The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1915-02-10
Investigation of State Hospital.


conditions existing at the State Hos
pital for the Insane was sent to the
generl assembly by Gov. Richard l.
Manning.
The report, which covers every de-
partment Of the asylum, was prerar
+ ed by A. P. Herring, M. D., of Balti
, more, secretary Of the Maryland
Lunasy Commission, who was ap
pointed by Gov Naming as his per
sonal representative to make the
probe and report the facts.
Here Is the keynote of the investi
cation:
"The duty of South Carolina to its
insane Is a cardinal, supreme obli'
cation to do all and everything with.
out stint for their benefit that its fin
ancial resources possibly permit or
enable it to do; to exercise in their
interests, through It's public officials,
every effort and labor they are ca.
pahle Of, and to put into effect all the
means and resources at its command
to perform most effectually this great
debt to humanity, this direct and i'm.
mediate obligation to its people and
this noble duty to all the future"
Dr. Herring says that the fundamen.
tai principle underlying the entire plan
Of reorganization, proposed in the re-
port, is to make certain changes In
the law, relating to the control Of the
State Hospital for the Insane:
The following amendments to tie
constitution governing the asylum are
made: 3,sY .,.ty. :.
1. The superintendent should be
appointed by the board OF regents, and
not by the governor-movable only for
cause and after a hearing.
2. The board OF regents should
consist of five members, appointed by
the governor, with the sanction Of the
senate. They should be appointed mt
first: one for two; two for four years;
two for six years, subsequent ap-
pointments to be made for period Of
six years. The members Of this board
are not removable except for cause
and after hearing.
8. The superintendent to make all
appointments, with the sanction OF the
board Of regents, and to have the
power of dismissal of same, to be ap-
proved by the board. The superin.
tendent is to have report to the board
of regents the activities OF the his.
pital, and the board of regents to re-
port to the governor and general as
sembly. Briefly, the governor will
appoint a superintendent In whom
they have every confidence and who,
of course, has had training In the care
and treatment Of the insane and in
hospital management, and 1t will then
be up to the superintendent to con-
duct the hospital in proper manner.
There should be no dual authority or
divided responsibility.
4. All rules and regulations for the
hospital are to be formulated by the
board and executed by the superln-
tendent and his assistants. There is
no reason why the general assembly
should be asked to approve or reject
the rules and regulations governing
the cohduct of hospital for the In.
sane.
5. To change the name from the
State Hospital for the Insane" to
the Columbia State Hospital" while
the hospital for the negroes will be
known as Estate Park Colony"
6. To provide for voluntary adInis-
slons. .../'
Z. To provide for fiscal agent,
whose duty shall be to. see that every
patient who has relatives or an estate
responsible. for his support will be
made to reimburse the State. This
might we'll be done in connection
with the "State Board of Charities"
8. No female patient to be brought
to the hospital unless accompanied
by her father, husband, adult son or
brother or by some relative, friend
or nurse Of the same sex.
9. To provide for system Of after
care or placing out of patients who
are able to leave the institution, and,
while not entirely recovered, yet are
able to live satisfactorily under prop
er supervision away from the hospital.
Manning Works Day and Night.