The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-05-27
HISTORY OF The
VIRGINIA INSANE
An Interesting Address Delivered by
Or. Preston.
STATISTICS AS TO THE RACES
Insanity Has Rapidly Increased
Among the Colored People Since
They Were Set Free Third
OF a Century Ago.

DIR. r. J. Preston, superintendent of the
Southwestern State Hospital, delivered the
following address before the American
Medico-Psyc Association Wednes-
day:
1t has seemed to me That 1t would be
exceedingly appropriate at this time, when
this capital city OF the Old Dominion is
being honored by this meeting together
here of distinguished aiiensts from all
parts of our country and from other lands,
if we present a complete history or re-
View of the insane in Virginia from her
colonial period down to the present time.
It is a source of regret that the time at my
disposal and the available da at hand are
entirely insufficient for the undertaking of
such task. can only hope at this time
to give, as indicated in the title, Some
Statistics and Partial History of the In
sane in Virginia. and leave it to others
to perfect and complete the same.
The ravages OF two wars (the War OF
the Revolution and the War between the
States have sadly marred and Scared the
bosom OF this old Mother of States and
Statesmen and destroyed many valuable
statistics and records in this and other de-
partrnents of State history which can
never be replaced.
THE FIRST HOSPITAL.
We as Virginians, claim as a matter OF
State pride the honor OF having built the
first hospital exclusively for the Insane
on this continent In Colonial days, the
House of Burgesses Incorporated Inc
Hospital for the reception Of idiots luna
tics. and persons of insane or sordered
mind" which was opened for the recep-
ton of patients September H. 11lS.
Said Hospital is perpetuated to-day as
the Eastern State Hospital, at the old Co
20 Va We
would at the same time accord to our
sister Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
every mead of praise for original and
prior efforts in providing wards for the
insane in a general hospital in 1lo2, ana
also to our sister Commonwealth OF Mary
land for like efforts in this direction IN
augurated in TIA and carried into erect
in 1891 in the establishment OF the Mary
land Hospital. 1t may be sad, 100. on
the word of Governor Gilbert G Walker
in his centennial address at W1lEatns-
burg in 1873 that Virginia IN hsI ueep
noverty. in the days Of reconstruction, es-
tahIished the first asylum for the poor
colored man ever organized established
first AT Richmond, Va, as Howard
Grove Hospital and 1888 permanently es
t.hlished as the Central State Hospital
near Petersburg Va, where To-Day Heai-
,v one thousand colored insane are caTeo
for in magnificent buildings, sp!eno.ciy
ac,r;n,ed under the able and skl!lful
Inanarement of DR.. VIM. f. DreWfy' III
a manner that reflects great credlt upon
thfs old Commonwealth and upon TINS
age. +la fol-
have endeavored to prepare the iot-
lowing statistical table showing the num-
nor of insane il, the State Hospitals ~
the end of each census decade tas lar as
obtainohle, from the opening OF the nos
,tal. in 1713 at Williamsburg down 10
The present time and also the poDuiatloI
of the State (white and colored) for eaca
census, with the percentage OF 1ncreass,
comparatively, Of the insane and the
III. statistics have been compiled at
considerable labor. owing. as before SAID
tn the destruction and loss OF many EaiH-
able records.
7 have been unable to ill out the Garner
census statistics Of the Easteih
Hosnital, though T have had much COT
resnondence and research, aided by the
s1nerintendents of the other state dos-
nitaIs and others. to whom I wish to rem
der thanks and Acknowledgements.
In thse statistics only the insane IN the
State Hospitals are considered. out ~ 10
nrobatIe that the number OF insane out
side the hospitals has varied but little eacA
wear: as many perhaps are ln'provideo loi
today in the State as at any previous
time.
The first two insane patients were "a
mitted into the Eastern Hospital october,