Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1892-12-27

wants of the people under their care
Should any bodily ailment seize the pa
tient practiced hands are ready to ad
minister medicines and bring back the
health that sometimes brings with il
the reason.
There is fully uniformed fire company
in the institution, and the apparatus
consists of several hundred feet of hose
and two reels. The stairways and many
other parts Of the building are 6reproof,
and it is believed that the institution is
reasonably safe from fire. Six squads of
patients are at work on various portions
Of the buildings or grounds, making
roads, walks, etc. Very nearly all OF the
patients, at some time of the day, are
allowed to go outside of the building.
One beautiful feature is the greenhouse
near the hospital, where are grown
almost every conceivable variety of
flower, plant, and bush-geraniums,
fuchsias, date palms, ferns, banana trees,
orange trees, sagos, and a list that if
printed, would fill column-all making
a sight never equaled tor lovelness out.
side OF the very best greenhouses.
On the Farm.
A lew hundred yards from the hospital
is the barn in which are kept the
horses and cattle used on the place.
There are about fifty Guernseys and Hol-
stems, and they are taken care of in q
model barn. The idea is to get as much
as possible from the property for the
maintenance of the institution. The
yearly consumption of beef at the hos
pital is about 100000 pounds, while
that Of porkis probably as great. Nearly
5000 bushels of wheat are used every
twelve-month. The beef at present is
furnished by a Mitchell county firm.
A Saving of Funds.
The State has been appropriating
100000 year for the support o: this
institution. There has never been
special appropriation asked for. The
money appropriated for the support of
500 patients has been so wisely handled
that the macadam road has been built,
$50 acres of land purchased. and the new
dining room erected. the number of
patients increased to $40, and all within
the appropriation for support. Of the
next Legislature, however, the hospital
will ask for special appropriation of
SIS, 900 to make improvements that will
increase the capacity to $50. No in
crease Of appropriation for support will
be asked.
Directors and Officers.
The directory of the State hospital is
made up of nine members, as follows
Jas. p. SAWYER, Of Ashevile. president;
IL. Davis. J. p. Caldwell, J G. Hall, Henry
T. Bahnson, M. d., E. X. Hampton,
6. H. P. Cole, ]. c. Mills, G. W. F. Har-
per. This body met only a few weeks
ago for the purpose of hearing reports
and preparing them for the coming ses-
sion of the Legislature. The meeting for
the election of officers will be held in
March.
In his work as superintendent and chief
physician DR.. Murphy has two valuable
assistants in Drs. Isaac NJ. TAYLOR and
{. E. Ross, senior and junior physician
respectively. Inc steward is r. M. |
Scroggs, and the matron Mrs. c. A.
Marsh. Under these officers there are
perhaps 100 employees III the building,
forty Of these being nurses.
Dr. Murphy's Value.
Nothing is better evidence OF the eff.
:iency with which the hospital is man.
aged by DR.. Murphy than the fact that
lie has held this position from the day of
he institutions opening. He is kind.
hearted man and one loved by the un-
ortunates in his care for his kindness
md good nature, which is always show
ng itself when the Doctor is to be seen.
lie knows the great building, its corri-
lors. underground and above ground,
ind its patients, like book, often read.
he is, in short, a model superintendent,
md has perfected the systems at the hos
,ital So that superinteDdents of similar
in various portions of the
ountry visit this place to study and fol-
ow DR.. Murphy's plans.
The State hospital is in every way a
monument worthy of North Carolina
md of the man who stands at its head.