THE HOSPITAL OPENED. 15 was too little by $15,000. Dr. Nichols was unable to move the owner and was equally unable to obtain an increase in the amount allotted for lands. Thereupon Miss Dix took up the matter. Seeking a personal interview with Mr. Blagden, so earnestly and so movingly did she reason with him to surrender for the future good of thousands of his suffering fellow-creatures what was so precious, indeed, to him and his family, but to one household only, that the appeal proved irresistible, and he gave her his promise of the estate for $25,000. That night he wrote to her this letter: WASHINGTON, November 13, 1852. DEAR MADAM: Since seeing you to-day I have had no other opinion (and Mrs. B. also) than that I must not stand between you and the beloved farm, regarding you, as I do, as the instrument in the hands of God to secure this very spot for the unfortunates whose best earthly friend you are, and believing sincerely that the Almighty's blessing will not rest on nor abide with those who may place obstacles in your way. With Mrs. Blagden's and my own most friendly regards, very respectfully, your obedient servant, THOMAS BLAGDEN. Nevertheless, next day when Dr. Nichols called on Mr. Blagden to sign the papers the doctor found that gentleman walking the room and wringing his hands in an hysterical fashion, saying, "I don't want to part with it; it is dear to me and dear to my family! But I won't break my word to Miss Dix! I told her she should have it, and she shall have it!"1 VI. In 1855, when the hospital was ready to enter upon its work, there were 20 insane persons belonging to the Army and Navy establishments and supported by the Government in various places and ways; 53 indigent insane in two Baltimore institutions, besides 11 insane persons detained in the United States jail, in Washington, and perhaps 10 private patients. It was estimated that about one-half of the persons treated in well-organized public asylums recover, while but 10 per cent of those cared for privately or confined in jails and poorhouses cease to be public charges.2 Congress having provided for the establishment of the hospital, it became necessary to adopt a method of organization, and in response to the resolution of the House of Representatives of December 19, 1854, the Secretary of the Interior transmitted to Congress a report made by Dr. Charles H. Nichols, who had been appointed superintendent, accompånied by a draft of a bill and a copy of the propositions of the Association of Medical Superintendents of American Institutions for the Insane. Also he submitted suggestions made by Dr. Thomas Miller, "a resident physician of this city, who is understood to have manifested 1 Tiffany, p. 154. 2 Report of Dr. C. H. Nichols, superintendent, Thirty-third Congress, second session, Ex Doc., Vol. I, p. 622. much interest in this subject from its inception." In his letter Dr. Miller claimed that it was entirely through his instrumentality that the appropriation was made by Congress for the establishment of the asylum.1 This report resulted in the act of March 3, 1855, which, with the amendments thereto, provides for admissions to the hospital as follows: Insane persons belonging to the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Revenue-Cutter Service are received on the order of the Secretary of War, the Secretary of the Navy, and of the Secretary of the Treasury, respectively. Civilians employed in the Quartermaster's and Subsistence Department of the Army becoming insane while so employed are included in this provision. Persons without adequate means who have been admitted to the hospital from the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps and discharged as recovered who have within three years after discharge become again insane from causes existing at the time of such discharge. Indigent insane persons who have been in either branch of the service and been discharged therefrom on account of disability arising from such insanity. Indigent insane persons who have become insane within three years after their discharge from the service from causes which arose during and were produced by said service.2 Inmates of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers who are insane are admitted to the hospital upon the order of the president of the Board of Managers of said Home.3 Inmates of the Soldiers' Home at Washington, D. C., may be sent to the hospital on the order of the president of the Board of Commissioners of the Home.1 These are all the classes belonging to or discharged from the service who are entitled to treatment in the hospital. There seems to be a widespread impression that any late volunteer or old pensioner who has become insane may be sent here, and hardly a month passes that application is not made to the officers of the hospital for papers to admit some old soldier who has become insane and has been placed in the almshouse, perhaps, of the very community in whose quota he rendered service. Persons charged with offenses against the United States and in the actual custody of its officers or convicted of any offense in a court of the United States and imprisoned in any State prison or penitentiary of any State or Territory found to be insane, on application of the Attorney-General are transferred by the Secretary of the Interior to the hospital for treatment.5 Persons charged with crime before the court of the District of Columbia, when found, in the court before which such charge is brought, to be insane, are certified 1 Thirty-third Congress, second session, Ex. Doc. No. 24. Dr. Miller was born in Port Royal, Va., February 18, 1806, and died in Washington September 20, 1873. He was educated at the Washington Seminary, now Gonzaga College. For forty years he was connected with every movement looking to the advancement of the profession. In 1830 he was one of the founders of the Washington Medical Institute, and was one of the physicians of the central cholera hospital. In 1833 he was one of the originators of the Medical Association of the District of Columbia. He was professor of anatomy in the National Medical College and emeritus professor and president of the faculty; was the first president of the Pathological Society in 1841; was a member of the board of health and the board of aldermen, and was one of the consulting staff of Providence and of the Children's hospitals.-Crew's History of Washington, p. 601. 2 U. S. Rev. Stat., sec. 4843. 3 Supp. U. S. Rev. Stat., Vol. I, 2d ed., p. 381, par. 14. 4 Supp. U. S. Rev. Stat., Vol. I, 2d ed., p. 469, par. 5. Supp. U. S. Rev. Stat., Vol. I, 2d ed., p. 382, par. 14. |