The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1889-05-28
TALLAHASSEE, FLA, Nav 20. 1850.

81" Your JOINT COMMITTEE appointed to visit
the Insane Asylum located at Chattahoochee FlOri.
da have performed that duty and beg leave 10 suh
NIT the following report
We find the institution has now in its care two
hundred aud sixty patients, number in excess of
the capacity of the buildings TO properly accommo.
date, which renders il difficult to care for and look
after the unfortunate inmates The varOus wards
are crowd d. mauy rooms having two beds in them
while quite number are standing in the corridors
which occupied at night Considering the din
cultics surrounding the institution, we find the pa
tents well card for bright md cheerful The
good order and quiet behavior OF the inmates sn,te
noticeable, -trkngy in contrast with that which one
would expect to find in the home of those unfortu.
mates who have been bereft of reason and speak
Volumes for the kind and humane treatment ex.
tended 10 them by the phys elan in charge Your
committee are aware that the reports TO former
Legislatures have all dwelt upon the fact that the
asylum was TOO much crowded that more room was
needed, bur the time has now come when the GOOD
name Of the State demands that some action be
taken to enable the managers of the asylum to give
better treatment to tue inmates The number has
Increased from POO to 260 within the last two wears
and is continually growing larger. After consulta
ton and due deiioeration your committee would
recommend that two brick buildings be erected To
be two stories high aud about $40 feet long snhdi
vided into sleeping apartments Of proper size the
one for the use of colored lies to be built out.
side the brick wall, east of the building now occu.
pied by them the other for the colored females to be
built outside of the brick WALL of the building now
occupied by the white females. We also recon
mend that good substantial plank fence be put
around said new buildings aud good cistern be
dug in the enclosure Of said new buildings
This would give all the room required for these
two class for several Year,, and would give the
large building now occupied by the coored males
for the use OF white III les which would be amulc
loom. The buildings could be so located as TO per
init additions TO them whenever more was needed
TWO story buildings are suggested, as the physician
In charge says 1t 10 more convenient to look after
and care for the patients in them than in a three
story building or buildings and lessons the danger
TO life in event of fire other accident Yonr
would 4 ,.t
ing be fitted up tor the Of patients who nav for
,nelr attention and treatment it is but usf and
fAr that they should receive better fare and atten
ton than is accorded to the INDECENT patients in
this and other State asylums
Your committee, with regret call attention Of
the Legislature the fact tn there is no hospItsl
Tor tue sick, who I'VE to remain in the same room,
when sick az whom we'll This renders proncr
nursing ana medical treatment very difficult indeed
we wouio therefore recommend that one Of the
Duldngs near the western gate be, fixed nm "a a
hospital. and divided into four wards for the dit
ferent races and sexes
1t Is difficult from SO limited An investigat;o ~
your committee had time to make, to notice all
points In connection with the institution and ira
practical workings, but in everything and in evsrv
department mt most rigid economy in the expendi.
lure OF money Wa evident. In the matter OF food
supplies we find the quantity sufficient and the onsI
lty good for people In the enjoyment of health Int
Tue matr0n has difficulty In furnishing suitable diet
lot SICK persons, persons in feeble condition az
was the case with many of the patients Some ar.
rangetnents shsuld be made Immediately for rev.
ular supply of milk, not less than thirty yallons
per Gay either by contrac for its supply or by tho
purchase OF number OF cows, and an approDriotion
lot the purchase of suitable food for them Your
COMMITTEES would also recommend provision for
additional medical service for the institution To
Tue care OF 26o patents to one physician is not
alone injustice to the patients, but positive inin.
t'ce 10 the physician If he be conscientious man
having the good of the patients constantly hefora
n'lh II he be taken sick the inmates are without