
the expense Of the patient home. Others
by letter, and otherwise, indicate that they
have no present intention Of trying 10 re-
move their insane.
"In the absence Of some legal enactment
upon this subject, the touching appeals
made to the Trustees and superintendent
will probably become the means Of delay
ing the removal OF many. ! therefore sug-
ge5t the propriety Of some humane, mercI-
iul, yet positive enactment, from which
there can BIZ no appeal, aud IN adherIng to
which we nay not be charged with cruelty
q the one hand, or the neglect Of the
financial interests ofthe State on the other"
Servants rooms have been erected at some
distance from the asylum, to diminish the
dangers from fire. A number of improve
ments to the building have also been made.
The old blacksmith shop has been converted
into Q museum, and an appeal Is made for
contributions to it, which we hope will be
responded To-. Editors of newspapers are I
also earnestly requested to send copies of =
their journals to the institution. The re-
port says; O
As man is the noblest Of all the creatures a
Of God, and mind his distinguished pecu- {
liarity, your Excellency will probably not a
take issue with me upon the suggestion that C
we are not likely TO make a better appropri- a
alton Of time, talents or money, than by 4
seeking 10 open up every possible avenue {
20 the restoration or Moderation Of the con-
dition Of those whose inirmities cause them v
10 be sent TO curative Institutions Of this d
kind. Though afflicted, a man is not. there C
fore, disgraced; though bereft Of reason, not IL
a brute. D
"a man 3 = man for 8 that" 4
and justly claims a brothers care.
In December, 1865, smallpox, which had u
become epidemic in the city aud vicinity, il
reached the wards of the Hospital, and r
within three weeks, was developed in four d
separate departments within, and one with
out. Its pestilential prevalence subjected v
US TO much Inconvenience and anxiety. C
We FIRST attempted 10 restrain the disease s
by placing those infected, in the fourth II
story but soon the number had so increas. O
ed that we removed them, and subsequently, D
others to a commodious farmhouse. Since
the first Of December, we have had twelve r
cases, varying in type from the most malig- a
nant variola TO the mlldest variolOld. OF
patients greatly enfeebled by previous dis n
ease, and who could not, in the nature of 4
things, have lived long. and one was a D
young gentleman from your part Of the v
the State, almost recovered of mania, and A
who probably would soon have been restor- y
ed 10 the bosom Of his family. i
It is worthy Of remark, that every case OF a
this disease developed here succeeded well
vaccination, and several occurred
where recent vaccination was IN full state Of
msturation. .
We endeavored to arrest the progress of {
the pestilential visitor-and probably sue
ceeded-by a flank movement, that is, by
such repeated vaccinations as we believed
M0nlN tAsuuNE inc susceptibility u every I n
one in any wise connected with the institu- :
\
This the report says, was accompanied 4;
with complete success. No more cases had \
occurred within a month. Il
The report then concludes az follows: :
Many persons within the wards are even 4
more anxious TO receive and read the cur I
rent literature than those without, and are
quite as much entertained and improved
thereby. Papers with pictorial illustrations :
are peculiarly well adapted TO a class OF
persons here. I
l regret that duty TO the helpless, de .
pendent inmates OF this Institution duty :
10 those who have committed their friends d
30 my care, and duty I. the guardians of
the Commonwealth, renders it necessary +.
that / shall state, m no ~unequivocal terms,
that the safety and permanence Of every
thing Acre is sometimes endangered by
drunkenness. Several drinking houses are 7
located within a short distance OF this
charity. Thither men are entIced, drink, q
get drunk, and come here drunk.
Would il not be well to prohibit, by law,
the retail-sale Of any distilled liquors, ale,
beer, or other intoxicating beverage within
three miles Of this property And 10 pro-
hlbit, by fine and imprisonment, uruuken- {
ness upon the premiscs2 .
Governor, ! should fail of duty in one Z
important respect, If I were 90 close this
Report without rendering 20 you. and .
through YOU 10 the Senate, my high appre-
citation OF the gentlemen comprising the
Board Of Trustees, aud 20 whom, in conuec-
tion with the Superintendent, Is committed I
the psychological uterests-udeed, might 1
say the interests OF soul, body, and spirit {
OF such a multitude OF dependent fellow c
citizens. S
appreciate your discretion and forecast t
as exhibited in the appointment Of a Board
composed Of gentlemen 50 singularly well c
qualified. Theirkindly feelings, cultivated
talents, and habits Of thought, eminently {
fl them for the delicate aud responsible q
duties incident 90 their position. {
The President Of the Board especially has
brought me under many obligations for le- I
gal services, always given with chesriul-
ness, {
Trusting that our Heavenly Father, in
whom we all "ljye, aud move, and have
our being and whose goodness and mercy
have 50 mauifestly followed us hitherto, viii I
vouehsaie for days % come His loving kind
ness. am, Ac.,
Your Fellow Citizen,
W. =. JoSEs,
Physician and superintendent
Italian Awnings made 10 order. Furni-
turo covered and repaired by Hewitt & Mar
shall, No. 81 College stress Mar. S, In.
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A very large Spring Stock Of the latest
patterns Of Wall Paper and Windoo SHADES,