The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-05-17
PROPRIETOR, BUFFALO LITHiA SPRINGS. VA.

. '" # &
| Directors come"
II want right here to express my opini
ion regarding cpileptics. think tilere
| should be an epileptic colony. II YOU locR
up an cpileptic and feed him on meats
| YOU might as well knock him IN the
head"
Chairman Sadler--
@. And they get beef one day and pork
the next?
A. Yes.
Witness said that DIR. Drewry. supt OF
the Central, once asked him his opinion
regarding the treatment OF epileptlcs. lie
answered:
Keep them in the open air; give them
easy employment and easily digested
food. and you've done all you can for
them"
you have hit the nail on the head"
was Or. Drewry's reply. Witness said
that there were from twenty-five to
thirty epileptics in the hospital confined
IN the wards.
DR.. southall then described revolving
habits practiced by the patients in the
Montague Building. IIc said he had re-
ported the matter to the superintendent
and the members of the special board
Witness thought that the Montague
Building was hardly Ill uiu uaulunu uau
Building was badly. constructed and that
to break up the practices. the building
would have to be renoored with cement.
The Montague Building was built, wit
ness said by Wilson,5of Richmond, and
the work was overlooked bysa Williams
burg carpenter named Tobasco, appointed
by the special board.
In answer to u question from the
chnirman DR.. Foster stated that Messrs.
holland and Baskerville were the Earch!-
tects,
The chairman then stated that all of
these parties will be summoned to appear
before the committee.
Witness described the bad construction
| Of the Montague building and stated
that Id had ica,lcdethe, attention of the
| special board to these defects before
| the building was completed. "'rhe build
| ing is too long for the safety Of the
! patients and too dark for the good of
their health
Hospital Crowded.
Witness said that the old patents
should be placed in wards by themselves
and should have night attendants. The
hospital he said was too crowded for
| health and for safety.
Senator Rlson interrupted and asked
DIR. Foster If he had the contract made
with Mr.. Wilson. builder Of the Montague
building. and If bond had been given.
DR. Southall then stated that he thought
the attendants should have separate
building for quarters.
Witness stated that DR.. Foster visited
his wards every week or So Witness
said that no major operations had been
performed. He said that the hospital was
not supplied with instruments for per-
forming major operations. Witness then
related case Of gangrene, from which
the patient died. The patient was over
eighty years OF age. and it was only n
matter Of a short time when the gan
creme must have killed him. Witness
left for Amelia and when he returned
the patient had died after an operation
had been performed.
Witness stated that In his opinion 1t
was not necessary for the superintendent
to make daily visits to the wards. He
said ne thought he had too many duties
II, perform. and that he could best serve
the hospital by performing other duties
He felt sure. he said. that the institution
had not suffered from the lack Of visits
nt the superintendent 10 the wards
Witness said ne considered The use OF
straight Jackets necessary unless there
were many attendants 10 look after the
patients.
II considered the use Of straight jack