Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-11-18

Except as to steady advancement IN
moral and intellectual entertainments for
the insane, the treatment is very much
as in former years, and such as l have
fully reported to you on other occasions.
The multiplication of the moral and
intellectual entertainments and diversions
have undoubtedly tended to the meliora-
ton of the condition of the insane.
Delightful reunions have been afforded,
within the airing courts and elsewhere,
where the insane have been entertained by
the reading of select essays. They have
listened to mirth- provoking anecdotes, or
humorous farces, until stolid reticence
gave place to speech, and features cast in
sorrow caught up propitious smiles and
smiling learned to laugh, until laughing
became contagious.
We have made many valuable improve
merts within the two last years, including
a barn and courthouse, 80 by 20 feet and
two stories high, and ahouse forhydraulic
rams. Our greatest achievement consists
in the supply of over Z, 900 gallons of water
per day in the tank of the COlored Asylum.
This tank haspipe connection with the tanks
on the hospital proper, and being higher,
the water seeking its level, rises in the
tank on the old building. Justice and
mercy alike demand that l shall
again call your attention to the necessity
of hospital accommodation for the crimi-
nal insane. If | were to take patient
suffering with the most loathsome form
of disease and introduce him into one Of
| our common schools, or ordinary hOspit-
ais, | should exhibit little more disregard
of just rules of prOpriety, than is shown
by thrusting depraved criminals into CuI
wards, where it is known their immoral
and pestilential influence is perpetually
disseminated and deplorably felt.
Notwithstanding the ordinary sanitary
precautions, we have had during the early
spring and summer, unusual prevalence OF
low grade of fever. Quite number
of our stoutest male attendants suffered
for many weeks with this disease ant
some of them died of it.
The superintendent urges upon thC
Legislature the necessity of providing fol
the insane. With a population of over {
| million two hundred thousand, it cannO
be that we have less than 1,200 insane il
the State, only One-third of whom ar
now adequately provided for.
The Superintendent concludes his re
port by offering his resignation. He says
And now, gentlemen, you will not b.
surprised to learn that, in consequence o
many years suffering, an attack of paral
ysis this spring and partial disability since
| feel it my duty, and do hereby resigl
the superintendency of the institution, t,
take effect the LIST of November or sucl
other time as may suit your convenience
For seven years or more as an officer o
. the State have with conscientious tidelit,
attempted to do my duty. The position
of Medical Superintendent has been n
sinecure to me.
Earnestly desiring that God, who gov
ems all things after the counsel o
His own will, may direct you in the sc
lection of my successor, i have the homo
to be your feIlow-citizen,
w. p. JONES,
Physician and Superintendent
We have not attempted to give fu
synopsis of the report, it being to
: | lengthy.
| The Trustees in their report speak yer
highly of DR.. Jones as an officer of il
tegrity, capacity and fidelity to bis hig
and delicate trust. The Trustees urg
upon the attention of the Legislature, Ii
! immediate necessity for further prOvi
ion for theSe unfortunates. Let anOtht
building, of equal magnitude be erecte
on the Asylum grounds, which afford
; beautiful natural site for it, and secure NJ
only increased capacity but the additions
advantages of judicious classification
economy of management and separatio
of the sexes, which is deemed Of the u
most importance.
The receipts of the Hospital for the la
two years up to Oct. l, amount to $42
? 594, 60 1-6, expenditures SAL ,96l, ~ IL
balance on hand $685. SO 1-12.
1 EUROPEANS start from Paris and arrive
! New York in IL days; thence to San Fra
1 cisco, I; thence to Yokahoma, q; them
c IN Hong Kong. 6: thence to Calcutta,