The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-08-09
Nearly Thirteen Hundred
Patients Under Care Of
Specialists. :
How State Takes Care Of
Those Who Are Bereft
of Reason. 81,


Magnifcently located upon a high
plateau, whereon is also located the
town of Chattahoochee, two miles
from River Junction and within sight
Of the Georgia Florida state line, the
Florida Hospital for the Insane stands
as one Of the most important insti-
tutions of its kind in the South. Away
hack in the thirties the United States
government, then in the throes of
war with the Indians of Florida, Sc
lected the present site of the Florida
Hospital for the Insane for a fort and
arsenal. principally because of it's
strategic position, overlooking the
country for miles in every direction.
Massive buildings were erected, one
with high watch tower, and troops
aid of besieged settlements. The prop
erty was acquired by the state of
Florida in 1865, but II is only within
comparatively recent years that the
institution has grown to its present
proportions. The first building erect
ed by the state for hospital purposes,
known as the Davis Building, is now a
part of the white male department;
the second building was erected in
1895, and this was the real beginning
of the modern plant, now the home Of
nearly thirteen hundred unfortunates
and a credit to the great state of Flor
ida in every way. The Headquarters
Building" Of former days is now the
home of the superintendent, Hon.
Worth w. Trammell; the Petty on
GERS Quarters" is now a receiving de-
partment, with rooms for visitors; the
Arsenal Is now used by white male
patients and the two magazines are
used for storage purposes. In 1900
the state constructed a large building
for colored female patients and in 1908
built another for the accommodation
of white female patients. A modern
receiving hospital building, with every
necessity and convenience has just
been completed at a cost of about $780,
900 and still other Improvements are
being made. There are 35S white
men, 327 white women, 329 colored
men and 259 colored women in the
hospital, a total of 1859, and the state
provides 100 employees to look after
their welfare.
Immaculate Cleanliness.
The Florida Hospital for the Insane
Is a model of cleanliness and santa
ton, the dormitories and rooms of
patients are comfortable and well
kept and the food is excellent. The
upper floors of the great buildings are
tients who are not dangerous being
each provided with a single iron bed. |
the beds being arranged in. long rows
with passageways between. At the
side of the dortnitories are several
rooms for use of patients whom it may
be desirable to separate from others. |
The inmates of the hospital are di-
vided into classes. with reference to
the nature of their affliction, the
easily excifable patients being kept
in wards by themselves, with nurses
and attendants constantly at hand. !
The greater part of the pe-tents, how |
ever, are harmless, and it is seldom !
that repressive measures are neces- |
sary. Separate departments, in sep
arate buildings, are provided for the |
white and colcred inmates, with SIM
liar departments for the males and fe- |
males of each race. A few OF the pa
tients, if they desire. are given light |
employment about the place, and in
exchange for their efforts are reim- |
burscd in various ways; some work a |
few hours daily upon the adjoining
farm, but this. as well as work of any
kind, is not compulsory.
Kitchen and Bakery. !
In the kitchens, which are presided
over by number of expert cooks, the |
food is prepared in great steam boil |
ers and upon massive ranges, and is
served in dining rooms adjoining. The |
quality of the food is the best OBJ
tainable and the variety includes
practically everything on the market, |
all served without limit as to guam
tity. A diet kitchen, adjoining the
general cooking department., is pro-