The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-03-27
Two of the States Three Asylums
Are 0vercrowded.
PlTlFUL CONDITION OF NEGRO INSANE
In The District Set Apart For the Morganton Asy-
Ium There Are 300 Insane Persons Who
Ought to be in the Hospital, But
Are Not For Lack of Room.

An Appeal to the People of North Car
DINA in behalf of the Insane that are
now without Hospital Care in this State.
by the Board of Public Charities of North
Carolina.
1t has been said that insanity is in
creasing beyond the rate of popula-
ton. Whether or not this be true, it
is certainly true (D that there is a
steady annual increase in insan-
ity in North Carolina-an in
crease far in excess of any
remedial or even custodial care
yet provided; GU that at least two of
the asylums of the State (Morganton
and Goldsboro) are approaching an
extraordinary congestion of chronic
eases, while the third (Raleigh),
though recently enlarged, must soon
be in the same condition.
The inability of these institutions
to admit those who might be easily
cured, thereby condemns them TO
hopeless insanity for the balance OF
their lives. For insanity in it's earll-
est stages is, as n rule. a recoverable
malady, while in its chronic stages it
is one of the most hopeless. as it is
one of the most pitiable of affections.
At MOrganton, during the past
year, over 100 patients were refused
admission for want of room, there
being already about 500 insane in the
hospital. The superintendent pre-
sents reasons for believing that 500
insane, at least are now uncared for
in that district. 300 of whom should
be in the hospital.
In the asylum here in Raleigh there
is just now, thanks to some additions
recently built, no crowding. The ca
pacity of the institution is 44G, but as
the daily average for 1899 was 412.
with the number of chronic cases in
creasing, it is probable that it will
not be long before this institution
will be in need of more room.
In the asylum for the colored race
at Goldsboro there are $40 patients
drawn from the eastern district and
135 from the western, making a total
of AS. There is no room left in an
institution originally accommodating
90, and, with all additions thus far III
construction, now crowded to over
flowing. All the conditions referred
to at Morganton are here intensified.
Insanity, once so rare among mem
bers of that race when all their care
and responsibility were cast upon the
white owner, runs riot among them
now that they must meet the stress
of competitive existence. with the
scant sympathy for each other in
weakness, sickness or old age charac-
teristic of the race.
IT has been said that the sick ne
GRO has no home except the refuge of
the almshouse; much more so with
the sick who are insane. 1t is certain
that the insane negro. almost univer-
sally. is a public charge. a few, in
Jail or in a county home, are eXpen-
siye to care for. But under the sys-
tenn at GoldsborO the per capita cost
is very limited, being $94O9Hs per
capita. and all patients, capable of
contributing to their own support in
daily labor are utilized. County care
often reaches this sum, without the
treatment that returns many to The
ranks of workers in the body polite.
Many months back the News and
Observer called attention to the
crowded condition of the insane aSy-
lums in North Carolina, and pointed
out the necessity for charging our
accommodations for the treatment
and care of the unfortunate insane IN
the State
The facts then presented were those
set forth above and which had already
been called to the attention of the
State Board of Health by the directors
of these institutions.
But the Board of Health could do
nothing. They were as powerless as
the directors whose possible means OF
extension had been taken away by
the constant reduction of Legislative