The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-03-15
The Southwestern Hospital.
The Editor of mines. DIspatch

To the Editor Of Times-D ispa tct: a
Sir,-As SO much Is now being said and
| written about the insane and insane
hospitals desire to say word for the
Southwestern Hospital and the work
being done there-situated as the hospl-
from centers OF information, and little Is
heard OF 1t, $3.50 feet above the sea.
with an abundant supply of almost pure
freestone water, flowing by gravity all
through the hospital from mountain
spring OF (3,0oO.00O) three million gallons
capacity a day, the inmates breathing
pure oxygen and zone from natures
own laboratory. 1t is to be expected
that good results be obtained. and as a
matter of fact the results have been
surprisable. Il
Since the opening Of this hospital, 1887.
I'D to the ond of the last fiscal year,
September 80, 1909. 1879 cases Of insanity
have been cared for in all the State
hospitals (7,249 white Insane and 3,4a
colored 1insane); Of this number the South.
western Hospital (the smallest in the
State) has cared for 21l5 or nearly
onc-third OF the entire number OF
white insane in. the State. Out Of 3,55l
discharges of the insane (white) the
Southwestern Hospital has discharged
| 1,422 or considerably over one-third, and
OF 1,T23 deaths in the State hospitals (for
white insane) 2S5 or less than one-sixtl
OF this number have been In the South
western Hospital. This large percentage
OF discharges and low percentage OF
deaths Is remarkable.
It viii be SEEN, too. by an examination
of the general approximation bills. ana az
special appropriations for buildings us
recorded each year in acts Of the AS
semhly. that the entire cost Of ca. caring
FOR 1878 insane in Virginia from 1881 70
1902 inclusive was Si944,63527, or $4oV.a
per capita during this time -,
The entire cost OF caring for the 1sas
white insane in the state hospitals du-
rinr this time was $3,5s9,575,27, or $is5 ,U
nar' cnpIta, The entire cost OF caring
For the s,4so colorcd insane In the Central
Eosnital during this time was Sl,355 !
nn0 or s3Ss.34 per capita. The entire
cost Of caring for tho 21l5 insane
in tho Southwestern Hospital curing
this period uSSe to 1909 was S773'6G3.44, or
s365.79 per capltas 49,,
These statistics arc accurate, INNS,
and can be verified by reference 70 aets
norts during these, years, From coslde-
~ General Assembly and to annual re-
ports during these years. From consid-
erations of these statistics as to tho
large percentage Of discharges-the low
percentage Of deaths-and from the low
I capita cost through this number Of
Years, had not the Legislature better
move ali the hospitals for the Insane
out to this grand southwest country'
The work that has been done and Is being
done here has not been and Is not appre-
clated as 1t should be by the State
These facts and figures. more than words
speak for the extraordinary efficiency OF
tho management of this hospital, and
especially Of the Executive Committee
who monthly direct every purchase and
examine and audit every cent of expend'
iture with very great care and labor
During the period under consideration
the total insane in the hospitals In the
State has Increased from LACE, September
80, 1885, to 2,973, September 80, 1902,
The white insane IN hospitals Increased
from 1929, September 80. 1856, to l's7s
September 30, 1909, The colored insane
! in hospital Increased from 4S6. septembeT
80, 1886, to 1000 September 80, 1902
It Is true that there were more insane
1T the beginning OF this period nupro-
yided for lin jails. &cpl than noW-h4 y
| this great percentage Of increase 81 J,
sanity over and above the ratio Of
increase In population has been remark
able, This percentage IN not 50 great
each year now as It was. but It Is still
the r9to ef 4ae I, ~
" NsE I Va. March SIN