Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-10-30
CENTRAL STATE HOSPITAL.
Meeting of the Bonrd-The Superin-
tendents Report.

PETERSBURG, VA. October 9.-(Spe-
cial )-There was a full attendance Of the
Board Of Directors OF the Central State
Hospital at the meeting held to-day. Mr..
Robert Gillian in the chair. Contracts
for furnishing supplies for the next quar-
ter were awarded A thorough inspection
of the hospital buildings and premises
was made. and the report Of DR.. William
r. brewery the superintendent and ply
stefan I'm charge. for the year ending Sep
TENDER Goth, was received and adopted.
This report sets forth the affairs of the
institution In detail ana Is an inte-
resting document. At the beginning of
the fiscal year there were $40 patients in
the hospital; admitted during the year,
92: total In the hospital during the year,
1072; daily average. S8. The DISCHARGED
numbered 1i6 and the deaths l07. leaving
I'm the hospital at the end Of the year $40
patients. The admission rate was the
highest i'm the history of the institution,
being more than 30 per cent. in proper
ton to the daily average OF the l16
stored; Is sufficiently recovered to be sent
home, and 10 were not insane when re-
ceived. The recovery rate was 81 per cent.
on the number of admissions. OF the
deaths, A per cent. were due directly to
diseases Of nervous centres, is per cent.
to tuberculosis. 20 per cent. the result Of
incurable diseases. The high death-rate
was due TO the fact that large proper
ton Of admissions were old invalids.
The report says. There seems a deter
mination to burden the institution with
every variety Of mentally-defective per-
sons that can be certified technically in
sane. Many applicants are not insane at
all. The tendency to commit old broken
down people in the last stage Of life.
epileptics, imbeciles, alcoholics, ETC.. Is
on the increase.
"The remedy for this abuse of the hos
initials of the State which were built and
are maintained at great public expense
for the exclusive benefit OF the insane,
is TO be found in the revision Of the pres
ent laws regulating commitments. and II
is hoped that the next Legislature will
take up and terminate the work begun
by the last"
In the medical treatment OF the insane
the hospital is kept apace with all ad-
vancement in this line. Patients are
CLASSIFIED. treatment individualized, ana
scientific precepts followed. Steps have
been taken for a surgical-room ana
pathological laboratory. Religious ser
vices are held every Sunday Various IN
and outdoor amusements are pToNlueu'
and employment is intelligently dlrecSeu,
which IS found TO be of great benent 10
the patients.
ESTIMATED value of products of the
farm garden, and dairy during the year
was So 2S4: expenses OF the tarIn $S,Vos;
THE supply of fresh vegetables. milk, ana
butter, and straw for mattresses va, WdS
sufficient for the uses of the hospital
The hospital received from all sources
SOS Oh and expended S96,O29. Or TINS
emount SIS 651 was consumed in improve
ments and repairs. The total per caplI s
cost of each patient annually was sSo.So'
The steadily increasing number OF pa
tlents makes an enlargement OF the pres
emf capacity necessary. The General as Ms
sennbIy will be asked to appropriate $So'VOO
for the next two years each.