The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1891-01-07
W. \. C.. INSANE ASYLUM.
A SU larry Or THE BIENNIAL
REPORT.
1t Is a Noble Public Institution and
Deserves Well OF The Staie--Facts
and Figures Given by Director.


and Figure. Given by Director.
We present day the following arti
Gle FROM the pen Of Mk. JOSEPH CALD
WELL, editor of the Sta'esville Land
Western North Carolina Insane Asylum
for several years, and writes With a iul
aud accurate know edge Of the work aud
needs of the institu 5ion. What he
weight and consideration; and We
are glad to lay before our
readers a full exposition of the
workings OF this model public
institution from the pen of thought
full and efficient director. SO far as we
know, there is no public instit ution in
the country which in every way is near
er perfect in equipment and manage
ment than the Western N. G. Asylum
1t gives Us pleasure to bear personal
testimony to its efficiency and growing
usefulness We have visited it several
times, and upon each recurring visit we
have been all the more Impressed with
its excellent management. It's officers,
directors and employees are worthy of
all praise aud commend alton.
| Mr.. Caldwell writes:
The board of directors of the Western
North Carolina Insane Asylum at Nor
canton held It's last meeting for the year
| at the institution last week. The su
| perintendent and subordinate officers
| submitted their reports to the board an
| the board prepared its report TO the
| Governor, to be by him transmitted to
| the General Assembly. All of these re-
| ports are for two years operations of
| the ayslum, and it is hoped that every
| member of the Legislature now soon to
| assemble will read them carefully.
The General Assembly at it's last session
appropriated for the support Of the
institution for two years, Sl75, 900 1t
was allowed to retain for betterments
small surplus which 1t had been enabled
to carry over from the biennial period
1886 to 1888, and the total expenses
from December l, 1888, to November 80,
1890, were $178, $50 So The difference
between this amount and the amount
appropriated for the period, viz: $l75,-
900. came ont of the surplus just re-
ferred to, and triiiing surplus Is again
The reason for this surplus is that the
appropriation was based upon an esti-
mated average population of 45O for
1889 and of 500 for 1890 and the average
was not so high rs bad teen calculated
The number OF patients remaining
November 80, 1889. was 465, and the
number remaining November 80, 1890,
400.
The results of the two years opera
tions have been most gratifying in every
particular. The recoveries on admission
of patients have been 46 per cent. and
the death rate o7 per cent
the one number above and the other
much below the average of similar
institutions The superintendent and
medical work have been of first
class character, while the subordi-
nate officers and employees have dis
charged their duties with fidelity and
intelligence. THIS Institution is one IN
which mechanical restraint is not en-
ployed Up to about three years ago
light form OF restraint was, in few
very violent cases resorted to, but even
this has been abb ndoned, and the raving
has as free use of body and limbs as the
quiet and harmless incurable. The
patients are treated with the utmost
kindness and consideration. Gentleness
and persuasion are more effective agents
for the government aud cure Of the ia
sane than the boot or the straight jacket;
and those who doubt this should visit
the Western North Carolina Insane
Asylum. The patients are kept in the
best possible physictl condition. The
building is in perfect repair and the
grounds have been brought into a high
state of Improvement. The whole in
stitution is a model of cleanliness aud
order few gentlemen's parlors are
cleaner or in roora orderly state than the
wards occupied by most Violent patients
in This asylum.
The improvement IS during the period
have been numeIous and important.
What is probably the b-st mscadamized
and graded road in the State has been
made between the asylum and the rail
road station, a distance of one mile
through the asylum grounds and over
right Of way generously donated by
Mai J W Wilson, the enlightened and
large hearted president of the board of
directors The water supply is brought
through pipes from the mountains five
miles from the asylum, and has been
found insufficient for the needs of the
Increasing population Of the institution.
An immense reservoir has therefore
been built on the grounds to take the
water which would otherwise be vast
ed during the night. This involved
large expense but will insure an am
pie supply of water Efficient fire ap-
paratus has been purchased and the
danger of loss of lives or property from
fire has been reduced to a minimum;
this precaution effects saving in
another direction, as it is not thought
necessary to carry more than nominal
insurance upon the property. During
the year considerable body of real es-
tate-farming, meadow and wood lands
contiguous to the asylum grounds has
been purchased. This Was felt to be
| justified by the excellent results which
have attended the farming and garden
| ing operations of the institution. During
| the past two years the farm and garden
Welded PRODUCTS of the value of $12,
| 276 At
| The items mentioned cover the extra
| ordinary expenses of the biennial period.
The asylum is now about full, Great
care has been exercised to properly reg
| ulate aImfssions Had all applicants S
| been received without discrimination,
the institution would have been filled to
its capacity two yeats ago. The lalls
ha ve been relieved and all acute or sup
| posed durable cases have been received,
but during the ensuing year some appli-
cants even of these classes it is feared
will have to be turned away. Other
State charities are, however, in more
need of legislative help than the Western
Insane Asylum the North Carolina In
sane Asylum, the Eastern Asylum and
the Deaf aud Dumb and Blind Institu.
ton, for instance. The Western Asylum,
always modest in its requests, will