The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-10-26

tlAlfn anu Know lnal UiHclOIln0 never
was better than II is now in the in
stitution.
Take the month OF January for COM
parison.
In january. 1906. there were adj
ministered 207 whippings.
In January. 1907. there were ad-
ministered 1913 whippings.
In January. 1908. there were ad-
ministered III whippings.
In January, 1909. there were ad-
ministered los whippings,
In January, 1910, there were ad-
ministered 80 whippings.
IN January, 1911, there were ad-
ministered Is whippings.
Take another comparison:
During the fiscal year ending sep
tenrser so. 1903. there were admin
istered 1886 whippipgs. During the
fiscal year ending September so, 1911,
there were administered ia whip
pings.
Lashed for Alleged Short Work,
1 cut the punishment book ~
random and opened at April,
1905, during which month 120
odd whippingS had been admins
tered, and moro than atty Per
cent OF these were for alleged
ssshOrt task. and bad work"
while OF the ia whippings dur
ing the year ending September
80, 1914, not one was for short
task or bad work. Other months
and other years Will probably give
more significant contrasts.
The year before I became surgeon
with a daily average of 1880 convicts,
they had thirty-seven deaths and H.
SS4 calls were made.
In 1901, with a daily average of
1,1se convicts, had fifteen deaths and
made 40,s36 calls, and my excuse
days from work on contract amounted
to 1898. The drug and hospital bills
In 1901 aggregated $3,5so.62.
The following comparison covers a
period of ten years:
1902-Daily average of convicts
LISP; deaths. 4; calls, so.ss5; excused
1s0s-Daily average of convicts,
1.21S; deaths. 10s calls, so.64s; excused
days. 1885; cost of drugs, $2,40S.6O.
1904-Daily average of convicts.
1,246; deaths, IL; calls. 25.9S3; excused
days. SIG; cost of drugs. $1,9O4.Os.
1905-Daily average OF convicts,
LIS; deaths. 9; calls. 2O.S41; excused
DAYS, $3.50; cost of drugs, '$1,0S1.9S.
1so6-Daily average of convicts.
1883; deaths. 4; calls, 22,074; excused
days, SIZE; cost OF drugs, S1,2O5.OS.
1so7-Daily average OF convicts.
1.zsz; deaths, 6; calls. 1890; excused
Gays, 1858; cost OF drugs, $1,394.95.
1soS-Daily average of convicts,
1.zss; deaths. 8; calls, 27.1S5; excused
days, S,66z; cost Of drugs, $1,336.S6.
1gOs-Daily average Of convicts,
d,SSo; deaths. q; calls. 24.ss4: excused
days, 1897; cost OF drugs, $1,IS4.97.
1s1o--Daily average of convicts,
LEGS; deaths. IL; calls, 3o,03S; ex-
cnsed days, 6.42s; cost of drugs, ST.
1s11--Daiiy average of convicts.
1,zS5; deaths, 8; calls, 25,249; excused
days. 1901; cost OF drugs, $i,1S5.es.
The average death rate at the farm
during the time I have been surgeon
20 the penitentiary is ten per year,
and from the time the farm was ac-
Quired by the State until 1 became
surgeon the average death rate per
annum is approximately the same as
stated above.
I Decrease i'm Death Rate.
The marked decrease in the death
rate the excused list cut almost half
IN TWO, the cost OF drugs cut quite
90 per cent.-all are in a perfect ratio
10 the improved health conditions in
the penitentiary from 1900 to 1911
and we have the direct result OF a
poiicy laid down and carefully ad-
hered TO from the beginning OF my
service, viz. that the best drugs. the
BEST appliances and the best treat
Victs.
In 1900 the salary of surgeon was
$3.50 per annum, and no farm or gar
den products thrown in. After three
or four years the Legislature made
the salary 1000 per annum; then af-
ter several years it was increased to
! $1,000 per annum. The last f,egisla-
trio chair had been established at the
penitentiary, and that the sick OF the
convict road force all came 10 the
penitentiary for treatment. made the
salary of surgeon $1,000.
l. My reports for the year Just ended
are fully comprehensive and clearly
put-they are made a part OF this
letter.
You will note that my death rate
is unusually low being only 47-1OO
per thousand. My excused list from
contract work is extremely small, g.
O61, and my drug bill being only ST.
1888. In short, health conditions
were never better at the penitentiary
than now.
Praises Major Wood.
1 feel that tee much credit for this
cannot be given to Mr.. j. b. Wood
the superintendent. on account of the
fact that last May he inaugurated
open air games for the good conduct
men-those that had one year of good
conduct to their credit being permit
ted, without let or hindrance, after
they had completed their task in the
shops. to go out on the enclosed
campus and pitch quoits, play base
ball and breathe the fresh air quietly
and unmolested. This is one of the
greatest reforms ever inaugurated al
the Virginia penitentiary. In every
report I have made since 1900 have
urged, and / now urge, that every eff
fort be made TO secure the necessary
funds from the Legislature with
which to erect and equip a decent
kitchen and dining room. So much
has been written along these lines
that it is hardly possible to say OF
write more. 1 would also earnestly
recommend that a proper system Of
sewerage be installed in the old build
ing. The present system is an abom
ination.
L will always recall with pleasur,
the fact that the board OF directors
! on November IA, 1910, in their re
port to the Governor, said, I'VE ar,
especially pleased with the report o.
the surgeon of the penitentiary, show
ing that the health conditions, dis
cipIine and general wellbeing of tn
conyicts are in a most satisfactor.
! condition" and will especially treas
ure the commentator Of your chair
maa. Major J. d. Patton, who wrot'
; me on October 2, 1911: During al
the time / have been connected will