The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-02-21
INSANITY IN VIRGINIA.
Judge TredwaY Thinks There is no In
crease Among the Whites.

Editor of The Times-Dispatch;
Sir.-The opinion seems to prevail that
there is an increase in insanity in this
State, but do not think that an inves-
tigation of the subject vii: furnish any
basis for the prevailing opinion. For
number of years have given this sub
ject some thought, as a member OF the
Western State Hospital Board. I am
sure that among the white people, there
Is no more insanity now than there was
ten or twelve years ago. In order to ar
rive at the status of the matter, we will
have to study and compare the statistics
of our hospitals for a number OF years.
There are three hospitals for the white
insane OF our State, viz: Western State
Hospital Eastern State Hospital and
Southwestern State Hospital. From the
reports OF these institutions for the year
ending 30th September. 1899, 1t will ap-
pear that there were then in the Western,
$40 patients In the Eastern. 56i patinets.1
and in the Southwestern, 3S6 patients or a
total Of 1890 patients in the white hospl-
tails.
From the reports OF these institutions
for the year ending Both September. 1900,
find that there were 954 patients In the
Western. 5e3 in the Eastern and 3401 in the
Southwestern, or a total number Of 191s
patients.
cannot now lay my hands on the re-
ports for the last two years, but from re-
collection. think am justified in say
ing that they will disclose substantially
the same state Of facts.
The above statistics, which are abso-
lutely accurate. show that the number Of
white Insane persons was only q larger
in 1900 than eleven years previously, and
the increase in our population during the
same period. Insane white persons In
1899 were to some extent confined In our
jails. but with rare exceptions. such is
not the case now. Our hospitals do not
allow them to remain In Jail for more
than a few days Just as the proper pa
pers are forwarded, these unfortunate
people are transferred to these hospitals
for care and treatment. We now find
5neary all of our insane in these institu-
tons and on examination of their annual
reports discloses the fact that the num-
Der now confined as insane. is about the
same as it was twelve years ago. Not
only Is this true, but as soon as the
new buildings at the Eastern Hospital Is
completed there will be ample accomo-
datlons for all the white Insane In our
State.
The Western Hospital Is now taxed to
Its fullest extent to accommodate the pa,
IleHtS sent IHeTc III IdIBcE l1ulllUtIS ludIl
ever known before. There are 1850 pa,
itlents there now. but this large increase is
due to the fact that the Western Is re-
celving many patients from the territory
belonging to the Eastern Hospital. the
latter Institution having lost by fire one
OF its buildings. When the new building
there Is completed 1t will accommodate
forty more patients than the building
destroyed by FIRE and the overflow at the
Western will be relieved to large ex-
tent. So. say that the white insane can
find ample accommodation in these three
hospitals, No new buildings will be need.
ed unless epIleptics are to be better cared
for than under present conditions.
At the Central Hospital In 1890 there
We're $50 colored patients in 1900 there
We're s6S and the number Is much larger
now. There Is no class of our citizens
which appeals to us more strongly FOR
care, treatment and maintenance than
the insane, They cannot help themselves,
The people OF Virginia must take care of
them and during the fourteen years
have been connected with the Western
State Hospital, testify with pleas,
ure to the fact that our Gov
ernors and Legislatures have inyarIa hlv
dealt with our Insane in fair and libe.
raj manner 'N1
Chatham, Va. =" '