Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-12-05
THE INSANE ASYLUMS.
All Four OF Them Now Crowded TO Their
Utmost Capacity.

Al Four OF Them Now Crowded TO Their
Utmost Capacity.
Tho state has no moro sacred duty 10 perform
than that of caring for tho insane within its
limits. The three asylums Tor waite lunGiits
and tho asylum for coored luns,ics are all filed
to their utmost capacity and TWO hundred white
and nearly hundred colored lunatcs are out
side of the walls OF these Hsyluws, watched,
guarded. and cared for "a well "a 10 Is possible
10 80 80 while awaiting emission TO them-
Under tho law navo succeeded IN establish
ing a temporary asylum, knOgn as the ' Pinel
Hospital on tho outskirts ct tho cily' lot the
treatment u colored patients, and have been
irving % get q suitablo building and have u NJ
rnnged for the white insane ~ temporary auole5
unfil such times 81 they can Oe admitted o tho
regular asy.ums, bus the great importance Oh
sending patient. as soon n possible % the asy-
lums cannot be oyer-eHtimated.
Statistics show that under prompt nni lnteHi-
gent treatment only about 81 per cent become
permanently discased: bat whore this is not tue
ease, and the experience OF meuichl hhoHleIro
and attention. so necessary, il no. appiieI ln INC
iucipisut stages. 80 per cent. become permanent
charge4 20 tho state.
would calI the attention of tho Lecislsture 20
tho rep r. OF the suDerlutcudents Or tue e'y-
lums, known Gs senate Document 40 IA, Nhl'h
contains -Ome wise recommendations nom th0h9
who Ournt 20 know most about iho SUBJECT 1
agree with that report thar the >iaic Ought 10 %
divided into three divisions for the writ" insane,
and that. - far ~ possible. eecn asylum -houll
boz required TO kosp their section free from theso
unfOr,unates 20 that no insane person should o'
permitted 10 90 10 tho la!ls. "A incro Is only
one asyluln Tor no cllOrei race 10 mut ~ course
draw from the whole stale. ~ is natural mat
undesirablo patents in one section OF the Siaio
shoi,d not De takeu by tho asyldm situated ia
that local. y. II they can an any vacancies exist
ing by taxing the more promising patients from
other districts. go
also recommend that tho state should blildi
when abIe 90 DO 20. anneErs for iIe hopelc-",
chronic and harmless Insane M each aiylum-
Bufliiucs for this purpose could be chenpiy con-
etrlicfcd aul that iu Itself would iIesclh
sAt.ti0rs aud make room Tor iho ihahe noWrui
of the a,ylums There might, too, Do -epsraie
buildings 20 q -cOmm0date The eploptc insane
the most dangerous AMI lucuraoie ot al forms
Of insanity, WHO are generally lifelong inmates
81 asyILtns. Inis wOIid leave tho main uullG-
irgs trce fog tho treatment az that class oi pa
tsnts with whom q restored reason IS not h0p1-
less.
Tho number of patients 2. proscnt IN the four
asviuul- of tho state are as follows: Lafltfn Lie
uAtic. ~ Western Lunatic, bH; NouthWestern
LHnafic, 81. ani Central lunetc, 5sl
The reports ~ the superiuieuienis OF the'o
asylums and the Board ~ Direc ors vii give tho
details OF their mana cement and show thht the
putli. affairs in,rustei u their haais hsfe been
su..esefully administered, while th sy point or b
the test methods TO puraIe % Increase tncir use
fulness 10 tnoso having the power 10 put Them IN
force.