The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-01-02
C0L.0RED EP|LEPTICS
The Building for Their Accommodation at
Petersburg has Just Been Completed.
DESCRIPTION OF A FINE STRUCTURE
1t Has Cost tho State SIG,0OO-A yIr-
einia PhysicIan Deserves tho
credit For the Idcn-X. a. Crnw-
ford WIZ Enter Suit Against His
Recent Prosecutors.

Petcrsburg, Va, Jan. f--(SpcciaD.-
me new building for colorcd insane cpl
lcptics, recently constructed on the
grounds of the Centlul State hospital.
is now ready to be occupied. In this
building VIII be domicilcd all the female
cplleptics and the quiet dcmented fc-
male patients In the hospital Thereby
sufficient room will be made in the main
pudding to accommodate all the colored
insane in the State now awaiting admls-
sion.
DR.. VIM. Il. Drewry, superintendent OF
the hospital. says that as soon as the
transfer of the cpileptics is made. the
sixty odd colorcd Insane now confined
IN The jails VIII be brought to the insli-
tuition. Then the number of patients
will be nearly nine hundred. the largest
institution in Virginia. The new epllep-
TIC building is an Innovation. and one
lhat VIII doubtless commend itsdlf to all
VINO are In any way Interested In the
care oil the insane and cnileptlcs.
THE BUILDING.
The new building is 100 feet distant
from the west wihG of the hospital, Is
Two stories high, OF brick. with granite
trimmings and is shaped like u st. An
drcw's cross. having at every angle n
double porch. a good supply Of win
dows 10 the rooms and halls and doors
leading to the porchcs will afford ample
means of sunlight, air and ventilation
lhc heating Is by direct radiation. and
every radiator Is shielded by "A wire pro-
lection guard. The system of ventila-
tlon Is that adopted and approved by
sanitary experts. On each floor there is
n large centre hall. 72x32 feet. from
which diverge three wings or wards ana
one large dormitory, or dining-room.
These centre halls will be used as dav
rooms for work, amusements dances
and the like.
n notable feature is that from the
centre OF the hall one can inspect the
entire ward, thereby rendering over
s!ght an easy matter for the attendants.
The attendants rooms ana the bath
rooms open out on the hall. Only the
ceilings are plastercd. The brick walls
ana partitions are roughly finished. but
ncaNy coat OF Emewash makes them
look well and answer every purpose
E.ach window has II hinged ana locked
inside wire protector, there being no
prison.
ON each floor there are - single
rooms and one associate room. The lat
Ter may be used either for dining
room or Tor Il sleeping apartment. Fully
ninety, probably one hundred patients
can be comfortably cared for in the
building. Thus segregated. the cpilcp-
ties, the betc noir of every insane asv-
lum, VIII seldom come In contact with
other patients.
IT COST $4,000.
The cost Of the building was siG.O0O
Major Harrison Waite was the arch!-
tect. and Messrs. Orr x Holt were the
contractors. The subject of State care
OF epllcptics Is one tina; in the near fu-
tute the Legislature Of Virginia will be
urged To take up. In New York. Ohio
ana elsewhere institutions or colonies
nave already been established and are
in successful operation.
Dr. William j.. Drcwry. superlntend-
cnt of the Central Hospital for the In
sane, Is Inc pioneer in this State in this
great humane project. As the outcome
OF his efforts. personal and through thc
press. the Legislature created State
Eplieptic Commission, who viii invcsti-
gate the whole subject Of colonization
OF cpilcp;ics and present to the next
Leg stature the claims which the thou
sands of these afflicted ueoplc have
upon the charity OF the State. In n ma
per read last winter before the State
Medical Association by DR.. Drcwry. and
afterwards published in pamphlet form.
some very valuable and interesting sta
iStic5 appeared in reference 10 the
prevalence of epilepsy
WILL ENTER SUIT.
Mr. w. y. Crawford. who on yester
day was honoraby acquitted in The
Mayors Court of the charge of stealing
terSburg Spanish Peanut company, will
tomorrow, through his counsel. Hon.
William X. Mckinney. institute a suit
Tor $4,000 damages jointly against
Alessrs. Myer Saal and r. \. Harrison,
lor SANDER. and suit for $4,000 in
diEidually against X. 4. Harrison the
secretary and treasurer of the Peters
burg spanish Peanut company. who
Sworc out the warrant for Mr. Craw-
lords arrest. The suit against Mr.
Harrison will be for false Imprisonment.
Another suit will also a. entered
against the Petersburg Spanish Peanut
company for Il violation of contract
with Mr. Crawford. The amount TO be
sued for in this case has not yet been
heard at the January term of the Hust-
ings Court of this city.
Rev. w. 5. Leake. of Richmond, who
West End Baptist church in this city.
VIII enter upon his duties here on next
Sunday.
Elijah Wilson. colored. was charged
with attempting 10 commit criminal
assault on Lucy HILL also colored. The
accused was discharged
Carrie May, Mary May and Cecil
this morning To answer for the larceny
OF buggy robe, the property of Mr..
n. f.. Lawrence, OF Prince George
county. They were each fined $40 and
costs.
Mr.. John Moyler. of this city, has
been appointed district manager OF the