The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-02-23

frequent conferences with DIR. Bab-
cock upon the subject. 1t is not on
ly interesting. but also only just to
DR.. Babcock In view Of the report of
tho majority Of the investigating
committee, and certain statements
which have recently been made upon
the floor of the house of representa-
tives that should refer here to GER
tain recommendations which I made
then. my cnly excuse for doing so be-
ing. as have stated. that DR.. Bah
cock urged them upon me and point
ed out their necessity.
In my first message. January. 1904.
called attention to the fact that
during the past twenty-five years the
population Of the hospital had nearly
Quadrupled. while the appropriations
for Its maintenance had not been
double. the annual amount per capt.
Ia for this purpose having gradually
fallen from over 5000 to about 500.
Comparisons were drawn between
amounts expended in this state and
In other states. nearly all Of them
amounting to more than 800 per
cent more than In South Carolina.
In fact, my first message. at DR..
Babcock's request 1 called attention
to the fact that while in other states
the number Of inmates in their asy-.
lums was limited by la,r and that
inebriates and, epileptics were sep
arated from the insane proper. that
with US there was no surh law and
on the grounds of humanity the su-
perintendent and board of regents
were compelled to receive all who
were legally sent from the various
counties. 1t was further suggested
that all such be placed in separate
buildings.
In 1905 I again called the attention
of the general assembly to the con-
stantly increasing population of the
asylum. due largely to the fact that
since 1928. the year it was opened,
our asylum had received not only
lunatics. but idiots and epileptics,
and by subsequent legislation. ine-
briates. cited the further fact that
there were in our asylum a large
number of old people who could not
be strictly called insane. whose cases
belonged strictly to the county au.
thorities. and the great heart of DR..
Babcock would not allow him to send
them back.
A year later, and again at the sug-
gestion Of DR.. Babcock, I stated that
the problem at the asylum could on
ly be relieved by an increased appro-
priation, and referred to his sugges-
tion that the asylum farm be sold
and cheaper land purchased farther
from the city. adding that the pre-
sent buildings and grounds could be
used as a central reception hospital
for the treatment Of acute cases of
insanity. and that other classes of
patients be distributed in colonies on
the land purchased.
In my last message called atten-
ton to the fact that, where our state
hospital had accommo dations for on
ly 1000 patients. that during the past
year nearly 400 patients in excess
OF this number had been crowded
within the buildings and again re-
peated by recommendations of the
year before.
The fact that the asylum was over
crowded has been frequently placed
before the members of the general
assembly, but unfortunately very few
people realize what conditions over
crowding In an asylum brings about
and. until the report of the investigat-
Ing committee was made, the mem
bers of the general assembly and the
other people Of our state at large
have not realized the true state of af-
fairs. 1 might add that II the cases
cited In the report of the majority
OF the committee are not exceeding
ly rare due entirely to the careless
ness Of attendants Immediately in
charge and impossible of prevention
by far too limited executive staff
that In my opinion, no one outside
the walls Of the asylum. not even
the superintendent and board, have
understood the true condition Of af-