The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1902-01-23
HOSPITAL FOR INSANE.
A Suggestion as to the Soldiers
Iiome-Money Needed the Coming
Year.

Iiome-Money Needed the Coming
Year.
The annual report Of the State hos
pitsl for the insane made by the b2llt
o. regents, was sent to the governor
Tuesday. This year it contains Z
great deal of interesting matter. and
suggestion made as to the soldiers
home, will doubtless attract the care
ful attention Of the general assembly.
Here is the report:
TO His E2cellency, NJ. B. McSwee1ey,
Governor OF South Carolina.
Sic: | have the honor TO present
herewith on behalf Of the board OF re-
gents CT the State Hospital for the In
sane the annual reports and vouchers
OF the operations Of the institution fc!
the year ending December 81, 1901.
The fact that this is the seventy.
eighth report of this hospital subitted
to the general assembly serves 10
direct our attention to its long career
OF usefulness to this and neighbCcing
States. During the past year the TO-
G0Oth consecutive admission has been
! reached and passed and the highest
uGMber Of annual admiSSlcns-+o9--
has been received.
From year to yeor the growth OF our
iLsane hospitals has bean appalling TO
sefious-minded persons in all countries
and not the least to the board Of re-
gents themselves and to their resident
of;cers. Still. as great as the burden
unon the tax payers in our State for the
surort has grown to be, yet as has
beer Shown ir former repocts this bull
den is not excessive as compared with
that OF other States. In round numbers
we ere called upon to provide for about
one person out OF every 1000 or the
general population, while in other
States the average has reached abont l
to every $50 or 800 OF the population.
In administering the affairs OF the
hcspital il has been the constant puf-
nose Of the board TO recommend Only
such changes as would enlarge ano
broaden its sphere OF usefulness and
charity. One Of the principles or our
general policy may be cnuac.ated as
aiming towards pronotions the great
est good to the greatest number. Up TO
the last half dozen years our doors
wtce kept open as they had been from
the beginning to patients who were not
residents CT the State. Practically all
citizens of South Carolina have been
received who by reason OF diseased
brains or habits of ine5riety required
the restraints CT an asylum. For some
wears the regents have net doubted
that the privileges OF the hospital have
been abused and they have cCnse-
cuently so reported to the general as
sembly. But heretofore 10 stringent
measures have been pas-ci for TeSu-
lating admissions. Bat it app >ars TO
the board That the time has at lcagta
arrived as shown In the supcr!ntend-
ent's report whom the genera! assem-
biz should regulate more minutsly the
classes Of admissions.
Our attention has been especially d.
rected to the refusal Of Eeighhccing
States to admit to their insane hosp!-
tails persons who have not been resi-
dents within their borders at least TWO
years. We feel therefore that we can
net too earnestly ask through your eN-
ccllency that the general assembly de-
fine clearly the length Of time neces-
sary TO establish the rights OF settle
ment," as 1t Is called.
In regard 10 the admission OF old pco-
plc who are not strictly insane, the
board leans toward the side Of broadest
charity and cannot therefore recon-
mend their refusal until better proYs-
ion is made. py the several counties in
their poor houses.
The board of regents. therefore, are
forced to take the view, however, mucn
Il may be against their natural lncllna-
tious and wishes, that there seems 10
be little prospect OF reducing in the
future the number Of admissions or
greatly curtailiug the annual expenses
of the hospital Or .he contrary. II
we aro to Judge hy the unprecedented
demands m2dn upon us during the past
decade, this hospital will year by year
be call5d upon 70 provide Tor an ever
increasing population.
In tie past - years our beard has
been forced Ivy circumstances to recon-
mend from time 10 time the purchase
Of land adjunct TO the hospital proper
ty. 1t has been our purpose. so Tar as
jay in our power, to provide for eXis-
ting and future needs in the hospital
withou. greatly adding 20 the amount.
Of taxation. The location Of the hosp'-
tai practically within the city OF CO.
lumbia has always made the price OF
land comparatively high. but in our
Judgment the various steps OF expand
ing the property to its Tcesent asgre-
gate OF $50 acres have been made N
response to the existing needs ana IN
preparation OF future eX!gencias. Ine
purchase OF the Wallace property I'VE
II. AfNk NJ
giving the patients for tha first tlrns
that privacy whic. they 50 much need
ed and. of which they were deprived Oy
aud kiphwHVS 4 lie