Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1916-04-30
STATE SlNITAR|UM
IN NEED HELP To
CARRY ON WORK

ATLANTA, Ca, April 29.-That the
buildings OF the Georgia State SAM
tarium are totally inadequate to ac.
commodate the inmates, and are so
oEercrowded that the death rate has
been increased and it is impossible to
properly treat durable cases; that large
numbers of perfectly sane people are
imposed upon the institution, and that
criminals, even murderers, are housed
with innocent people because there is
no other place for them, are some Of
the startling revelations made in the
annual report of the trustees of the
sanitarium which has just been made
to the governor by President John T.
Brantley, of Blackshear.
While the report is a plain state
ment of facts, it presents such a de-
plorable condition at the sanitarium
that the governor will probably call
tie special attention of the legislature
to it in his annual message.
The report of the trustees covers the
detailed workings of the institution,
showing not only what has been &C
complished, despite the inadequate
funds for its maintenance, but also
prevents in a forcible way what is
needed to more properly and fully
carry on the work.
1t is shown that buildings are to-
tally inadequate to accommodate the
inmates. The white female and ne
70 departments are overcrowded,
while those for the white males are
not any too commodious.
The crowded conditions Of the
buildings, it is stated, initiate against
the proper treatment of cases that may
be durable, and this branch of the
work CT the institution is further made
less effective because there is no psy-
chopathic hospital There were 1888
among the 1858 inmates during the
past year in whom rested hope of re-
covery; but under present conditions
many are necessarily retained when
they might safely be restored to their
families.
The high death rate among the ne
groes, it is pointed out, was in a great
rart attributable to the congested con-
dition of the buildings used by them.
Sane Persons Sent There.
There were 1O5 persons sent to the
sanitarium, the reports states, who
were found to be sane when they ar
rived, and this may have been due, it
is suggested, to the laxness in lunacy
trials.
Among the patients were "a crimi-
nails, three of whom were charged with
nurder, and in this connection it is
stated that the sanitarium is not
equipped properly to safeguard such
cases, as it is a hospital, and not a
prison. Under such conditions, it is
said, the innocent and criminally in
sane are forced to associate with each
other.
President Brantley, who is deeply
devoted to the institution, and who has
worked hard to bring it up to the high
est possible state of efficiency with
the meager funds at the disposition of
the board, makes in the report an ear
nest appeal in behalf of home and
school to be founded and supported by
Georgia for the defective and feeble,
minded children of the state. Afte,
paying high tribute to Superinten-
dent Jones, he says:
The number of patients in the SAM
tdrium at the close of the year was g.
947, or 292 more than at the close of
the previous year. The new patients
received during the year numbered l.
GS3, or 256 more than in 1914. The
number of patients receiving treatment
numbered 1888, or 1856 more than in
1914. The daily average was 1872, or
/ 2 S1D | 16 mara tboY, ~, 1L1A