The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-11-28
MENTALLY UNFIT
SROULDN MARRY
DR.. Priddy Calls Attention Of
Legislature to Restrictive
Needs.
EPILEPTIc COLONY REPORT
New Institution Has Hundred
Patients Needs More to
Reduce Cost.

Anticipating rapid increase In
mental detectives and epileptIcs, out
ol proportion TO the normal incre
I ment OF population in Virginia, DR..
y. ). prtddy, superintendent Of the
new State EpileptE Colony near
.l-rnchburg, calls attention of the
Legislature in his iirst annual report.
maze public yesterday. to the con-
t, siacration of the application of legal
lied eugcnics for the prevention oil
this growing blight on the population.
He suggests as n solution the re-
atrlction of the marriage OF cpileptIcs,
the insane. the feeble minded and con-
iirmcd alcoholics.
The potent Influence of heredity,"
SAYS DR.. Priddy. "as the cause of In
sanity. feeble -mindedness. ldiocy and
other mental defects Is shown suffi-
ctently well to be convincing, by a
study of the history OF the inmates
OF our state institutions and county
almshouses. without further proof being
need. Mendel. after long study and re-
search on the subject OF transmission
of mental and nervous characteristics
from parent to offspring. has evolved
laws which apply with seeming pre-
ciston TO the conditions under which
homeopathic taints of parents are in
hcrited by their Offspring" He mem
tons how other specialists have made
Investigations which confirm the Men
delian theory. In view of these
scientific revelations. he concludes
which are confirmed by everyday en-
perience in institutions. he anticipates
the accumulation by Virginia OF a
greater population Of these detectives
and dependents than her resources will
permit the comfortable care of. So
that Nri
well as humanitarian problem.
Work for Epileptics.
The State Epileptic Colony has ac-
commodations for only 100 patients,
that being the extent reached under
the appropriation made by the last
Legislature for the establishment of
the institution. The first admissions
were en- May 16. 1910. when thirty
patients were transferred there from
the Southwestern Hospital at Marion.
Thirty came from the Eastern Hos
pitaI at Williamsburg on May 10. while
on May % there were forty from the
Western at Staunton Because there
is only one patients building, only
males could be received. Up to the
end of the fiscal year on September 80
liz had been received In all, of whom
six were returned to the Eastern Hos
pital. one to the Southwestern, while
FIVE died-four OF epilepsy and one by
drowning-while at home on fur
Tough.
For several years, at least, the popu-
lation of the colony will for the most
part consist OF chronic Insane epllep-
ties. taken from the State hospitals,
the recovery of any of whom. or the
Improvement In any considerable num-
Der sufficient to permit them returning
to their homes or going out into the
world to care for themselves, would
be events too remarkable to anticipate
Therefore but few discharges may be
expected.
Arc Kept Mt Work.
AS far as possible. the patients are
given employment, and are engaged on
the farm or in improving the prop
erty.
The per capita cost is too high. be-
cause of the small number OF patients
A certain organization Ia necessary.
and could be used without additional
expense IL the capacity were trebled.
AS an economic proposition, therefore,
1t Is urged that the Legislature appro-
PIRATE funds for a building to take
care of 100 women patients, and an
other to accommodate 100 more as an
lnnrmary-htty of each sex. This
would take 200 men and women from
congestion, while reducing the per
capita cost at the epileptic colony 90
per cent. or more.
In Its report to the Governor. the
special board of directors "acknow-
lodges with pleasure the faithful and
satisfactory services Of the officers and
employees of the institution. and think
that We should say that whatever sue
cess has attended our work In build
Ing. organizing and operating It Is
justly to be attributed to the energy.
resourcefulness and fidelity of the SUI
perintendent. DR.. A. s. Priddy."
officers Are Praised.
Submitting the report OF the Central
State Hospital to the Governor. the
board OF directors says: We take
pleasure in indorsing the efficient adj
min!stration of the affairs by the su-
perintcndent and his corps OF assist
ants"
The report OF superintendent w. F.
Drewry to the board was reviewed In
the press some weeks since.