Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-11-07
On the subject of furloughs the report

says:
"Many patients who are harmless and quiet,
but not entirely restored are often sent out on iu
lough In charge OF their friends, who are Wiling
and able TO exercise all proper care, protectioh
and restr amt over them during furl0ugh; 10 re-
port their condition 10 the asylum every TWO
week s. and 10 convey them from and return thom
70 tne asylun when necessary, all without ex-
penso 10 the State The great majority OF tnese
cases are greatly benefited by this change, Ibe,r !,
improvement becoming more raPla' anu nsuslE IA ~ ~
after a month or q few months 1lrl0ugu they
are discha aged restored. Out oi sixty-DVe iur-
loughs during this year, only Twelve nave peeh
returned 10 the asylum"
A working party Of male pauents go gu. ssoag s,,a
day that the weather permits for two or three
hours work In the morning and AFTERNOON on
tho roads, digging, enOveling, grading, etc
These are in charge OF the male attendants al
nauiors and friends TO encourage and work with
them stimulating them py the enocV Vi eAain-
pie and kind words.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
Under the head of recommendations the
report says:
Whether IL Is q more pressing necessity now
for the Legislature TO come forward at once ana
by immediate appropriation relieve this asylum
OF the embarrassment, and you, gentlemen, OF
tho responsibility Of this accum ed deficiency,
or 70 take stops at once to provide for the many
sOrely afflicted ones yet unproyided Ior III tne
State except thoy can be In ias, poor-h buses,
ttiss IL W IOT iut isttictaeHASs AAA 'ss ''~N~-
and humanity, TO decide.
both are pressing necessities which should be
attended 10 at once, but from my experience
here In tho past few years. witnessing your anA- @
iety and efforts TO provide for theso anlcte1 peO-
pie, I'm response to urgent appeals OF irienus
and relatives aud from the GovornorOt the stale,
feel that you will urge the latter as of nrst ii-
portnnce ,. ,,o., non, In tho
State without asylum accommodation, and with
the annually increasing ratio OF INSANITY IL Is an
imperative duty on the part OF the othte 10 pIo.
vide additional accommodations. An earhest
appeal should again be made TO the Legislature
10 construct at least two additional wings tihale
and female) 70 tbis asylum Inc plans anu esll-
mates have been repeatedly presented IN FORMER
reports and IL is unnecessary at this time 10 re-
peat them.
PLAN OF ENLARGEMENT.
Rv reference TO the plans Of the architects
McDonald Brothers, Louisville, ky.), II VIII DC
seen that an extension and enlargement OF tnls
asyluna WAS contemplated until three wings iOr
each department we're provided. This enlarge
ment was suggested by the original act OF the
Legislature establishing this asylum, was pro
yided for In the organization ana CONSTRUCTION
Uhe plants for heat light, water, etc. Delng sui
fcient for twice or three times our present num-
ber), has been urged in every annual report ana
was recommended by the commission OF superlh.
tendents OF all the State nsylums In their report
TO the Legislature in 1883. -,
This enlargement would give us a capacity oi
600 10 600 patients las many as should D. IN
any asylum, and would anord the necessary y
number Of wards and facilities for proper classi-
fication and treatment, and enable Us TO COM
pete in results and per capita with any asylum
In the country. However, when low per
capita cost ia the chief point aimed at, the best
intorests OF tho pstientF Irs ics, sight u, and
tnen neglect in many respects, Is natural
consequence" ooo
An annual appropriation OF $5O,0O0 should De
osk ed for. This was earnestly called Tor by my
worthy predecessor In the first annual report
and IS much more needed now II we would con
tluue the good work and keep up the successiu
results OF asylum treatment here III inc future
as in the past.