The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1915-02-03
DR.. HERRING COMPLETES
ASYLUM INVESTIGATION

trades and occupations. He points
out that no class Of society can claim
exemption from the disease
The report states that the cost of
properly caring for the insane Is one
OF the most expensive burdens the
State has to bear. 1t Is estimated
| says DR.. Herring, that tho total cost
! of the care of the insane and feeble
minded in this country is over $32,-
100000 year.
| Discussing the cost OF the insane
to South Carolina Dr. Herring gives
the following figures: 1910. patients,
2,l93. appropriation, 1921. .401, per cap
ita $144.22; 1911, patients, 2,2S3, ap-
preparation, $293.929, per capita,
$132.76; 1912. patients. 2,42S, appro-
priation S318,3S0. per capita, $168.33;
1913, patients, 2,5O5. appropriation
| $305.247, per capita, $155.86: 1914. pa
ticnts 2.73S. appropriation, $319,124,
per capita. S1761S.
DR.. Herring then makes the follow
ing comment:
Two hundred dollars Is the aver
age per capita in modern and well
| equipped hospitals for the insane. A
per capita OF less than $17S means
custodian care, which. In the long
run, Is the most expensive"
Arrangements Of Buildings.
| Discussing the plan for the reor-
ganization of the hospital for the in
sane. A. p. Herring, NJ. D., Gov. Man
ning's' efficiency expert, says that he
has ever kept in mind the fact that,
first of all, 1t must be practical and at
the same time sufficiently adequate
and elastic to meet all future require
ments. and In the second place it
should be within reasonable financial
| limits. DR. Herring first considers the
| general plan OF arrangement OF the
/ buildings and the distribution OF the
patients. The internal organization Is
included under separate head.
Should Remove Negroes.
The report declares that the most
| evident step at the present time is to
remove all of the negro insane, the
idiots and imbeciles, the tubercuIous
and pellagrous patients to State Park.
He says by doing this that there will
be plenty of room for the white in
| sane at the old asylum for many years
to come. I'm fact" he says, "by de,
veloping the farm colony idea there
will never be the oyercrowding of
these buildings that exists at the pres
| ent time.
A Medical Center. =
The first thing that Is absolutely
| necessary" says the report, 'in q
hospital for the insane Is psyche
pathic reception hospital building.
This Is the active medical center
which controls and stimulates the life
or the entire institution. Here the
patients who enter the hospital are
first received. thoroughly examined,
and Ii need be, detained for treat
/ ment. All patients who are actually
disturbed receive in this building
hydro-therapeutic treatment and any
other treatment indicated; in other
words they are treated as sick indi-
| yiduals, In this building are also To-
| Gated laboratories, examining rooms,
operating rooms, and every facility
needed for the proper treatment of
the mentally sick. In this connection
| would also suggest that en- out pa-
tient department be inaugurated in
this building FOR the purpose OF do
Ing an important work in preventive
psychiatry. The close proximity of
the hospital to the city renders Il es-
peciaily adaptable for this new field
OF medicine. The building which could
be used for this purpose Is the old
asylum building, the walls OF which
are substantially constructed and the
general outline OF the building we'll
adapted for this purpose.
VIII Install New Interior.
'"rhe internal arrangement win, OF
course, be changed and practically
an entire new interior installed. The
details concerning the arrangement OF
the interior of this building will have
to be taken up later with an archit-
ect. We would make provision for a
hundred patients, none OF whom
would remain in this building for any
great length OF time. Leaving this
building for the present. we will con-
sider next the central building, and
this description will apply to both
wings OF this building. S-&li'
No very radical changes need be
made In these buildings so far as
their general arrangement Is concern
ed. or course, nearly all of the.
buildings throughout the entire insti-
tuition require new floors. and an en-
tire new sanitary equipment, and new
heating. A number OF small rooms
would be thrown into one large room.
attractive day rooms and dormitorS.
les would result from abolishing q
large number OF small rooms.
kenirangement OF Business Office.
The Encouragement OF the business
office In the central portion of this
building will also be necessary.
The Parker building. which Is now
occupied by the negro men, will have
IN he esten sivAly renovated and will
be used to relieve the congestion now.
existing In The wards for the white
men. the Parker annex, a two-story
brick building, win be converted into
an industrial shop and placed under
the supervision 3f competent teach
.er. In this building the natianfs win