The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-02-26

FOR VIRGINIA INSANE.
WHAT OLD DOMINION DOES Eop
ITS UNFORTUNATEs.
MAINTAINS -Four HospitaIs-Special
Colony for EpiIeptics and Separate
Institutions for Negroes Included.

virginia has four hospitals for tha
care of its insane. There are three
the Eastern, located at WILLIAMSBURG
rounded In 1878; the Western. at
Staunton, founded in 1898, and the
southwestern, at Marion, established
In 1887, all Of which are for the ex-
elusive use of white patients.
The Central, devoted to the care of
the negro insane, is now situated at
Petersburg. 1t was first established
In Richmond, in 1870, but in 1885
was removed to the present site.
These institutions are supported by
an appropriation made by the Can.
eral Assembly.
Inc Eastern has accommodations
Tor about 900 patients, the report for
the fiscal year ended September 80.
1903, the last one available, shows a
total Of SS4 patients, divided as fol-
lows: 44S male and 3S5 female. The
per capita cost Of maintaining the in
stitution is $150.41. The Eastern has
an S5-acre farm run in connection.
much of the work being done by the
patients. The farm supplies great
abundance of vegetables and food
stuff for the use of the hospital, but
not enough to supply the demand.
The farm yielded a net revenue of
$l,S43, according to the report men,
toned above. A mattress and broom
factory is also operated at a profit,
the last report showing a net return
of $1,148. The patients also help
to keep up repairs and to operate the
laundry.
The value of the Eastern plant is
placed at s410.214, and the State ap-
preparation for the last fiscal year.
ended September 80, 1906. was sse.-
47l,59. The returns from pay pa
tients were $1,s56s3, while other
items of resource. such as sales and
rent of State property, were S425.ss.
- 1ne report of the Western state
Hospital for the fiscal year ended
September 80, 1908, gives a total of
s77 patients-4S5- male and 4sa fe-
male. The per capita cost at the
western has seperate buildings for
transportation of about s1.03. The
western has seperate buildings for
the care of consumptives. A small
1arm is operated, but it has been co
recently acquired that no figures az
to its return can be given.
Under the control of the officials of
the Western Hospital will be placed
the epi!eptic colony, a site for which
has been bought lust outside 90
Lynchburg. 1t is planned to have
the colony in operation in 1911 All
patents of the Eastern. Western and
southwestern Hospital who are suf-
Iering from the malady will he sent
there for treatment.
The report of Commissio DER Ran.
serrman for the fiscal year ended
September 80, 1909 shows that the
state appropriation for this bosnital
was s119,000.4S and that the receints
from the pay patients were about
$2,S91, while other sources of reve.
nue. netted s4.70O.
The Southwestern at Marion has
an enrolment of 631-3OO male and
S31 female. The farm and garden
operated in connection with the hos
pital shows a net balance of s4.SsO
Ihls hospital drew an appropriation
from the State of $4,000 and receiv-
ed about $500 from paid patients
while other items of revenue brought
in $3s7.
The Central Hospital, at Peters,
burg, is devoted to the treatment of
negro patients, who numbered at the
close of the 1908 fiscal year 1856
59S male and 6S7 female. The per
capita cost of maintaining this hos
pital is $101,7S, this figure including
the cost of transportation. The plant
OF the Central Hospital is valued at
S516 O6O and has fine farm of SEQ
acres attached. The last report
shows that this farm yielded a net
revenue of over $1,000.
For the last six years tuberculosis
patients have been segregated and a
new cottage costir $4,000 has Just
been built for their use.
The State appropriation for this
hospital was $4,000, and about
SS'S40 was received from the rent of
State property.
During the 1908 session the Legis-
lature passed a law which provides
that no citizen Of the State of vir-
ginia who is an inmate Of a hospital
Tor the insane shall be charged any