The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1885-04-08
The Chattahoochee Asylum.
A NEAT AND COMFORTABLE HOME FOR THE
STATES INSANE.


The State of Florida in providing an
ASYLUM for insane persons has conferred
an obligation upon all her citizens. No
one KNOWS now soon some one dear to
them may require its fostering and nro-
tecting care, and perhaps the benefits Il
conters can never be properly appreci-
ated until it thus comes home to MS
Feeling sure that there are MANY of vour
readers who are anxious to be we'll in
formed about many things connected
with this charity, / have taken special
pains to inform myself.
l found the officers in charge more
than willing to communicate whatever /
wished to know, and the superintendent
DIR. Randolph, kindly took It up himself
to show me through the different build
ings and enclosures.
The ASYLUM is located near the old vii
lage OF Chattahoochee, in Gadsden coun-
ty, one and half miles east of the Apa-
Iachicola river, and the same distance
from River Junction, the terminus of
three railroads, VIZ, the Florida Rail-
way and Navigation, Savannah, Florida
and Western, and Pensacola & Atlantic.
1t stands on beautiful plateau, $50 feet
above the sea level, which is within a
few feet of the highest elevation in the
State. A number of ever-fiowing springs
flow from the hill-sides in the immediate
vicinity. The situation is remarkably
free from malaria, and is one of the
healthlest inland points in the State.
The buildings are of brick, and are well
ventilated and kept scrupulously clean
The enclosures are large and securely
walled in, and each sex and color has its
own separate apartments and grounds.
and is carefully protected from intrusion.
The inmates look healthy and cheer
full, and are evidently we'll nourished.
The daily supply of food includes bacon,
fresh beef, lard, -four, grits, corn meal,
rice, coffee (for breakfast), tea (for sup
per, dried fruit and syrup, and an album
ance of vegetables, of which the well
cultivated grounds furnish almost con-
slant supply.
The inmates are comfortably clothed,
and the bedding is good and clean, and
fuel is supplied from the woodlands be-
longing to the institution.
The number of patients at present is
159, divided as follows: White males IS,
white females 81, colored males IS, col
ored females 81. Each sex and color
is attended by nurses and other attend
ants OF their own sex and color.
Upon careful inspection, | was con-
WINGED that nothing is neglected that
would conduce to the health and comfort
of the inmates.
1t is a lamentable fact that insanity is
on the increase in every part of our coun-
try, fact which has invited the scrutiny
of the ablest experts without developing
any effective means of staying the evil.
The most that science seems able to do
is to promote the physical health and
comfort of the subjects of the mental
malady, and surround them with the
conditions experience has proven best
adapted to promote the cure. A few are
cured and restored to their friends, but
the majority, believe are doomed to a
lifelong alienation. That their condition
is vastly improved by confinement in an
ASYLUM every one must admit, and it is
the part of enlightened philanthrophy
and craftsmanship TO see that the means
of successful treatment are abundantly
supplied.-R. III. NJ, an Times Unioa