Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-11-18
THE STATES INSANE.
REPORTS OF THE EASTERN AND
SOUTHWESTERN LuNATlc AsYlUMs.
The superintcndents Give the Years Fig
ures and Make Some Practical sug-
gestions--Cost of Printing.

the annual reports OF the Eastern
Lunatic Asylum. mt williamsburg, and
the southwestern Lunatic Asylum. at
Marion for the fiscal year ending Sep
tember Goth have just been printed
ana the Dispatch has obtained copy
OF each from Captain j. II. O'Bannon.
superintendent OF Public Printing.
IN the Eastern Asylum there were
present on October l. 1892. 425 patients
OF whom 80 were males and l75 females.
SN,y-ohe new patients were admitted
uutinS the years males and % females
making the whole number treated i8i.
Superintendent Moncure says:
We We're enabled 10 return 20 their
MONIES as restored 2i-l6 males and fe-
males; as improved. q male and fe-
mat as unimprOved 4 males-tOtal. 80.
and $50 females
There were 32 deaths-2f males and
lenales; very small mortality for the
number OF patients. especially when there
are so many very old. decrept patients
climatic cause
quite large number Of applications
We're received during the year--127. OF
tnese we were able 10 take CT. Many
more cguid have been received had We
heen able TO utilize the new female build
ing, but, unfortunately. the General As
seinpiy rallied 10 make any appropriation
either 10 furnish the buildIng or 10 pro-
Nlde Tor the support OF additional patients
y SUBJECT OF REGRET.
II IS a subject Of deep regret that 80 few
patients are committed 10 the Asylum
SUFFERING from recent attacks OF insanity.
the vast majority reach here after the
ulseaSe mas existed from three TO ten
or more years, that Is. after the period
When nope for their recovery has passed
Inc sooner an insane person Is placed
Tor ultimate recovery: few are restored
after the disease has existed two or more
years. The recoveries this year have been
unusually small, resulting from the EFFORT
70 give preference TO patients confined
in the jails. irrespective of the character
or their disease. In this connection II Is
proper TO call the attention Of the General
Assembly, through you, 10 the fact that
insufficient accommodations In the asy-
Iums Tor the last twenty years has been
fruitful cause OF the increase OF this
haieful disease, as many now hopelessy
insane might have been useful citizens
had 1t been possible to treat their dis
ease at It's commencement.
AS TO FINANCES
We have now a new building ready to
receive 100 patients, but we have no
means 10 furnish this building nor any
money 10 take care OF this number OF
patients. l therefore request that our an
nual appropriation be increased from
$1,000 to $1,000 which will be at the rate
OF $50 per capita, the lowest rate OF any
white, asylum at any time. would also
ask that the sum Of $500 be appropriated
to furnish this building.
| trust that II will be the pleasure
OF the next Legislature 10 abolish the
word "lunatic" as a legal appellation OF
the insane and the insane hospitals. The
name should be changed 20 the Eastern
state Hospital This asylum was so de-
first organized on this continent, that Is
Hospital for the Cure Of Idiots and Per
sons Of UnsOund Mind
Southwestern Asylum.
There were in the Southwestern Asy-
lum September 3Oth 2s2 pauen.s-1lj
males and 167 females.
There We're 179 applications for ad-
mission into the asylum during the past
year OF this number lOj were admitted.
OF the - discharges during the year
GS were discharged as recovered, as
improved and on bond.
OF these 7G discharges were read
mitted. which makes the total number
Of persons treated 35l. The highest num-
Der In residence at one time during
the year was POO: the lowest number. 2G2.
and the daily average. FAB.
There were deaths during the year.
Superintendent Preston says:
The applications for admission into all
the state asylumS foT whites during this
fiscal year have been about 400 OF these
3Jl have been admitted. which leaves
about 80 or more unprovided for in th"
State, some having died. and some having
been released on bond.
The wards have been In an oVercrOwded
condition during the entire year. much
10 the hindrance OF convalescence anu
hazardous to the health, comfort and
safety OF the inmates.
From the report Of the steward it viii
be seen that the total receipts for the
year have been Ai%25S. The total eN-
penditurrs have been Ai'5'Sh when
leaves a balance Of $5SSA. Nearly the
whole of this balance Tor Si92.53), ii VIII
bee seen, is due to the special applOpria-
ton Qor road fund.-.
NEED MORE MONEY.
An appropriation Of $4,000 for support
should be- strongly urged As before
stated. the annual appropriation for sup
port Is the same now $4,000 as it was
for the first year, although the number Of
patients has gradually increased from an
average Of 10 I'm ,lSSS To about 215 this
year This is unjust, and has subjected
the administration To mach embarrass-
ment and TO the practice of a rigid econ
omy. which Is unwise and by no means
prOmOtive Of the best results.
It IL 10 be hoped that the next Legisla-
ture will not refuse to change the name
OF "mnatic asylum to state Hospital"
as has been SO frequently urged.
This may seem a small matter. but in
the opinion of the best alieniSts Of this
and foreign countries fl contributes TO the
welfare of these afflicted people and helps
to remove from the public mind an unjust
opprOhrium which attaches to this class
as a relic Of a more barbarOus age.
Public Printing.
Captain O'Bannon has also furnished
the Dispatch n copy OF his own annual
report. which shows the following items:
Total cost OF printing, ruling, binding.
stationery. &c, for the several depart
ments for the year, Sl6glJ.JS.
Total cost OF paper and stationery used
curing the year and that on hand,
81, O09.77.
Cost Of printing oighty-eighth State
Reports. s., 9l7.53.
Cost OF reprinting eighth and ninth
Grattan, S2O9l.43.