Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-10-13
THE STATES INSANE.
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT
OF SOUTHWESTERN HOSPITAL.
A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF CURES.
The Ratio Considerably Grenter
Than Usuni-RepOrt of Conditions
mt the state Penitenttnry-ihq"'
ms TO Va. business Conditions.


report of DR. Robert j. Preston, Superia-
tendent OF the Southwestern State Hospi-
tai. at Marion
The report. as a whole reflects credit
upon tho management. both as to tindn-
clal SHOWING and the treatment of pa
TENTS. IT is true there was deficit this
year. but it was smaller than last.
On the LIST of October 1895. the begin
ming Of the fiscal year, there were 1853
male and 2Oi female patients in the hos
pital, making a total Of 367. During the
year ending October /, 1889 10 patients
were admtted-65 males and 81 females.
The whole number under treatment du-
ring the year was 4&-22S males and 26l
females The daily average in the hospi-
Ia. was $50.
Since the hospital was opened, May I,
1881, 1GH patients have been admitted.
1859 have been discharged, 1919 have died,
and 3S6 are in the institution now.
EIGhIY-tINE DISCHARGED.
During last year 50 Patients were dis
charged-3S males and AZ females. OF this
number 10 were discharged as recovered
and IL as improved. The number dis
The percentage Of discharges during the
year was 1873 on the whole number treat
ed. or 69.67 OF the number admitted.
Nine male nine female patients died
during the year. which is considered a
very small percentage. Two died of
apoplexy 4 of paresis, from eXhaus lion
in epilepsy, from old age, from melan-
cholia from hcart-disease, ! from sept
ccmia. from peritonits, / from falling
down steps at home, from cancer
During the year there were 2l3 appdcd-
tons for admission, 122 were admitted.
some went 10 other hospitals, some died
I'm Jail, some at their homes. Some stll
await admission. AS many as twenty-five
or thirty have been taken into the hospi-
tai from jail within the past few months.
The three State hospitals for whites du-
ring the year have received ISL patients
81 more than last year. ThcIe are known
TO be 155 white insane outside the hospital
now.
Regarding the treatment OF the patients,
DR.. Preston says, among other things,
that much Of the success of the hospital
is due to the practice of keeping the pris-
onors moving and occupied.
Five nurses graduated from the train
ing school during the year.
Regarding the finances OF the institu-
ton. Dr. Preston says there was a deficit
during the year Of $3,7700. S2,S2i5 of
which was brought over from last year.
This years deficit was only S9lS56 The
appropriation for this year was $500 Of
which sum 5000 was required to be ex-
pended In building. The entire receipts
were So, 1859 The entire expenditures
were s56.5l9. The per capita cost Of main
tanning the pafioUtS WAS Nl2g
The 5000 was expended on the addition
10 the institution. which has been in
course OF erection for some time. The
plastering. ceiling. electric wiring, and
flooring are yet TO be done.
The report shows that there is a fine
garden cultivated on the hospital farm.
and states that a large quantity Of tree
molasses was made by inmates and at
PENDANTS during February and March.
CONDITION OF THE PENITENTIARY.
A synopsis of the monthly reports of
the superintendent and Surgeon of the
Penitentiary for the quarter ending Sep
.erber S0th have been received by Cover
nor Tyler. e shows the institution TO be
IN an exceedingly fine condition.
The receipts from all sources during the
luarter were $lO306.6l. The Davis Shoe
Company now has employed in the prison
i.O0i men and IS women. The health OF
the prisoners for the past quarter has
oeen remarkably good. There was only
one death during the quarter, and only ,.
remaining in the hospital the total prison
population being 1928. The board has
made the quarterly inspection and found
everything in good condition and the in
mates as comfortable as their crowded
condition permits. Upon the advice OF
the Surgeon the Superintendent raised the
quarantine against smallpox the I'D of
September. stil using judicious discretion
in sending for prisoners in a few iocali-
ties. and now visitors are admitted as
formally.
VIRGINIA BUSINESS.
The manager of the investment depart
ment OF the Financial News. OF New
York, has asked Governor Tyler to fur
nish that publication in condensed form
the business conditions and prospects OF
Virginia. The letter states that the fore
most merchants and bankers of the cOun
try are just now exercised about business
conditions and the outlook for 1900, the
high rate OF interest for money In New
York creating a question with some OF
the continuance OF the prosperity that
has marked the present year.
The British Government is DESTROYS OF
obtaining full particulars Of the savings
bank administration in each OF the states
OF the United States. with a view To .egis
lation on the subject In the course OF tho
next session OF Parliament and through
the Department OF State at Washington
has asked Governor Tyler TO give certain
Information on the subject. The points
upon which the British Government par.
ticuiarly desires information are indicated
In the list OF interrogatories. a reply to
which would give the most complete ex-
!. PLANTATION OF the savings bank system
The last query In the list is as follows
''Is the position of the State In relation
NO the savings banks specially engaging
public attention at the present day? Is