Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-09-16
CARE OF EPlLEPTICS.
TO DISCUSS THIS IN
SESSION AT THE CAPITOL.
I INTERESTING DISCUSSION.
Drs. Blackford, of the Western Hos
pital, and Moncure, of the Eastern,
Give Their vicws-They Favor the
Colonization Plan.

The State Epileptic Commission. APP
pointed under an act OF the last Legis-
lature to suggest some means by which
more effective system OF caring for
epileptics may be introduced in the
State, held most interesting session In
the office of Colonel John Bell Bigger
yesterday afternoon, and the business of
the session not being concluded, it was
determined that the commission should
sit again this morning.
Yesterdays session was attended by
DR.. @. w. LeCato. of Accomac Chair
mani; Hon. w. p. McRae. of Petersburg;
DR.. w. i. Drewry, of the Central State
Hospital, and Captain c. L. Vawter, Of
Miller Manual School, members of the
committee, and DR.. James ID. Moncure.
of the Eastern State Hospital; DR.. Ben
jamin Blackford, of the Western State
Hospital. and Drs. w. w. Parker and j.
Allison Hodges, of this city, attended
on invitation. Colonel Bigger was pres
ent in a clerical capacity.
NO ACTION TAKEN.
The commission took no definite ac-
ton looking TO a report to the Legisla-
ture, but discussed freely the adyisa-
bility OF colonizing, epileptics, and lis
tened to an interesting paper on that
subject, which was read by DR.. Black
ford.
AS soon as the commissioners met Or.
Biackford read his paper, the text OF
which is hereto appended:
"GentIemen OF the Commission: 1 take
great pleasure in compliance with your
request to express in writing my views
In regard to the better care or the cpl
leptics in Virginia.
AN ALARMING INCREASE.
ut Is a melancholy fact that there Is
an alarming increase Of epilepucs In
something must be done sooner or later,
either 20 build separate buildings at the
existing insane hospitals, or TO nave a
separate institution on the colony plan
for the care and treatment OF this class.
The 1epileptics should not be connneu
In the same wards with the insane
from other causes. The cries OF many Oh
them when fits are coming on and the
convulsive movements when seizure
takes place are distressing In the eX-
IRENE to great many Intelligent pa
tents. especially those OF sensitive ma
ture, or those who are recovering. NOT
only so, but many epileptics are dangerous
To themselves and others, and during the
exciting stage need constant watching.
Ii would be a great boon to our state
hospitals were one or two separate build
ings set apart for this class under greater
supervision than can be the case in ouf
hospitals as at present constructed.
1--WE have in the Western State Hos
pital about $50 epileptics. Many of them
whose mental condition justifies 1t work
in the garden on the farm and other
places about the institution. They have
their fits while at work, and after they
are over, get up and SO on with taeir
work as If nothing had happened. others
whose mental condition Is such - TO re-
quire them to occupy separate wards, Tor
the 'epileptic insane are dangerous 10
themselves and others by their frequent
attacks of epileptic mania and suicidal
and homicidal impulses
A SERIOUS PROBLEM.
what to do with this class is a serious
problem, which our lawmakers must
consider 1t is very evident, in my
judgment, that unless something is done
for the separate care OF this class our
existing hospitals Will soon be over
crowded with epileptics, and no room LETT
for the care and treatment Oh the Insane
from other causes.
."rhe eyer-increasing demand for
asylum accommodations, together with
the steady proportionate increase OF cpl
leptics, will very soon necesSltate Inc
erection OF further buildings. To colonlZe
the epileptics now I'm our State hospitals
i'm a separate institution Is simply pro-
viding further accommodation for the
insane from other causes, who VIII take
the places in the wards which epilepucs
vacate.
markable colony for epileptlcs-about
/ 500 are being cared for there. 1t is more
like an industrial home. and is now large
ly self-supporting and marvellous sue
cess. New York, Ohio, and other states
are building separate institutions for the
care OF this class, with the hope thar
i'm a few years they may TO large de-
gree be self-supporting.
COST WILL BE GREAT.
81 am aware that the question of cost
on the colony plan will be very properly
raised by the Legislature, and the Iact
that so large an amount Is ALREADY ne
cessarily expended for the care or our
insane who are in the hospitals, and the
present financial condition OF the state
will cause the Legislature to hesitate
about mourning new Obligations In es~
tablishng a new plant-a new state IN
stitution. While | admit the colony plan
has its advantages, / am free to confess,
under the existing circumstances OF the
States finances, ii would be more
economical 10 build for the accommoda-
ton of this afflicted class separate build
a
governing power of the respective insane
hospitals of the State. where they .cOulh
be utilized according TO their mental con-
dition.
should be relieved of this class OF IN
sanity. and exclusive treatment OF the
insane epileptics be conducted where II
would be for the best interest or the pa.
tients. and in no way conduce 10 retard
progress i'm the recovery of regular IN
sanity The presence of the epileptic m
sane associating i'm the wards OF our STATE
hospitals with acute cases Of insanity
is certainly menace to their Iavo.aDie
termination. Respectfully submitted,
BENJAMIN BLACkFORll
Superintendent Western State HOSPITAL
Stanton.
DIR. MONCURES VIEWS.
When DIR. Blackford concluded DR..
Moncure addressed the board at some
length. giving his experience with epilep-
tics. and laying stress upon their
treachery. asserting that while they
have their rational periods, they also
have their attacks periodically. and IN
variably these attacks are accompanied
with homicidal mania when the untor-
Inmates will commit murder without
He was heartily In favor
OF colonizing the epilepticss and sug-
gested that the sexes should be sepa-
rated. the males being placed In one
institution and the females In another.
One essential reason Tor separating
epileptics from other insane was, ne
said. the fact that epileptics should De
dieted, and it would be Impossible 10 90
this when they are kept with other
insane.