The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-11-12
IMPROVEMENTS ARE
MUCH NEEDED
Present Condition Excellent, in
View of Fact Management Is
Handicapped BY Lack of
Funds and Equipment.
Superintendent's
Report.

~ tae regular meeting Of the Board ~
Directors OF the Eastern State Hospital
hold here Friday afternoon. Dr. l.. S.
Potter. superintendent. presented his an
nul report on the conditions existing 40
the hospital. which is as follows.
Number 81 patients present at the be-
ginning of the yea-. o43 males and 3l5
females. total of 6fs. number ~ appu-
cations during the gear. lGs which IS
seventeen Jess than last year. number ad-
sni'tea. 1877, total number treated. is5.
which is twenty-five more than last year.
number % those who recovered and were
discharged. -. the largest number Of
disc hargr- since the year 1859. with the
exception ~ tho year 1904 when two more
were discharged tlan during the present
YER number - deaths. 81. number now
remaining. i- males and 3l5 females.
making a total ~ go. The average num-
h"r present during tle year Was $50 the
L-fF--t ir The history 20 the Institution.
~ Tho l1l admitted only two were adj
united Tor tho second time Of the sew
"lif ionr patients discharged only one
d" ."-~ - at-1itaiir mauia-Sas returned
- ~" ine 'lt-tllu. The number furlougaed
curing tle year Was eevcutv-one oe
tli- number only eighteen returned The
I-r cent of rccovcrics ou admissions was
tlAtf Tor tae males and foriy-six f0r The
y itles. a total percentage of hfty-three
-.r 4- an unusually large nufabcr % re-
tt.|'t .sa| Aiar r.sNANafiN Nf ffle ElF.f-
ie pr cent - deaths cu tho admissions
"ar tn-rty-rlre. 90 those admitted
twenty -si1 per cent were over sixty
H"it- old and of those who died seven
teen were between sixty aus seventy.
;fe between seventy and eighty. ana one
over eighty years ~ age.
Three Prominent Facts.
These statistics. AS summed up by tho
superintendent show the following fgcts-
First-Ihat the policy pursued b,, tho
management % discharElug only such
patients as are restored 20 sanir,, is fh..
Ni-'7t lnd best course for the State 10
tnai d saves 80 expense OF "a comrnl--
fion Of iunacy ard transportation. which
must necessarily occur frequently when
"a patient is discharged as improved as
l~ sometimes the case and the slrerfn-
ten1ent stated 10 as his opinion that Tho.
H'If iaci or having 20 90 through the
legal process is Injurious % the patiert
as it has a tendency .n such cases =, f,r-..
upon the mind ~ the unfortunate tast his
or Der chances FOR recovery are lessened
Second--Thai sound discretion has AZ
5A times been exercised ln granting fur
lolghs.
Third-That the hospital has gone ~
tie limit cs safety and discretion In re-
ceitine patients until further pro,fsi,-,
can Dc made for their comfort
Tho last proposition !s in the orinion
~ Tho superintendent. "a most serious on.
iof ne declares % unwise. 20 saw the least
'f u. t9 receive patients that cannot f,r
tack of funds Doe properly cared FOR
In the last annual report the MANAGE
mont appealed FOR a special approximation
from the LEGISLATURE FOR the erection ana
ecu Iinent % suitable kitchen. 10 en-
large the reservoir and thereby Increase
tne water suoulv. 70 add norticoes 20 the
oNidings occupied by the female patients:
fo Increase the accommodations fo- mo
lTfI~u1rrr Toffavfc. 50
me enlept'cs 10 provide for the seeraI
non ot the consumptives; TO give better
accommodations for the nurses ana to
purchase move lend for farming purposes.
An Epileptic Colony.
Dr Foster REPORTS that although 70 nm
was Appropriated by the last Legislature
Tor the eoileptic colonv. no hone for anv
feiease from this source can he had until
No legislature has increased this fund
s"H"'"ntlv 70 erect a plant large enough
u Accommodate All the euileptics now
confined in the state hospitals
The following improvements were 70
ported for the wear.
Six hundred and thirtv-slx wards ~
Krano ithic pavement laid IN the front OF
the grounds. which Improves tho iooyre
Or The grounds and also adds greatly -
'ne convenience OF the officers ana na
tients. much d~ain tile put in. lou, ,'1o(.,
pr-s4 4as
seed. and much shrIhhorv r1an+ed +bo-,
- 1o' oni- beautifviuv rhis rortfor 30 r.
grounds. but also greatly improvinp t1,o
sanitary conditions: exterior OF 4ba 49,,
utive building painted and tho naintioe, 30
the interior Of the Montague bujl5,,,,
nearly comnleted Ward AZ has 49,,
Thoroughly overhauled. renovated bv re
plastering and putting un iron coit;ro
throughout and new furniture has bcoo
put in. The management has haef,r tr
place in the bathrooms % tho inarr,o,-,.
tile floors and uD-to-dats sanitary ev
tures for tho toilet Material has 49,,
ordered for nlacing n grarolithic floor m
6er Word 'F," which has been needed
for some time
Lumber is IN place for a large and COM
modious niocerv. and n new snokehouse
vii be built rs soon as carpenters can
be procured. A pair Of mules have been
purchased TO haul coal from the denot
Rs well as pair Of horses for the hack
\ large park wagon viii be purchased
Tor the purpose Of taking out patients
Tor a drive.
ENGAGE a Trained Nurse.
The suncrintendent stated that having
been authorized bv the board Of direc-
tors. he viii engage the services Of n
trained nurse as soon as a suitable per-
son can be found
DR.. Foster stated that the more urgent
needs Of the hospital. appropria tions for
which the last Legislature was asked
will be summed up. and an estimate OF
the cost be made. the whole 10 be pre-
Fented to the next T.episIaturc tbroppt