rise to four stories. These front wings, with the ells, which extend at right angles rearwardly two hundred and eight feet, comprise the halls and rooms for patients-the ells being three stories in height. The general contour of the structure is quadrilateral, with a large area or court, bounded on the east and west by the ells. This court is divided, however, by the rear centre building, two stories high, which is of the same depth with the ells, for the accommodation of kitchens, dining-rooms, a small ward for out-door patients, an engine and circular fan room, the main boiler room, bakery and store room. The front wards have a single row of apartments and a long hall or gallery admirably lighted and ventilated, and each ward is furnished with a parlor, dining-room, dressing-room, linen closets, and water closets and bath-room. These also are equipped with wide and commodious stairways. The ell wards have a double row of apartments, divided by halls and cross halls, and in the rear of the latter are a row of apartments for turbulent and noisy patients. These are also furnished with dining, bathing and closet conveniences. The cellarage is deep and well ventilated, and contains the steam heating apparatus by which the building is warmed through an ample supply of registers on each ward. The whole structure is ventilated by a seventeen-foot circular fan driven by an engine. The edifice is built of brick, with stone door and window copings, and is of substantial construction throughout. All the buildings are lighted with gas.

The steam laundry, with drying and ironing rooms, is situated immediately in the rear of the extension of the centre buildings on the farther side of a seventy-foot avenue, and has no connection with the main buildings. This was erected in 1873, after the destruction of a former building for that purpose by fire in 1872. The walls of the latter, situated a hundred feet or more from the southwestern angle of the main building, were remodelled for a gas house and pump room, and are now so used.

Under an act of the General Assembly of 1866, an asylum for the colored insane was erected on a beautiful eminence several hundred

yards southwesterly from the main Hospital buildings. This is a substantial brick structure, three stories in height, with an ample basement for kitchen and heating furnaces, and is very commodious, being divided into halls and apartments on both sides, with wide stairways.

WATER SUPPLY.

The large supply of water necessary for an establishment of this kind is furnished by two excellent and never-failing springs of limestone wa

ter, and a large cistern, constructed in 1873, very near the eastern ell of the main building. One of these springs, which is walled and arched with brick, is situated a few rods from the northwestern angle of the main building, and feeds a large walled lake six hundred feet in length by ninety in width, which, in addition to being a handsome ornament to the exercise grounds, constitutes a reservoir of water for lavatory purposes, and for use in case of a conflagration, through a steam pump connected. Another spring is situated about a quarter of a mile from the Hospital in the same direction, and is furnished. with a deep covered reservoir of the capacity of ninety thousand gallons of water, which is its daily flow. This is covered by a pump house, and the raising apparatus—a duplex steam pump-is connected to the distributing tank in the octagonal tower of the main building by a three-inch iron piping. But few institutions in the country are better equipped with facilities for an amply sufficiency of excellent water.

acres.

FARM, DAIRY, &C.

Under an Act of the General Assembly of 1855, the Trustees enlarged the area of the farm by the purchase of two hundred acres lying immediately west of the original purchase, and fronting on the Mur freesboro pike. This was deemed necessary for the uses of the Institu tion, and makes the whole tract comprise four hundred and fifty-five An object of this addition of no little importance, was to secure the possession of the second spring of water, above described, it being foreseen that as the Institution enlarged and its population increased, it would certainly be required. The farm is subdivided into tillable fields, pasture lots, woods lots, orchards, vegetable garden, and an area of ornamented exercise grounds of about seventy-five acres. This latter is traversed by circular drives and walks overlaid with gravel, and is set in forest trees, interspersed with pines, firs and cedars, and is adorned with shrubbery of various kinds, and in the proper season with flowering plants, which in winter are transferred to the conservatory. The fields in cultivation are rotated in the usual farm crops, wheat, corn, oats, potatoes, turnips, the various grasses, &c., &c., and under judicious and careful tillage, have yielded fairly in average seasons. In the history of the farm, three orchards of mixed fruits have been planted, which have produced measurably well. One of them is now quite old. The vegetable garden, which contains about fourteen acres, lies immediately in the rear of the main Hospital building, and is kept in good condition by frequent manuring, and in favorable years, makes an ample supply of culinary vegetables, for the large household consump

tion. A portion of the pork and mutton supply is raised on the farm usually, and the pasturage is used for the farm stock, and beef on foot bought for slaughter.

Attached to the farm is a dairy with a proper house covering a spring, and commodious cow stables. This, at present, furnishes a full supply of milk for the entire household, and a large portion of the butter needed. The farm is also equipped with stables and barns.

A floral conservatory has always been a feature of the grounds of the Institution, as it is of very many others conducted on similar principles. This is located on the eastern portion of the front grounds, and constitutes a very attractive appurtenance, and is a valuable adjunct for the entertainment and diversion of the inmates, as well as the gratificaion of their visiting friends. To some degree, this æsthetic addition has always been self supporting from sales of extra material, though the attempt to make it such has never been systematized, as it possibly might be.

The entire establishment as it exists at this time, has been a gradual accretion in lands, buildings and equipments, externally and internally. For the first five years after its opening, only the front wards and center building were completed and occupied. At the expiration of that timea portion of the ells were utilized, and subsequently the entire building was occupied. Then followed, in the present decade, the east and west extensions, the building for the colored insane having been erected a few years before. The various appurtenant structures were added as they were required, and alterations and improvements made as they became necessary. In this mode of growth, it is difficult to arrive at the exact cost of the Institution as a whole, but it has been quite reasonable for one of such magnitude, and its history shows that a wise economy has been exercised in its furnishing. The buildings are handsome and durable, without being highly ornamental or expensive, and in this respect they are a model for imitation.

ADMINISTRATION.

During its career extending over a quarter of a century, a number of the most prominent citizens of the State have served as its curators, and through them, and the excellent management it has received, it has enjoyed the unlimited confidence of those most deeply interested, and of the general public. Three medical gentlemen have served as its Superintendent and general Executive head in that time, Dr. W. A. Cheatham, Dr. W. P. Jones and the present incumbent. The Board now in service, entered on their functions in the spring of 1877, shortly

after the commencement of the term for which the appended reports are exhibited, and in that comparatively brief time, two of their number have been summoned from their councils by death.

In April of 1878, Dr. H. H. Bethshares, one of the members from West Tennessee, who had twice met with us, succumbed to a chronic illness of some months duration. He was a gentleman of excellent professional repute, and at a former period, had been in the medical employment of the Institution. His practical knowledge of the requirements of a hospital made him a valuable member, and his amiable and gentlemanly deportment rendered him a pleasant associate. On September 2, 1878, at Grenada, Miss., fell our remaining West Tennessee member-Butler P. Anderson, of Memphis. He had gone thither on a noble and philanthropic mission, and his generous and courageous service in the fearful epidemic at that point, has embalmed his name in tender memory and enrolled it among the hero-martyrs of the time. In all the attributes of manhood he was admirable, of superior intelligence, lofty integrity, and cordial and engaging manners. His death was a public loss, and to this Institution a serious one. In respect to the memory of our deceased associates we have entered an appropriate minute on the records of the Board. In conformity to the statute in such cases provided, as will be seen by the signatures, the Governor has filled the vacancies in the West Tennessee membership.

INSURANCE.

In view of the contingencies of fire, in spite of all the regulations which may be prescribed, and all the vigilance which may be exercised, which surround an institution of this kind; its distance from the city and inaccessibility to aid from the city fire department in such an event; and in consideration of the immediate need for pecuniary succor for the care of inmates, should such a calamity befall, we have deemed it proper to effect an insurance for seventy-five thousand dollars on the main building and furniture. This we were enabled to accomplish at low rates, and think it prudent to continue it. Ordinarily it may be said, that a State is able to insure its own property, but in the present stringent condition of State finances, the extraordinary emergency which a total or even partial destruction by fire would cause, would embarrass all if occurring in the interim of legislative sessions, and under any circumstances would do so, and a fund from insurance might prove a timely, as well as helpful and wise provision and resource.

SUPERINTENDENT'S SUGGESTIONS.

The considerations presented in the Report of the Superintendent which we herewith submit, will arrest your attention. They comprise full statistics as to the operations of the Hospital during the past two years, and the remarks thereon will inform you as to the condition of the population in all details. It will be observed that there is a suggestion that the law of admission to patients from counties needs a slight amendment, in order to facilitate removals and admissions, and render the exchange of restored patients for those needing hospital care, more expeditious. This, we think, should be done. The committal of insane convicts to the wards of the Hospital, which is spoken of as improper and injudicious, is a matter which we submit to your discretion. The objections presented are serious, and if it can be avoided it would seem that another system should be adopted.

FINANCIAL ESTIMATES.

An examination of the Treasurer's Report will show that a proper economy has been practiced, and that the Hospital has been maintained within the annual appropriations from the State Treasury for that purpose. The comparative tables as to cost in a number of other institutions adduced by the Superintendent in his remarks on the subject, attest that the pecuniary burden of our insane is not so great as in many commonwealths, and certainly not beyond what the community will consider reasonable and proper. The question of repairs, now or very shortly to be needed, we commend to your consideration, and if your body should place a contingent fund for this purpose, it will be used only as occasion and necessity may require, and we think the measure would be a wise and prudent one. It will be observed that the Institution is full to its legal and actual capacity, and with the prevalence of insanity and the improbability of its dimunition to which the Report of the Superintendent refers, we cannot expect our numbers to be less, aud therefore think the estimates for the coming biennial support should bear reference to this fact, and that the present provision cannot properly be reduced in justice to the Institution and its work.

The general suggestions, and especially the improvements recommended in the Superintendent's Report appear to us upon a careful inspection to be wholesome and greatly needed, and we trust that His Excellency will specially direct the attention of the General Assembly to the importance of prompt action in the premises, and wherever legislative aid is demanded.