Delaware gazette. (Wilmington, Del.) 1837-1883, 1874-11-13
For TIC Gazette. M
The County -Aln& HoWoe,

W .
in the vicinity of Wilmington, to which
are sent the helpless, the aged, the Graz
ed, the halt and the blind who have not |.
the means OF proper maintenance and
neither friends nor relatives to render
them material aid and sympathy! Know
ing these facts, and knowing no more,
we resolved to visit the Alms-house and +
see for ourselves how it was managed.-
Our visit was opportune, for ii happened |.
on the Quarterly Meeting, Of the Trus-
tees, and when the institution was visit
ed by the Boards OF Trustees from both |
Kent and SUSSEX counties; who were in |
conference with the Trustees of New |
Castle county to consider the propriety |
perhaps the necessity-of a separate
institution for the care and cure Of the
insane of the State. III.
We scarcely deem it necessary to say
that each county in this State has its
Almshouse, which is managed bya Board
OF trustees selected by the Levy Court,
one member from each election district
| in'the county. 49,
The Almshouse property consists Of o
main building for the Superintendent
and family and assistants, as well as the
| sick, the lame and the aged and helpless,
who here have their comfortable rooms.
OF another building devoted to tho in
sane, and still another removed Some
distance and thiclIly shaded with trees
devoted exclusively to cases OF conta-
There is also a farm OF about twenty
acres attached to the Almshouse; well
managed, well fortified and productive
farm, which the Superintendent ASSUMES
US yields annual products to the value Of
near two thousand dollars annually
This farm is titled chiefly by thepaupers,
and the produce is consumed by the in
mates of the institution. g. I. =
There is also a good garden-to us i
seemed q model garden-crowded rs it
, was with vegetables, monstrous in size
. and excellent in quality. This is. .undeI
, the direct management of Patrick, who
claims to have been perfected in his lrt
/. | through long service with the Messrs
. du Pont, I. Pat celery and mushroom
beds were objects OF especial Interest,"
D From our out-of- door inspection, Where
weIfound so much to admire and com
4 ms, 1, we were summoned to partake, il
' company with the Trustees and thei
v Kent and Sussex county guests, and tn
Q professional gentlemen representing tn
q medical departments of each Board, t
n q good, wholesome dinner, which we dis
a |. GUESSED with appetite while we discussed
2 Mt the same time, the expenses and th
: present condition OF the institution. .
Mr.. Barlow, the efficient Superintent
l. emit, informed us that the maintainane
a ofithe inmates together with salaries fG
1t 1 overseer and assistants, and oil other e.
q penses connected with the nanageneI
ie Of the house and grounds, amounted 4
10 an average Of forty cents per dry X
in each inmate. During the year the
al have been about Eve hundred and fiji
or inmates. One hundred and ninety j
mr. ninety-hveis, however, the average nun
lie Der in the house at one times or I'll
les | whole number received during the pa
Mt year, one hundred and lseventy-sey'
M were ooloredi two hundred and ,twent
nd one foreigners; leaving only one hundr
ID. and ffty-one white American citize
en-. who haye availed themselves Of the U
lin of this grand charity furnished by t
"a taxpayers OF New Castle county. oiSi
e's We now make tour of the rooms, n
on find the same general care OF the wal
NE and cleanliness Of the rooms, With
lis, occasional exception, the inmates arect
err tented and happy as circumstances y
,n- admit. Many of them-expec
in sick and aged-spoke with affections
oy- interest Of the matron who they (
ion makes for them home with all o HON
lie, comforts. The weak-minded and inss
we found to be more numerous than
md | expected, and the hospital for eontage
me diseases we declined to inspect ~
,ar- We next dropped into the par
where we found Trustees OF the eevt
counties in committee Of the whole, ,
ta,. cussing the propriety Of memorable
ee' the Legislature for q State Asylum
re. the insane. So rapid has been the
crease of this class OF inmates in \
may Castle county that the available roc
ipnc are filled, and the Trustees have b
o 'es under the necessity Of erecting 81
slu- twelve new rooms, which are now re
WI, .N for the reception Of occupants.
ieSu number in the institution at pres
60, classed as insane, is fifty-two, over
Sa's fourth OF the whole inmates. Some
w these cases are hopelessly orazed, otf
t .;a, are capable OF amelioration if not
.ns perfect cure under skillful treatment
10y, cheerful surroundings. We are infori
.u,1 1 that the medical staff Of the house h
80 been successful in O remarkable del
~ in these cases. Many considered inc
. so,a BILE have been discharged as sount
I've mind. But all the care that can be
'- ercised hete, and the best treatn
, s,ue. not be so effective aswould be- tha
~. doctors who made diseases Of thu mil
= p Nv speciality in an institution set apart
y ioe clusively for such patients. s 7 81
.,,ass 1t is not our purpose to report v
ppeu was said at this conference on the
| i 90, ject Of a State Insane Asylum We '
I I.ss surprised at the ability with which
- Bup1ecG was treated py Une spear
Evidently no application will be mac
the Legislature fof relief until
. facts can be presented to our law ma
as will convince them of the necei
er 9, for the appeal, based not only on
Gratis fact that the proportion of insane il
81. to large to be properly treated in cor
sisla- ton with the other wards of the c
iator ties, but chiefly to give this unfortu
re on class the benefit of exclusive treatn
was 4 Intelligent committees were appoi
gene from each county, who will collect
when tisties in regard to the number Of in
orton within the State, the, most spcce
'nbi- mode of treatment as adopted BY
efeat various institutions throughout thee
,opu- try and all matters touching the sui
Phil They will also digest o plan for a
jition Insane Asylum, all of which viii be
81 de- considered by the Board oollectivel
other fore presentation for Legislative, &C
), I'M We cannot close this record Of oil
ed teresting visit without an expressi
N3 qualification in finding our county
-. concerns so well managed and tn
,reas mates SO comfortably cared for.
Superintendent appears to be indei
Is able IN the performance OF, his. d.
,bbery and the Matron appears to be reg
q safe with affection by many poor ere
e and for whom she provides the real con
le Os- Of a home. The Trustees serveg al
i. at7 without compensation, and theio
scurea no sinecure. The Trustees from Will
mt to ton especially devote q great pa
ments their time to the affairs Of the
ovarad | House, Z If'iJt ZIG i.'il 4 All fIT