The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-10-18
EP|LEPT|C COLONY
NEEDS MORE MONEY
TwExTy-oNE MORE PATIENTS At
THE HOSPITAL THAN AT
CLOSE OF LAST YEAR.
DEATH RATE IS HIGH
MOST OF THEM, HOWEVER, ARE
RESULT OF CHRONIC ORGANIC
DISEASES AND ONE Fatal
ACCIDENT.
DEATH RATE is HIGH

The annual report OF the Virginia
| State Epileptic Colony, near Lynch
burg, telling of the condition OF the
| colony and the work done during the
| year closing September 30th, is now
| In the hands of the public printer
having been appraved by Governor
| Mann.
| According to the report Of the spe-
ciai board of directors, there are
/ twenty-one more patients in the hos
! pital than at the close of the year
/ 1911, making d total OF l2l. The pei
capita cost of support of the inmates
| has been reduced by nearly fifty
dollars and the property of the In
stitution has been improved.
The report Of the superintendent
says that while he does not receive
! full measure of satisfaction" for the
years work, unusual difficulties have
been incurred and developments are
up to Il reasonable expectation
At the beginning of the year there
w.rs one hundred patients in the hos
pitai. Forty-one were taken In dur
ing the twelve months, but eighteen
died and three were discharged, leav-
ing 12i now in the hospital as re-
ported by the board of directors
These new patients were taken care
of without increasing the aggregate
I COST 10 auy great QSBTtt.
Death Rate Is High.
The death rate, says the report. IL
apparently high, but OF the eighteen
deaths only two were from acute
ca use and bit one by accident. fhe
other fifteen dying as the result oil
, chronic organic Diseases contracted
before admission 10 the colony. The
accident occurred when a trusty,
seldom given to seizures, escaped from
the hospital. and, closely pursued by
attendants, passed through Lynch
burg, only 20 die beneath the wheels
of Norfolk and Western freight
which he attempted to board about
fifteen miles west of the city.
The general health of the patients
is reported as being good. except that
some are suffering from chronic dis
eases. There has been no advance
In medical treatment Of epileptics
within the last year, says the report
A physician OF Philadelphia claims
TO have discovered a cure. which con-
sists af hypodermic Dsjactjon of. gro
falin, or the venom of the rattle
snake. This experiment was tried OF
three patients at the hospital fol-
twelve weeks without noticeable re-
suits.
The report complains that com nit
meEt papers lack satisfactory infor-
nation. even when filled out by tns
most Intelligent Of physicians no in
j formation aS 20 the faefedits or eta-
Yironment OF the patient being given
Need Lager Appropriation.
While recognizing that the appro-
priation Of the general assembly was
. as large as could be made. the super.
/ intendent expresses regret that il
| could not have been larger. All the
moneys appropriated were for urEent
and immediate improvements. Among
these was one for the establishment
Of n separate home for women, one
building of which is now under course
Of construction at cost of $1,000
The tina ncial report shows that tbs
receipts for the year were s54, 3.6l
and the disbursements $50. si7.15 leay-
ing a cash balance on hand and IN
| bank OF Sl.Ss4.7e, The total obli-
cations at the close ct the year total
SIS. $3.50. The total deficit is sl'.-
/ s&s.64 and the actual deficit. exclu.
sive OF the Wills debt, Is s2,643.6t
The report makes no recomtnen
tons. as everything possible has been
done, and that no improvements can
be made without additional funds.