Huntsville gazette., 1886-12-18
The Co10Fd Insane.

of this ;nstitution. From it we see
tia. 733 per<ons are now calei for
at the Hospital-350 men and 3S3
women; CAB whites and 80 colored;
80 are paying patients and 695 iu-
digent.
Last year there were $50 patients
at the close of the year, showing an
in crease this year of lO3.
" 9 shall for the present pass the
other valuable information given in
the Report and give the following
extract from it concerning the colored
insane.
"For several years past the two
detached buildings occupied exclu-
sively by the colored insane have been
crowded to Their utmost capacity ,and
applicants have been reviewed only
as vacancies by recovery or death
would occur. Tnese detached build
ings together accommodate about
ninety patients. We are receiving
applications almost every day for the
admission Of tue colored insane, most
of which, for reasons above given, we
have been compelled to reuse. l
suppose that there are not less than
one hundred of this class who are
now con6Eel | in the county jails
throughout the State The census of
1880 places the total number of col
ored insaI ia Alabama at All, and
as only 80 of them are under treat,
ment in the Hospital, it is not un-
reasonable to sup pose taat of the ret
naming 32l, at least one-third are
confined in the county jails for safe
keeping. In answer to the ques-
ton, often asked me, as to relative
durability of the white and colored
insane, would state that, Of the 447
admissions during the past biennial
period, 416 were white, and 81 were
coloreo: and of the recoveries 165
were white and "a colored. The per
centage of white on number admit
ted was 36.66, that of the colored
was TAO. These statistics, how
ever, are far from conclusive as to the
real facts Of tn, case, since We have
been compelled. for reasons already
given, to fill the vacancies iu the col>
ored wards with the acute and cnra-
BILE casee, and to refuse such as were
chronic, or long standing.
The increase Of insanity among
the colored people since their eman-
cipation has been very remarkable
The federal census in 1850 reported
in the whole United States but 638
colored insane, and 10 1860 the num-
ber had increased to only 766. or say
one for every 5,799. Returns for
1870 show one for every 2 695, and
in 1880. we find one for every l,096.
If this rate of increase is maintained
we may expect to find in 1890 about
the same proportion Of Doth blacks
and whites, which is about one for
every 600 iphatitaAts.
/ have reason to believe that an
appeal will be made by the county
officers aud others interes ted in the
matter, to the next Legislature for
An appropriation to secure additions
al accommodations for this class OF
our insane population. Safety to
the community, a. we'll as humanity,
require that this appearl should be
favorably considered, and | have no
doubt an appropriation will be made
for the erection OF suitable buildings
exclusively for the colored insane.
In whether here or at some other
point, 1t is important that it should
be properly constructed for safety,
comfort and economical administra-
ton. l herewith submit drawings
and specifications of substantial
brick building, Of the most approved
character, large enough, to accommo-
date 800 patients, the estimated cost
Of which, if built here, when com.
plete. that is to cay, supplied with
steam heating appara us. water, gas
and furniture. will be 100000. Il
say, If built here, because of our
superior facilities for making brick,
planning and dressing lumber, making
L.