The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1902-02-06
FOR A SOLbIER'S HOME.
Recommendations That Will Deeply
Interest the Veterans.

The annual report of DR.. J. W. Bah
cock. the efficient superintendent OF the
State hospital for the insane, has been
made public. The report is not only in
terestins from the facts about the in
St:tution that it contains, but it gives
suggestion as to the Confederate sol
diers' home. which Will doubtless COM
m2nd the careful attention Of legisa-
tors and old soldiers alike. Here is the
report:
To the Board of Regents:
n accordance with Law and custom
hereby present the 18th annual report
OF the hospital for the year ending
Deccmbc- 81. 1901.
An examination OF the statistical ia
blcS accompanying this report shows
the steady increase in population which
has characterized the history Of the in
stitution for several years. The IN
crease in the daily average number has
been twenty-five (25), the total admis-
sions four hundred and fifty-nine (459l.
and the total under treatment fourteen
hundred and ninety-three Il, Q,493).
The ost serious obstacle to tho OPP
GRAFTON OF the institution has been the
frequent occurrence OF smallpox in our
wares. Since its first introduction here
thirty-two (32) cases in all nave ap-
peared, and while most of them have
been mild, the usually serious nature
of the disease has added much to the
anxiety OF those intrusted with the care
and protection of the patients. So little
has the seriousness OF the situation
here been appreciated outside the insti-
tuition, and so little cooperation has
been given in the way Of vaccination
of new patients before admission. that
at times absolute quarantine has
seemed necessary. Fortunately, how
sver, this step has been avoided and the
year closes with the absence Of small
pox from our midst. In May and june
an unusual number Of cases Of typhoid
fever developed. So far as investiga-
ton discloses its origin the epidemic
probably originated in the drinking OF
water from old wells previously above
suspicion and now abandoned. The
continued prevalence Of tuberculosis
among our patients, and especially
among the negroes, serves to empha-
size the opinion expressed in former
reports that the only method OF proper
ly handling cases OF this malady in
overcrowded asylums Is by as rigid
isolation as can be obtained. In build
ings now available 1t has been inpos-
sible properly to segregate our con-
sumptives. This problem Is a serious
one and demands better solution than
has been given 1t here and elsewhere.
II we may learn from the history OF
this hospital during the so years Of its
existence. and more especially from the
experience OF the last 20 years here as
we'll as elsewhere, we must expect an
ever increasing population to be pro-
yided for. 1t Is therefore our duty to
direct our attention so faF as possible
TO the future growth of the institution
as we'll as to the consideration or pres
ent needs. When the purchase OF the
Wallace property was under considera-
ton it was decided that the level
field comprising so acres and known
as the Bellevue place would at no very
distant date be needed to serve as the
site for the development Of series Of
.cottaees or wards constructed upon the
pavilion plan, such as are required LOT
this climate and are really better Tor
the housing Of the insane in all eli
mates. AS study OF such plan
plate rs annexed by permission from a
recent number OF American Medi-
cine"
While the time for the entering upon
this solution OF the problem OF proVla-
ing for the insane Of South Carolina
has not arrived, yet it may not be IS
distant as we expect or nope. Since,
however, there are runners that at It's
next session the. general assembly VIII
take up the question OF providing a
home for Confederate veterans, | would
respectfully suggest that your board
invite the attention Of the governor and
the members Of the legislative bodies.
as well as the committees OF the SOUTH
Carolina division Of the United Con-
federate Veterans. to the possible ad-
yantages OF this site for the purposes
OF such home. Taking as nucleus
the farm house now upon the Bellevue
place a few wooden buildings could at
once be erected for the Veterans home
at small expense. In the next few
years, II the number Of homeless veter-
ans provided sufficient to warrant IT
upon this sight could be developed a
series of permanent hospital buildings
which would afford the veterans such
q home as they deserve. and when. In
due course Of time. the veterans shall
have Joined the great majority, the
state will have need OF these buildings.
made sacred and historic by their first
occupants for other Of her children