Report from Doctor George S. C. Hussey to Mississippi Governor James L. Alcorn; March 14, 1870

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Report from Doctor George S. C. Hussey to Mississippi Governor James L. Alcorn; March 14, 1870

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People

Alcorn, J. L. (James Lusk), 1816-1894 Ames, Adelbert, 1835-1933 Hussey, George S. C.Minor, Stephen

Events

Legislation. Mississippi Taxation

Organizations

Mississippi--Legislature Mississippi--State Hospital Schools Universities and colleges Universities and colleges--Mississippi. Jefferson College

Businesses

Bars (Drinking establishments)Farms

Occupations

Gardeners Laundresses Medical Profession Medical Profession--Hospital Employees Medical Profession--Matrons Medical Profession--Nurses Medical Profession--Physicians Medical Profession--Surgeons

Places

Mississippi--Adams County Mississippi--Adams County. Natchez Mississippi--Adams County. Washington Mississippi--Hinds County. Jackson

Social Identifiers

African Americans Mental Illness

Vital Statistics

Death Disease and illness Wounds and injuries

Page 1

[seal]

Jackson, Miss.
March 14^th_— 1870—

To His Excellency James L. Alcorn;

Governor:—I have the honor to lay before you a statement of the condition of the State Hospital at Natchez, Miss—An Annual Report was prepared and sent to ~~sent to~~ General Ames some two weeks before the late special session of the Legislature, but it cannot now be found in your Department—and deeming that a synopis at least should be given you, I hereby respectfully present the same:—

On the 16^th_— of April last I took possession of the Institution, and found sick and wounded four patients; and the total number admitted to the 10th inst. 1405—discharged 121—died 18—remain-ing to 10^th inst. 6—Out of that number during my charge 121 were males and the remaining 24 females—113 were white, and 32 colored—The total cost of the Hospital for that time amounted $3,340⁰⁰/₁₀₀—making each day's ration and attendance cost 41³/₁₀ cents, being less one-half than former years for the same time—

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The attendants for the Hospital consist of House Surgeon, 1 Steward, 1 matron, 1 nurse, 1 Laundress, and 1 Gardner—

I would also respectfully state that this Hospital property was donated by Mr. Stephen Minor for Hospital purposes about 1817, with the provision that it should revert back to his heirs whenever it should cease to be used for Hospital purposes. In 1858 the Board of Trustees of said Hospital turned the Institution over to the State on condition that the State would make some provision for its support, thereupon the State provided that all taxes on liquor saloons in the City of Natchez should be used for the sup-port of the Hospital— The support thus derived will no longer be used by this Institution, in consequence of a provision in the New Consti==tution setting that fund apart for school purposes only. Therefore some other provision should be made at once, and prevent the closing of this charitable Institution and thereby deprive our people of the benefits, as well as forfeit the property which ^is^ valued at present from $8,000—to $10,000— [gap] The present Board of Administrators

have power, by a special act of 1859, to sell the present property and apply the proceeds to the purchase of some more suitable place—In the immediate vicinity of the City, suitable property could be had at a cost of $12,000 to $15,000, which with an additional $3,000 could be made large enough for both Hospital and ~~Colored~~ Insane Asylum—the latter without any further cost than that of necessary furni-ture; and thus save to the State from $30,000 to $50,000—and by the sale of the old Hospital property and the proceeds applied to that end would make it a mere nominal matter in the way of expense to the State—The suitable property that could be purchased (that I above referred to) have about 20 acres with the buildings, and five acres would be sufficient for the Institution, and the remaining fifteen acres could be sold, and thus lessen the original cost—

While on this subject, allow me to say, that I saw some of the Board of Trustees of Jeffer=son College, located at Washington, in Adams County, who are willing to confer with a Com==mittee of the Legislature with a view of turning _the

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Institution over to the State for an Agricultural College and Model farm—They have two large substantial 3 story brick buildings, about 60 by 80 feet each, with out-buildings and a President's House—and about 40 acres of land, with other property for an endowment, if properly attended to worth at least from $100,000 to $150,000, on con-dition that one of the contemplated agricultural Colleges with Model farm is located there—

All of which is respectfully submitted—

Geo. S. C. Hussey, M.D.

House Surgeon State Hospital
at Natchez Miss—

Memo:

~~(See act ^laws^ of 1858 (called session) page 142).~~
See law of 1859.
See law of 1866.
The licences average ab $6000 a year—now lost.
P-C. on sales of liquors—$$2000 or so a year. supposed to be lost.