Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-06-13
YxsAxE Ayp EprLEpTIcs.

In some properly equipped hospital OF
asylum. Doubtless many OF these are
epileptics. Doubtless. also. the iamilles
Of some Of these unhappy persons viii
hesitate long before they offer TO com
nit them TO the care Of the state to pt
sent TO asylums for the insane.
We think there can be 10 doubt that
additional accommodations are needed al
each State hospital and. worst Of all,
at the Central (colored) Hospital, at Pc
tersburg. This hospital has not been
able to relieve the penitentiary of all
the insane prisoners that 1t has, and
we presume that II Il cannot take luna
tics who are so badly misplaced as are
those at the penitentiary IL has 10 re-
ject many other worthy, but less urgent,
applications. While the penitentiary Is
| provided with "A competent medical officer
IL can i'll afford to spare separate
cell for each lunatic. So densely crowded
is it--more crowded than any other prison
in America. we believe.
When the Legislature meets this winter
a question for its consideration will be
whether it should make additional APP
preparations for the existing hospitals. or
rearrange our system so as TO bring the
epileptics all together. as was recon-
mended by the commission which was
appointed in 1895, and which made a
thorough investigation with respect to
the care of epileptics. That commission
reported that every principle of justice
and humanity is in opposition TO the in
discriminate commingling Of epileptics,
and the insane and paupers of every class
in the same institution. Neither the
hospital for the insane, nor the
poorhouse is a suitable place for a sane
epileptic" 1t recommended that one Of
the State hospitals should be utilized in
part at least for the care of all the
insane white epleptics Of the State. thus
leaving the other two hospitals for the
accommodation Of all white insane per-
sons who are not epileptics.' This policy
already has been adopted at the Central
State Hospital at Petersburg. where the
female epieptics occupy separate build
ings.
The commission also recommended that
a colony, modelled somewhat after the
Craig colony. in New York. should be cs-
tabnshed in this State for sane epilep-
tics For this purpose. ii suggested that
a tract Of fertile land-say, 1000 acres
should be purchased and that in the be-
ginning there should be only few
plain. Inexpensive cottages erected. 1t
also suggested that provision should be
made for employing the patients in
workshops and in farming and fruit
culture.
Without a doubt. many good people
who would hesitate to have their kim
dred committed to hospital or asylum
for the insane would readily avail them
selves Of the opportunity Of sending them
to such a colony as the commission re-
commended TO be established.
This whole subject has been deliberately
and, we think, ably treated in pamphlets
and addresses by Or. W. 5. Drewry, su
perintendent of the Central State Hos
ptal, al Petersburg
When Governor Tyler receives the an
nual reports from the several State hos
pitfalls at the close of this fiscal year, he
will have before him mass Of informa-
ton which is not in the possession of the
general public. Those reports will tell
him what are the needs OF each institu-
ton; what Improvements ought 10 be
made. and, incidentally, whether the pres
ent would be an opportune time for the
State TO undertake the treatment Of
epleptics, according TO the method sug-
gested by the commission from whose
report We have quoted. The Governor
will. by that time, be in a position, too,
to know whether the finances OF the
State will permit it 10 take any steps
in the direction mentioned our last
Legislature. in the interest Of economy,
and obeying the unmistakable voice Of
the people made numerous reductions in
the appropriations TO the various State
institutions. 1t wished to prepare our
treasury to meet the increased interest
charge upon the Century bonds; an in
crease which will be from . per cent.
to per cent. per annum, and which will
begin on July /; 1901.
We suppose that the income of the
State is about the same now it was a
year or two ago, except that 1.-THE land
grabbers' law has forced a great num-
Der of delinquent taxpayers TO make
settlements with the Commonwealth
with the result that large sum Of money
has been added to the current receipts.
So. with every disposition 10 make
the best provision possible for the care
of those who need expert treatment. the
Executive and Legislature must take into
account the monetary condition of the
State; condition which will be affected,
one way or another by the reassessment
Of real estate, which is to be made next
year