Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-26


the opinion that, whether this cues.'oh
be regarded from the standpoint OF pnusu.
thropy or political economy, the c.thn ,
of this large class OF unfortunates snou'1
appeal 10 every citizen OF the 9'h''. ~.
phllanthropists we should hasten 10 ini'i-
gate their sad and suffering conditloh'
as political economists for the proteS',o,
OF the State, we should strive to hlihin's"
this frequent cause OF idiocy. pauperisih'
insanity. and crime. by a1ording the op-
portunlty OF the removal Of these delec,
tiyes. not only from alnshouses anu
penal institutions. but from insane-aAN-
lums and the homes OF the poor ana OF
placing them In a special COLONY OF
village where they may receive proper
treatment and be subjected 10 the "!rd-
tive and amelioratlng influences tn1t ex-
perlence has shown TO be eitcacioua.
1t Is believed by those who are In
charge OF the eplleptic institutions or colo
mes I'm Ohio and New York that within
n few years these great charities will
become self-supporting. Under proper SUI
perylsion, most epieptics are able 10
earn a livelihood. and more.
From carefully-made investigation, IT
appears that here are in this State at
least 5000 epileptics. 2p0 Of whom are IN
the insane asylurns. and 20 I'm the poor
houses. IL IS usually estimated by au-
thorities that for every i.0c0 OF the
population there are two s-ileDtcs. OF
the 500 In Virginia. probably 1850 are
In almost a helpless condition. AS at
present situated. 1t would be useless TO
enumerate the misfortunes and dis1d-
vantages TO which epiloptics are daily
subjected. for all thinking people Will
cCncede that none OF Gods afilict d Ch!l-
dren are more sorely afflicted than these
1t is but right and just that ophsptics
should have a share OF the charity so
generously offered by the State to her
defective citizens. Their peculiar disease
makes is highly deslrable-indeed, neces-
sary-that they should have a specific
institution for their care and treatment
The medical profession has not been
dcrelict, IL appears. in IT'S duty In appeal
Ing to the public and TO the lawmakers,
In behalf of these unfortunate and help
less people who are to be found in every
grade and condition OF human existence.
At the meeting Of the State Medical
Association last Gall the question of
State provision for epileptics was dis
cussed, and the following resolution was
unanimously adopted:
Resolved, That IL is the sense Of the
Medical Society of Virginia that the
State should make some special pro
vision for its dependent epileptics.
Resolved 2, That an epileptic institu-
ton or colony, conducted on the indus
trial plan (such as described and adj
vocated by Dr. william f. Dewry. au-
thor OF the paper on State Provision
for Epileptics }. commends itself TO this
society.
Resolved 3. That committee Of five
be appointed by the chair. who shall pre-
sent this matter 10 the Legislature and
try TO induce that body to give it that
attention II justly deserves"
The committee selected is composed OF
Drs r. J. Preston. William L. Drewry,
j. r. Graham, l.. @. Pedigo, and John
W. Nash.
Each member of the committee has
doubtless done whatever he could to
get the Legislature interested in this
humane effort IN the behalf OF epileptics.
The Virginia Medical Monthly, the Dis
patch. the State. and other papers have
given the weight Of their influence 10
this benevolent project, and in pointing
out the needs Of these unfOrtunates,
whe her in lunatic asylums, poor
houses, private houses, or elsewhere.
Pity that our present financial condition
will not justify email expenditure TO-
wards alternating the distressing condi-
tiOn Of those people. who so FAR have
been almost abandoned By both public
and private philanthropy
Let the commission be appointed al
once. and II it IL composed OF good ma
terial It may be confidently expected
that I'm the near future Virginia will pro-
vide that care for her dependent epilep-
tics which justice and charity demand.