Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1884-05-27
Western Lunatio Asylum.

FDIToR HAwEsvILLE DEMocRAT.
In response to your request for
correspondence l will give you de-
scription of my present home. 1t is
situated on the north side Of the pike
Oh a beautiful slope Of land, two
miles cast Of llopkinsvillc, Ky. The
house is beautiful bnck of three
stories, is divided into the Central
Building, the East Wing, the West
Wing and Basement. In the centre
building is the house of DR.. James
Rodman and family, also Drs. B. W.
Stone and Benz. +, Eager, three men
YOU would have to travel many days
to find their equals for kind and gen
tie treatment, to the poor uniortu-
nate family they have under their
control. The east wing is divided
into six departments, called wards,
for females the west wing is divided
into eight wards, for males; in the
basement we find two kitchens; ;
one for DR.. Rodman's family, the 9TH
er for the sick and female attendants,
and also stores of general provisions
for the place. Just in the rear of this
building is large kitchen and wash
house where the laundry is preform-
ed by steam. Much of the cooking
Is done by steam. The wards are
warmed by steam. The water is sup
piled from spring on bluff three
fOurths of a mile north of the build
ing, which is conducted through iron
pipes laid under the ground.
In addition to what | have de-
scribed there are thirty acres of land,
on which we find brick cottage
called Rodman's college, in viii h
twcnty-scvcn men are found, who
are called the better class of lunatic,
many Of whom will soon be sent
home as cured. Should you Sc
many Of them now you would say
"why that man is not a lunatic." "
You also find a brick building of
some size oc upicd by colored
females, and box houses for the col
ored males, and similar houses for
old, incurable, harmless lunatics.
Last year two houses were erected
for females who have become conva-
lescnt and need quietude, which they
cannot have in the main building, or
out in the cottage. The entire tract
land connected with the asylum con-
tains 424 acres, and is divided into a
farm and garden. Much of the work
is done BY what is called climatic
labor.
On the farm are 6mules, Thorses, Is
cows and fine herd of Jersey heiters
which will soon be very valuable.
We have representative from sixty
different counties in the State, War.
rem county having the largest and
Barren county the next largest num-
Der, we now have 5S3 in family, moi
counting physicians, nurscss cooks
and attendants. On a pretty day
when it is warm and pleasant, you
can see l50 females out in difleren
parts of the beautiful park that SUI,
rounds the building, and 200 mel
playing base ball and walking ov,l
the ground.
The treatment is mild but firm.
a man comes here to make this Iii
home he should see if his papers ar
made out right, that is'if he has min,
enough to do so, and if he has not
MS lIlcIluS SHOuIu w 81 lOtS lllli
Many men are sent here with coli
form of the law, accompanied b
some cold-hearted man or men, VIII
just put him inside, get a check 70
their money, and then lcavcas thougI
they thought they had performc
some grea. feat, Now by cXpcrienc
| find ifany one becomes dementc
the best thing that can be done, is fU
some Of his friends to give a plai
8 and true statement Of his case an
: then let it accompany him. In a
f cases where this is done I see that
c Is better for all parties. | also sus
+ gest that in all cases where friend
y can do so, they should accompan
their unfortunate friend, and tht