The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1871-02-03
The Stats Lunatic Asylum.

DR.. Lebby, of Charleston, has recently
made o. visit, in behalf of the city OF
Charleston, to the State Lunatic Asylum,
and makes report as to the condition
and management of the institution.
He reports at present q very satisfactory
condition of things. The institution is
indeed very far behind other similar
hospitals for the insane, in being destl-
tute OF. imanyof those modern improve
: ments which have been elsewhere intro
,duced, but the present management Is
characterized as humane and judlcious'
The obnoxious employees Or. harris
and the keeper Davis, have been re-
moved, and the present superintendent
.Drs Ensor, assisted by DIR. Sloan, is spar
inr no effort which can improve the
condition Of the institution or conduce
:to,the comfort of the inmates. He says:
>, ..uTl,e Lunatic Asylum was closely aanaI
thofoIirhly inspected. through the po-
i;te,ess and invitation of the Superln-
Is,IIent. DR.. Ensor, accompanied by his
ossistant. DIR. Sloan. It is with much
TIsasIire that can report to your Hon
AZ md to our fellow-citizens who are
interested in this institution, the general
cycellent condition and apparent COM
ESrI that is manifested throughout every
department Of the institution. Its dis.
, cipline is parental, firm, and humane,
which conclusion is arrived at from the
Tree and vet respectful intercourse eVlne'
edbythe patients, both male and female,
white and colored, on meeting the
Superintendent and his assistant, a
fnct in itself which. is conclu-
siye of, their daily intercourse with
the unfortunate inmates. The building
;s sadly deficient in proper furniture.
etc.: for a State institution, fostered and
supported by the State. Its far behind
the enlightened age of progress. AND
It is now very apparent to my mind
least in comparison to the insane instltu-
, lions of other States, most OF which 1
have. visited. Tho old wood bedsteads,
and other furniture, should be lmme-
siiately replaced by, the modern iron
furnitures since introduced IN similar
: institutions. The Whole Institution IS
not sufficiently warmed il! winter as II
should be, and can not De under tlie
present arrangements. Steam or lur-
.i,ace below, connected with tubes run
ming through every room apd corrlaor'
with sliding valve regulator, shoulo De
snhstiti,ted Immediately for the present
arrangement, being more conducive 10
health, al. /. certainly less dangerous 10
conhagration. ,:,,,.,
80. rrnroach to the State. They are all
Of wood. liable to fire, and, in severe
Cold weather, almost impossible to be
made comfortable without great danger
nf conflacration. DR.. Ensor has sub
stituted for sthe, open fires, formerly
s,Sad the close coal stoves, surrounded
by iron railing, but even these. during
t6e severe season, are: not sufficient for
ffk comfort ofthis class of patients, who
aye neculiarly susceptible of cold. in
every otilerlrespeot could not perceive
fhatthsre was any difference of trcat7
n,ent between the white and colored.
TTese buildings should be immediately y
renlaccd .by the contemplated wing to
fhel main building, as recommended hy
tho. superintendent. This addition
would afford AMPLE commOdious and
yory comfortable accommodation for ali
the inmates Of both races salld certainly
would be a great Improvement 10 the
institution.'f @iaH'47','..''''
He recommends further an improve
ment of the library by the addition Of
thezmost entertaining modern works,
! !. and. also that the institution be fur
nished witha liberal supply Of musical
instruments. ~. - -. 80. o..
II The number Of patients in the insti-
tution on the commencement Of this.
fiscal year were ga; IL males
whites and 25 colored; and 1872 fcAlalcst
100 white and 2S colored. yes