The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-01-13

80. AhS hAst peStOn uOLtH VI tue CeHtel
building has been entirely completed, and
the building erected for the colored In,
sane Is nearly ready for occupation. Not
wilhstanding the increased accomnodA.
tions provided from time to time there /,
sill not sufficient room for all applicants
and new patients are therefore confined
IN county jailssometimes for months, and
this, too, at time when medical treat.
ment is far more effective In producing
cllres. Many IRE thus doubtless rendered
permanently insane who could be cured,
II properly treated, in the early stages OF
insanity. The cost Of keeping lunatics
IN lails ia also far greater than ut the hos.
pital. You will see from the Auditors
report that the sum Of $l5,4OO ~ was OK.
pended during the last fiscal year for the
support Of lunatics in Jail. Humanity
and economy both seem to demand that
room should be provided for new cases
either by the erection Of additional build.
ings at the hospital or by removing or
making some other disposition OF the
hopelessly insane patients. / have here.
toiore invited the attention Of the Legis.
lature 10 this subject, and, at the risk Of
repeating matter Of former messages, |
now reGlr to ii. My thought Is briefly
this: That the primary idea in the Cs.
tablishment Of the hospital is the cure Of
the insane, and, In the second place, the
confinement and maintenance Of luna.
tics who are 30 violent as to make them
dangerous. There are, however, in the
institution many patients permanently
insane, but simple, harmless and inoffen-
siye. Some OF then, have been insane for
years, and there is no prospect OF their
cure. II is rather an asylum than hospi.
idL The number Of cures effected il very
small when compared with other hospi.
tails. In saying this | do not mean to re.
fleet on the skill Of the officers. The
difficulty Is that, when many Of the pa.
tients reach the hospital, they have passed
the stage when they could have been sue.
cessfnlly treated. The fault Ii in the sys-
ten. There should in all instances be
room for new patients. II the hospital
be full, then harmless patients who can
receive no benefit by remaining longer
should be discharged or otherwise dispos.
cd Of, so as to afford room for new appli-
cants. do not mean, Of course, TO sng.
gest that this unfortunate class he simply
turned out OF doors and no further care
be taken Of them, but al il cost the State
so far nearly $1,000 to furnish room for
each patient, do mean that this class Of
patients can he "a we'll and much more
economically provided for in some other
way, On the other hand, as it il difficult
to define the boundary between sanity and
insanity, patients somewhat cratic or
afflicted with nervous diseases not render.
ing them insane may be admitted itHpro-
perly, |, therefore, invite your atten.
tion TO this subject, believing that some
beneficial changes may he made in the
present law.
The report OF the directors which will
be laid on your tables, presents the con-
dition Of the hospital and its expendi-
lures. They ask for SGO,S4O for current
expenses $1,000 for the transportation
OF patients for the present year, and the
same for the next year. They also ask
lor Sl,VOV To hnlSh the englne-house.
TIE DEAF, DUMB AND BLIND Iasrrru.
.... TON. .
No special Legislation is needed for the
Deal, Dumb.and Blind Institution, other
than the customary appropriations. All
necessary buildings have been erected,
and nothing more will be needed for some
years for construction purposes. The
report Of the Regents gives the history,
condition, wants and expenditures OF the
institution for the past two years. The
improvement in its condition is sufficient
evidence Of tue fidelity and intelligence
with which the Regents have discharged
the trust imposed on them. The number
OF pupils IN attendance last session was
So, Of whom G5 were deal mutcs and 10
blind. .....
Appropriations Of $4,000 for current
repairs, and furniture, and Of
$4,000 for additional ground, are asked
for,