Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-09-17
FOR A COLONY PLAN.
EprLEPTIc COMMISSION FAvoRs
THE COLONIZATION IDEA.
EXPENSE THE ONLY OBSTACLE.
The subcommittee to submit Re-
port to the General Assembly Re-
commencing the Establishment of
separntc Institution for EpiIeptics.

The State Epieptic Commission held
its final session In the Capitol building
yesterday morning. and the sub-commit-
tee. consisting OF Hon. w. p. McRae.
of Petersburg, and DR.. W. F. Drewry,
of the Central State Hospital. was in
structed to begin at once the prepare
ton OF It's report to the next Gene
raj Assembly.
All the members Of the commission
and their clerk Colonel John Bell Big
ger, were present. and the hrst busi-
ness transacted was the reading OF in
terestlng papers treating Of the subject
under consideration. which were writ
ten by Drs. John 8. Apperson and l..
ID. Pettigrew. This was followed by an
informal discussion participated in by
the members of the commission and
Dr. W. w. Parker.
COLONY PLAN FAVORED.
The colony plan was favored by ali
present. and DR.. Drewry called atten-
ton to the fact that after this plan had
been recommended to the Legislature of
New York it took from fifteen to TWEEN
ty years before the first appropriation
was made. From $1,000 the annual APP
preparation for that purpose has been
raised in that State to $4,000.
The paper read by Dr. Blackford on
Wednesday was taken up. and Captain
Vawter spoke at some length in favor of
carving out the recommendations there
in contained.
DR.. Drewry suggested that the insane
epileptics be provided for in the exist
ing State hospitals, and that the other
epileptics be placed in a colony, when
ever this could be done. DIR. Blackford
had stated that he had room for fifty
more patients at the Western State Hos
pital, and that some of the epileptic IN
mates might safely, be removed to a
colony. In that manner sufficient room
could BE secured at that institution for
all the eplleptics now taken care OF In
the various institutions, and room would
also then be secured in these hospitals
TO accommodate those who are now In
the various poor-houses.
COUNTIES TO PAY A PER CAPITA.
1t was also deemed desirable, he
thought that the various counties that
are sending persons to the colony should
be taxed for a part of the maintenance
of the inmates per capita. II was
thought that SIS per capita would cover
the expenses of maintaining the inmates
at a colony, and that $40 per capita
should be contributed by the counties
for the inmates sent by them.
The commission thought that the sum
Of $4,000 would be required to purchase
the necessary land while another $4,000
would have to be expended for the cree
ton Of the necessary buildings.
The subcommittee was requested TO
embody the foregoing ideas and sugges-
tons in Their report, and it was further
decided that the report should recon-
mend the selection OF a board Of visitors
of three members to be appointed by
the Governor and confirmed by the
Senate. Another recommendation is to
pc that the superintendent of the colony
Tor eplleptics be a physician, and his
.erm of office not less than five Years.
There recommendations were all noted
,y the clerk, after which thu board ad
ourned.