The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-11-29
THE LUNATIC ASYLUM,
SUPERINTENDENT WHITES AN
NUAL REPORT TO GOV.
ERNOR HOGG.
Shows the Asylum to be in Excellent
Condition-The Number of Patients
on Hand Oct 81 Was 675-377
Male and 29S Female.

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De 90. Of this number 377 are male
and 29S female. During the past year
there have been 115 white patients ad-
mltted, of which number IS are male and
81 female. There have also been II col
Ored patients admitted, of which 8 are
males, and 2 females. During the past
year, A males and 80 females have been
discharged as restored, males dis
charged as improved, males and 1 fe-
male discharged as unimproyed. Dur
lng. the same period 1S males and 7 fe-
, males died.
The total expenditure for the year is
$l3o,519.92. OF this amount $37, ,252. 33
\ was for permanent property purchased
stock on hand, ETC., per tabulated state
ment leaving balance of sos, ,267.59 for
, actual maintenance. The number in
daily attendance was 653, and results in
an annual cost of $15S.4S per capita.
AS better means of explaining the
condition of the asylum and the changes
necessary to its success the following da-
ia from Superintendent Whites report to
the governor will be of interest:
The death rate for the past year 319)
is lower than has ever been known in
this asylum. must be pardoned for say
ing that when the class of cases and the
number that have been treated the past
year is taken into consideration, this is an
extremely creditable showing. The rate
of recoveries is higher than the general
average in institutions of this kind
throughout this country By strict econ
emy we have maintained this institution
the past year at very reasonable cost.
1t is believed that to no small degree
the end for which this institution was es-
tablished has been attained. Many who
nave entered our portals with their reason
dethroned, and in whose mind the demon
of disease held full sway, have departed
with the clouds dispelled and the glorious
light of intellect once more in the ascend
ancy. The results stimulate us to re-
newed efforts and act as sign boards of
experience, which help in rendering aid
OOthers. We must profit by the past and
make our experience bear fruit in the fu-
ture. No greater service can be rendered
to any human being than to restore his
lost reasoning powers; this makes him a
man once more equal to his fellow beings
and capable of competing in the battle of
life Without reason he is an infant in
his mothers arms, swept and drifted
hither and thither by unbridled and un-
controlled passions and Gelusions. Reason
sits enthroned as king of the mind, urging
on in this direction to some noble deed,
restraining in that from some ignoble de-
sire and bringing out of it all well
rounded and equally balanced character.
Diseases of the brain in their earlier
stages are now considered very durable.
In the treatment of these affections me-
dicinal remedies play a very important
part. | am strong believer in medicine,
but in these diseases, just as in all others,
medicinal measures must be supplemented
by others. The responsibilities in these
cases is too great for us to sit quietly
down and say there is nothing to be done,
1--WE do not know"
Our asylum methods are in many in
stances wrong and misleading; their ten
dency is often to make lunatics, rather
than to cure them. In the commodious,
magnificent, well kept and beautiful parks
of all modern asylums will be seen
hundreds of lunatics sitting day in and
day out in idleness and misery, watched
by attendants who take little interest in
them further than to be very careful that
no one makes his escape.
The monotony of such life is some
thig terrible when we contemplate that by
fostering this idleness and monotony the
last hope of the recovery of many is being
frittered away. l have for eyars advoca-
ted and still advocate with all my power
the necessity of some kind of a change
that will result beneficially to those most
interested, viz, the poor helpless patients;
Visit one of the beautiful parks; you will
see uOZeIS Ol Iueu
emnly and slowly the same path back
ward and forward which they have worn
in the ground near where an attendant
sits: others are sitting beside the same
stately oak whose outrageous branches
have shaded them possibly for years.
There they sit for hours Wrapt IN the
gloom of their own meditatiOns, dead TO
the world, to themselves and forming only
an atom of the great mass of humanity
that has crystalized into so-calledi, L, well
regulated and modern asylum. Ihese
cases are all strong and healthy pnyslc-
ally; they eat, drink, sleep and walk out
and in daily. Such is their life; no diver
sion, no change, nothing save, monoto-
nous routine without ray of hope IN the
distance to brighten the gloomy present.
If there is class in the owrld that
needs stimulating, moving, jostling ana
stirring up, it certainly is the chronic IN
sane. 1t may be asked, how can this CON
dition be remedied? One word, employ
ment, solves the problem, II land near
this asylum was not so valuaDle Woul9
recommend the purchase by the state on
an additional land tract. Double tne
amout at least now in cultivation here
could be cultivated at a very slight IN,
crease in expense to the state. 1t Would
only be necessary to add few more at,
tendants; we already have numbers OF
patients who would in a short time be only
too glad to work on the farm. II lano
could be bought here at say $50 per acre,
it would even then be good Investment
for the state.
With 200 additional acres we could very
greatly decrease the annual cost OF
maintenance and at the same
time give employment to ever!
patient that desired or was able to WORK
the recovery rate would be increased
more could be cared for during the year
and their lives rendered not altogether
blank. Owing, however, to the high price
OF land, it is not probable that the legls
iature would think best to add any more
to the farm here, but it would be wisdom
and economy to purchase large tract O.
the best tillable land in the state in some
county where crops are comparatively Ger
tain, and there establish an asylum farm
erect buildings on the cottage system
with a view of adding more when demand
ed, colonize the great army of the insane
thereon and make them to very larg'
extent self-sustaining. Thousands o
\ bushels of vegetables can be raised ant
the surplus canned for future consump
ton.
believe. that for very small outla!
canning factory can be established her
tnat VIII pay handsomely and at the sam
th tinne add very greatly to the dietary o
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