Report from the Mississippi Lunatic Asylum to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; November 1, 1860

Documents
Report from the Mississippi Lunatic Asylum to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; November 1, 1860

Document Network
Document Metadata

Each transcribed document contains links that connect it to other documents on the same topic in the collection.

People

Allen, H. H.Allen, J. B.Bobb, W. L.Crane, William C.Fearn, George R.Fisher, A. A.Green, William Mercer, 1798-1887 Hatch, Lee Hillman W.Hobbs, Howell Jacques, A.Jarvis, Edward, 1803-1884 Julienne, L.Keeney, J. C.Kells, Robert Langley, W. W.Lidix, D.McGill, R. F.Mizell, A.Moon, Unknown Murell, Unknown O'Brian, John R.Parsons, Mary A.Patterson, F. W.Patterson, Unknown Philips, M. N.Robinson, James H.Sharkey, Minerva (Hyland) Wren Shelton, D.Steward, J. D.Swasey, H. A.Williams, Mrs. E.

Organizations and Businesses

Massachusetts. General Court Mississippi State Hospital Mississippi State Penitentiary (Jackson, Miss.)Mississippi. Legislature Universities and colleges Universities and colleges--University of Mississippi

Occupations

Carpenters Civil engineers Clergy Clerks College teachers Confectioners Engineers Farmers Gardeners Housewives Laborers Laundresses Lawyers Matrons Merchants Organ grinders Painters Pests--Control Physicians Plantation overseers Saddlery Seamstresses Secretaries Shoemakers Statisticians Stewards Students Superintendents Supervisors Teachers Tradespeople Writers

Places

Adams County (Miss.)Alabama Amite County (Miss.)Arkansas Atlanta (Ga.)Attala County (Miss.)Augusta (Ga.)Brandon (Miss.)Calhoun County (Miss.)Canada Carroll County (Miss.)Choctaw County (Miss.)Claiborne County (Miss.)Clarke County (Miss.)Copiah County (Miss.)Covington County (Miss.)DeSoto County (Miss.)Franklin County (Miss.)Georgia Germany Grenada (Miss.)Hancock County (Miss.)Handsboro (Gulfport, Miss.)Harrison County (Miss.)Hinds County (Miss.)Holmes County (Miss.)Indiana Ireland Itawamba County (Miss.)Jackson (Miss.)Jasper County (Miss.)Jefferson County (Miss.)Kemper County (Miss.)Kentucky Lafayette County (Miss.)Lauderdale County (Miss.)Lawrence County (Miss.)Leake County (Miss.)Louisiana Lowndes County (Miss.)Madison County (Miss.)Marion County (Miss.)Marshall County (Miss.)Maryland Massachusetts Memphis (Tenn.)Michigan Nashville (Tenn.)Neshoba County (Miss.)New Jersey New Orleans (La.)New York (N.Y.)Newton County (Miss.)North Carolina Noxubee County (Miss.)Ohio Oktibbeha County (Miss.)Panola County (Miss.)Pearl River (Miss. and La.)Pennsylvania Philadelphia (Miss.)Philadelphia (Pa.)Pike County (Miss.)Pontotoc County (Miss.)Rankin County (Miss.)Raymond (Miss.)Scott County (Miss.)Simpson County (Miss.)Smith County (Miss.)South Carolina Switzerland Tallahatchie County (Miss.)Tennessee Texas Tippah County (Miss.)Tishomingo County (Miss.)Tunica County (Miss.)Vicksburg (Miss.)Virginia Wilkinson County (Miss.)Winston County (Miss.)Yalobusha County (Miss.)Yazoo City (Miss.)Yazoo County (Miss.)

Social Identifiers

Christians Christians--Baptists Christians--Catholics Christians--Episcopalians Christians--Lutherans Christians--Methodists Christians--Presbyterians Fugitives from justice Mental illness Widowers Widows

Vital Statistics

Birth Death Disease and illness Marriage

Page 1

The Sixth Annual Report of the Supervisors And Superintendent of the Mississippi State Lunatic Asylum

Jackson
1860

Page 2

Officers of the Asylum

J. D. Steward President (Supervisors)
Howell Hobbs (Supervisors)
H. H. Allen (Supervisors)
J. H. Robinson (Supervisors)
W. W. Langley (Supervisors)
L. Julienne Sec (Supervisors)

Resident Officers

Robert Kells, Superintendent & Physician
F. W. Patterson Assistant Physician
R. F. M^cGill Steward
Mrs Mary A Parsons Matron

Page 3

Sixth Annual Report
of the
Superintendent & Physician
of the
Miss State Lunatic Asylum

To the Board of Supervisors

Of the Miss State Lunatic Asylum. Gentleman: In accordance with my prescribed duty, I desire to present you my report upon the condition of the Asylum and its operations.

The Legislature at its last session, as you are aware, postponed the termination of the Asylum Year, from the first of October to the first of November. — making this report necessarily embrace thirteen months.

In my last years report, I stated that on the first of October we had in the house one hundred & six patients — Sixty five males & forty one females;—when in fact there was ^only^ sixty three males & forty three females.

In justice to myself, I must say this error existed in the registry previous to my superintendence.

The statistics are made up from the facts and figures furnished by the registry. In taking the census of our members we found we had two more females and two less males than the record would indicate.

This explanation seems necessary as we have to change the figures of our male and female columns in the registry of admissions and discharges.

Page 4

During the last thirteen months there have been admitted forty Eight patients—twenty seven males and twenty one females—thus summing one hundred and fifty four under treat=ment. Of this number have been discharged thirty four—twenty five males and nine females. The result is as follows—recovered, eight males and one female—improved one male and two females—un-improved, two males and two females—deaths, twelve males and four females—eloped, two males, leaving one hundred and twenty inmates. The two that eloped were very much improved and owing to the opposition of friends and a want of ^some^ special act provided, to recapture those who run away, we were compelled to abide this result.

The average number of patients for the last thirteen months has been one hundred & twenty. I have nothing special to note upon the number of recoveries. A high per cent of cures could not be expected, when our record of cases (with very few exceptions) may be put down as incurables; only three acute cases have been admitted since last report and we have been able to receive males only as discharges were made.

Quite a number of acute cases have offered during the year but for want of accommodation, we have advised the friends to seek other Asylums, knowing that the early stages of insanity can only be regarded as curable. [gap] It is a melancholy fact that so many are neglected in the incipient stages of this malady and disea=se suffered to perform its fearful work upon the delicate organ of the mind, until the light of reason has gone out forever.

Page 5

What can so challenge our sympathy and benevolence as to witness the wreck of all the high and noble powers of the mind?— To know that the once gifted intellect, is doomed to live out its own existence amid this chaos of thoughts and feeling.

A great majority of the cases admitted; are of a hopeless character and it may be inferred that they have been consigned to an Asylum from the fact that they have become local beneficiaries or from a fear that they may commit some criminal act.

The higher duty of placing the patient under early treatment is not kept in view as it should be,~~[unclear]~~ when success would crown the efforts of the devoted optimist and the unhappy victim restored to reason.

There is a great want of information upon this important subject and the results that naturally follow are truly lamentable.

To restore the disordered intellect is certainly the highest office of an Asylum but in our opinion not the only one — for surely it is some thing to provide a refuge for the sufferer, whose ills may be mitigated if not healed — a home for those whose minds have sunk so low, that the light of reason or the hope of recovery can ever reach them.

In this connection may be introduced an Extract from a report of D^r Jarvis on Insanity and Idiocy to the Legislature of Massachusetts in 1854.

While upon the curability & incurability of the

Page 6

insane he says "The Evidence that comes from our own and many other hospitals, shows that there are manifold diseases of the brain, producing perversion of mental and moral action in numberless forms classed under the general term Insanity.

These are usually grave diseases, and yet they are among the most curable of maladies of their severity, provided they are taken in season and the proper remedies app—lied and continued

In recent cases, the recoveries amount to the proportion of seventy five to ninety per cent of all that are submitted to the restorative process. Yet it is an equally well established fact that these diseases of the brain tend to fix themselves per—manently in the organization, and that they become more and more difficult to be removed with the lapse of time. Although three—fourths to nine—tenths may be healed if taken within after the first manifestation of the disorder, Yet if this measure be delayed another year and the diseases are from one to two years standing, the cures would probably be less than half that pro—portion even with the same restorative measures. Another, and a third year added to the disease, diminishes the prospect of cure and in a still greater ratio than the second. And a fourth, still more. The

Page 7

fifth renders it so low as to seem to be nothing."

The early treatment of Insanity is the alpha and omega of success and the paramount interest that belongs to this subject, is my only excuse for the earnestness and importunacy exhibited.

What hope of recovery could we indulge of a person who has been afflicted with Consumption, disease of the liver or some other organ, for a year or more? So of mental diseases, as they are only other modes of [expulsion?] of some physical lesion

Showing form of Mental disorder of Recovery
	Males	Females	Total
Acute Mania	2		2
Chronic Mania	2		2
Melancholia	4		4
Puerperal Mania		1	1

Showing form of Mental disorder of deceased
	Males	Females	Total
Melancholia	3	1	4
Epileptic Mania	2		2
Dementia	2	1	3
Monomania	2		2
Chronic Mania	1	2	3
Idiocy	2		2

Page 8

Showing form of physical disease of Deceased
	Males	Females	Total
Dysentery	5	1	6
Consumption		1	1
Epileptic Convulsions	2		2
Typhoid Fever	1		1
Pneumonia	1		1
Menorrhagia		1	1
Congestive Fever	1		1
Meningitis		1	1
Exhaustion	1		1
Unknown	1		1

Dysentery and typhoid fever has been the bane of our house—hold and still continues with us to a limited extent. These forms of disease have been quite prevalent throughout the entire neighbor—hood during the Spring and Summer.

Due diligence has been observed out—side and in—side as to the removal of all causes that might contribute to make these diseases or any other of local origin. The case put down in the table of physical diseases as Unknown, was men—tally a case of Melancholia of a well masked character. He was quite an old man and by profession a physi—cian. On the morning of his death he was walking the ward, as he was wont to do, and without any premonitory symptoms to warn him of the

Page 9

Sudden but fatal issue that awaited him; —he fell at his room door, so completely deprived of life, as not to Exhibit the least manifestation of an agony. No post—mortem was had to reveal the Cause or Causes of this unexpected death, nor were there any physical signs during life to admonish us of such a result. We are aware how completely the Symptoms of other diseases are obscured and kept in abeyance by affections of the brain and should be prepared to make due allowance, [?] speculation needful or profitable.

As to the mortality of the insane it is found to be much greater than among the sane, — the Standard writers & statisticians make it three and sometimes four times as great.

Predisposing Causes
Hereditary	6
Epilepsy	7
Ill Health	7
Change of Life	1
Child Bearing	1
Injury of Head	1
Severe Study	1
Not Known	130

Exciting Causes
Domestic Affliction	21
Ill Health	14
Epilepsy	12
Pecuniary Losses	5
Love	6
Religious Excitement	7
Dissipation	6
Typhoid Fever	3
Amenorrhera	3
Injury of Head	2
Fear	1
Masturbation	2
Nursing	1
Fever	2

Page 10

Exciting Causes continued
Exposure & Privation	1
Exposure to Sun	1
Study	1
Ambition	1
Injury	1
Measles	1
Excessive use of Tobacco	1
Excessive use of Opiates	1
Child Bearing	1
Excessive Exertion	1
Application to business	1
Not Known	58

Domestic State
Married	57
Single	73
Widower	5
Widow	15
Not Known	4

Degree of Education
Very Good	5
Good	28
Moderate	41
Limited	45
Not Known	5

Religious Profession
Baptist	33
Methodist	26
Catholic	8
Presbyterian	7
Lutheran	7
Episcopalian	3
Christian	1
Not Known	19
None	50

Page 11

Mental Disorder
Acute Mania	4
Chronic Mania	71
Epileptic Mania	12
Puerperal Mania	2
Suicidal Mania	1
Partial Mania	1
Monomania	6
Hysteromania	1
Melancholia	24
Dementia	24
Imbecility	1
Idiocy	2
Paralysis	3
Periodic Mania	1
Acute Melancholia	1

Occupation
Farmer	37
Labourer	11
Clerk	2
Saddler	1
Trader	1
Civil Engineer	1
School Teacher	3
Farmers Wife	17
Painter	1
Overseer	2
Lawyer	1
House-wife	1
Farmers Son	4
Student	1
Not Known	2
Mouse-Keeper	2
Gardener	1
Physicians wife	1
Seamstress	4
Farmers Daughter	2
Merchant	1
Confectioners wife	1
Washer-woman	1
Organ Grinder	1
Physician	2
Carpenter	5
Shoemaker	1
Shoemakers wife	1
None	46

Page 12

Table 8 10

Showing the number under treatment from Each County in the state and other states
Amite	1	Madison	3
Adams	4	Marshall	2
Attala	1	Noxubee	4
Copiah	4	Newton	5
Choctaw	3	Neshoba	1
Claiborne	4	Octib^b^aha	1
Calhoun	2	Panola	2
Carroll	7	Pontotoc	1
Clarke	3	Pike	34
Covington	1	Rankin	3
DeSoto	4	Scott	2
Franklin	1	Smith	1
Hinds	11	Simpson	2
Holmes	4	Tishomingo	8
Hancock	1	Tippah	5
Harrison	2	Tunica	1
Itawamba	3	Tallahatchie	1
~~[Jackson?]~~		Marion	12
Jasper	1	Milkinson	1
Jefferson	4	Minster	4
Kemper	1	Yallabusha	4
Lawrence	4	Yazoo	3
Leake	4	Texas	1
Lafayette	3	Alabama	2
Lauderdale	5	Arkansas	1
Lowndes	1	Penitentiary	1

Page 13

Nativity
Mississippi	46
Georgia	8
Virginia	8
Tennessee	11
Alabama	11
North Carolina	14
South Carolina	15
Ireland	16
Kentucky	2
Germany	3
Texas	1
Indiana	1
Ohio	1
New Jersey	1
Maryland	1
Canada	1
Pennsylvania	1
Switzerland	2
Louisiana	1
Michigan	1
Not Known	9

Page 14

It is always desirable to supply an Institution of this Kind with an Abundance of water. It requires 12000 gals of water Each day to serve us fully. The drought of summer so completely dried our pond, as to make it necessary to have water from Pearl River for ten or twelve days. While the pond was so nearly dry, we dug out of its area 2500 cart-loads of Earth and placed on the Emb—ankment—thereby increasing the capacity—at least one third. This labour has been done by patients and attendants.

All the out—side wood work has been painted with two and three coat work. Nearly all the in—side wood work of the Enter building and the walls have been painted and coloured. Our wards in point of finish and effect equal any I have been elsewhere.

The old cooking range has been re—placed by a new and larger one—bring even feet and a half in height and has a hot—water circulation connected with it. This arrangement consists in having a cast— iron box to form the back of the fire—place, being joined to a boiler seven and a half feet long, which is placed on the mantle of the range. This boiler is supplied from our main water tanks, which keep on hand a continual Supply of Eighty gallons of hot—water, without any Extra fire. Added to this we have two double steam—kettles, holding forty seven gallons Each—then the steamers, holding about

Page 15

fifteen gallons Each, all of which are supplied with Steam from the boilers and water can be made to boil in fifteen minutes. The Condensed steam is conveyed to a condenser and pumped into the boilers again.

The steam—heating apparatus is not yet quite finished, owing in part to some of the fittings having been delayed in their transit. Steam has however been let into the coils com—pleted and we have every reason to be satis—fied with their radiating process. Each wing will have six coils, arranging about fifteen feet in bought and measuring eleven hundred feet to the coil. These coils are put up in two Seperate parts and the steam and condensed pipes have two seperate connections.

From the Main Steam and Condensed pipes we regulate the amount of steam to Each coil by means of valves, so that from one to twenty four parts of the of apparatus may be heated—Either separately or conjointly. All this we deem a great improvement upon the old apparatus and besides will be a saving of fuel.

We ~~have~~ ^are^ also more fully prepared against fire by placing a two inch stop—cock on our main water pipe, in Each story of the center building in order that we may attach our hose to the nearest point of danger.

Page 16

[unclear] The drying room, immediately over the boilers and the point of greatest danger, has ^already^ been fitted up so as to free steam into the room and it ^is^ also contemplated to provide for a sufficient Escape of water to over—flow the floors in a very short time and thereby giving us greater se—curity. The new retort for making gas is in Operation and works well. The heating, cooking and gas apparatus have ^all^ been put up in a skill—full and workman—like manner by out Engi—neer J. B. Allen.

We are pleased to have it in our power to say, that the interest in behalf of the Insane has in no way diminished,—but that many kind friends have volunteered with presents of various kinds, that have increased the means of interesting and gratef—ying our patients.

To miss. D. LiDix (the labourer, whose humane Efforts, gladdens the heart of Every Superintendent) we are indebted for procuring the means to build up a handsome bowling alley.

To Mrs Judge Sharkey for a firm melodeon and band of bulbs; to Ms Murrell for a large sized music box and five dollars for framing pictures;— to Geo Fearn Esq twenty dollars for framing pictures;—Jno. R. O'Brian for handsome oil paintings, Executed by himself;— to Board of Supervisors and D^r Patterson for forty dollars to paper billiard room in oak paneling, with Statues; to A. A. Fisher four

Page 17

days work on the same;— Mr ^W.L.^ Bobb two oil paintings;—D^r H. A. Swasey for a quantity fruit trees, shrubbery &e;—D^r M. N. Philips ornamenal trees, bulbs &e;— Lee Hatch for ornamental trees;— Mrs.D Shelton for a lot of cedars;— A. Jacques of N. O. for five dollars for framing pictures;— Mrs E. Williams two dollars and fifty cents for pictures.

Mr A. Mizell has generously permitted us to use his Well water without limit. Many of our patients have used it freely, and become so fond of it, as to ~~disir~~ desire no other drinking water. It is well adapted to cases of general dibility with inappetency, but in dyspepsia and constipation it has proved highly valuable.

To the Editors & Proprietors of papers & periodicals sent us, we wish to Express our thanks, and could they witness the pleasure ~~they~~ ~~bear~~ to
~~our~~ ~~inmates~~ by ~~their~~ ~~daily~~, ~~weekly~~ & ~~monthly~~ ~~visit~~, these daily, weekly, and monthly messengers, bear to our inmates; they would be made to feel in a touching manner that benevolence brings its own rewards.

The following are our regular receipts.
Mississippi Semi-weekly	(daily where so published)	Jackson	1 copy
Jackson Tri-weekly News	(")	"	1 "
Miss Baptist	Weekly	"	2 "
American Banner	"	Yazoo City	1 "
Sum & Southern	"	Vicksburg	1 "
Christian Observer	"	Philadelphia	1 "
True Witness	"	N. Orleans	1 "

Page 18

Town Baptist	Weekly	Nashville	2 Copies
Childrens Friend	Monthly	"	2 "
Herald of the South	Weekly	Brandon	1 "
New Orleans Delta	Weekly	N. O.	1 "
Christian Advocate	"	Memphis	1 "
Southern Rural Gentleman	"	Grenada	1 "
South'n Field & Fireside	"	Augusta	1 "
Harpers Weekly	"	N. Y.	1 "
Landmark Banner & Cherokee Baptist	"	Atlanta	1 "
Handsboro Democrat	"	Handsboro	1 "
Hinds County Gazette	"	Raymond	1 "
Godeys Ladys Book	Monthly	Philadelphia	1 "
Broad Axe	weekly		1 "

Our religious Exercises have been pretty regular, twice a month—on the second sabbath of each month by Rev W. C. Crane and on the fourth by the Rev J. C. Keeney. They will accept our best wishes for their voluntary and acceptable labours and rest assured that the patients remember their Kind offices with feelings of gratitude. We also bear in mind, with pleasure, the occasional services of the Rev W. Hillman—one sermon by Bishop Green & one by Prof Moon, State University.

I take great satisfaction in saying that D^r F. W. Patterson has ~~of all times~~ ^on every occasion^, cordially and zealously co— operated with me in the government of the Institution and Exhibited much skill & address in the performance of all his duties.
~~[?]~~]

Page 19

To The officers and attendants, that have faithfully discharged their duties, and brought to bear, their best efforts for the good order of the house and the welfare of the patients, have my cordial good wishes.

Gentlemen of the Board of Supervisors, I wish to add my testimony as to the fidelity
and promptness with which you have transacted all the business that pertains to your office and to return you my thanks for the kindness and confidence shown me personally.

And now, for the many past mercies, would on record our gratitude to a kind Providence and in the future appeal to the same unfailing source to supply all our wants, out of His un-wasting fullness.

Robert Kells

Miss State L Asylum
Jackson Nov 1 1860