Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1838-08-09
DIR. Stribling's Report.

DR.. FRANCIS Il. SrRInLING, Physician
Of tho Western Lunu,ic Hospital, made
July Z, 1888.
Until a pcriod comparatively recent, in>
sanity, we are all aware, has been deemed
an incurable disease, and it's victims were
considered as irTecoverably los, 10 themselves
and the world. The universal opinion had |
been, that il was an awful visitation from |
Heaven, aud that no human agency could |
reverse the judgment by which it was in
hicted. During the prevalence of SO inau.
sPicious belief il is scarcely to be W ondcie ed
al, that no efforts to restore the insane were
attempted, and that our duty and obligations
to them were considered as discharged when
they had teen removed, as objects of terror
and disgust, from our presence, and by means
OF chains aud bars, were prevented from n>
juring themselves, and our persons aud pros
perry thereby protected from their violence.
''But even at the present day, and in com
muni,ies Otherwise highly enlightened, there
as reason TO fear that lamentabie degree of
ignorance prevails upon this subject; an is-
norance, which, could IL be ohce dispeilcd,
some o! the most painful rac..-.'- s.. 81. i,s
tory Ut human suffering might be closed i'm
mediatcly and forever. H. is now mos, AZ
bundantly demonstrated, that with appro-
pirate medical and moral treatment, insanity
yields, l will not say merely with as much,
OOt more IeduiueSS tDan ordinary diseases.
This cheering fact is established by a series
Of experiments, instituted from holier mo-
tives, and crowned with happier results, than
any ever recorded in the brilliant annals of
science. A lew individuals, justly entitled
10 conspicuous station among the benefac-
tors of their race, have exploded the barbu-
rous doctrine that cruelty is the proper anti
dote to madness, and have discovered and
proclaimed, that skill, mildness, and self
devotion to the welfare OF the insane, are the
only efficacious meaas for their restoration
Their labors have been hallowed by the sui.
rit of humanity that inspired them reviv-
ing reason and returning virtue and happi>
ness have been their reward.''
In addition to the evidence Just afforded
by our own Institution, of the extreme Gu.
rability OF recent cases, and the comparative
hopelessness Of those which have been too
long neglected, indulge me whilst l present
TO your view some deeply interesting facts,
selected from the reports OF other institu, ions,
where their operations have been more ex-
iensiye, and their efforts still more success.
full.
Esquirol gives a table Of recov cries in one
OF the French Hospitals, which shows thai
Of zoos patients in that institution, 1928
were cured. and Of these. GOA during The frs.
year; 491 during the second year and only
l27 In The succeeding eight years: from
which we perceive, that eleven twellths oil
tho whole number Of cures was obtained
within the FIRST two years-that The mean
duration oil cases cured was less than one
year. and that after the second year, the pro-
liability Of cure is almost hopeless.
NJ. Dcsporte states, that of The whole NUN.
Der OF recovcries which came under his OBJ
servation, within u limited time, TAG took
place within the first year. while only lie
wero restored " hose maIadics had existe,
Inner than twelve ypoptbs
DR.. Willis AYERS that nine out OF ten Ca
ses OF insanity recover, if placed under pro-
per treatment within three mon tbs from the
date OF attack. And this assertion is more
than verified by The seventh report OF the
London Prison Discipline Society, which
shows, that in the York Retreat, out o AZ
patients admitted within three moaihs after
their iirst attack, 40 were restored. OF
those admitted after three, and within twelve
months, The proportion cured was only as Is
TO as: and Of those whose disease was oi
more than one years Standing, il was only
asl4 TO 70.
DR.. Ellis states, that OF 3l2 patients adj.
mitted into the West Riding A sy Inm, Eng
land, within three months alter their insani-
occurred, 206 recovered whilst in con.
test with this, be adds, that of 3lS admit.
ted whose malay he'd existed longer, only
&c were restored
Or. yeilch, in his official report, exem-
pIifles the great dlsproportion OF cures be.
tween recent and chronic Cases OF Insanity.
by stating the fact, that within his obserya.
fion two thirds Ut oil recent cases had been
cured, whilst only out of l52 old cases re-.
covered.
Ihe institutions OF our own country. how
ever, are daily sfordins examples not less
striking or satisfactory, 10 wit: IN the Mas
sachusetIs Stale Hospital SO per cent. of re-
cent cases have been cured whilst only %
per cent. have recovered OF those who had
been insane longer than twelve months.
In The Mclean Asylum, e6 ou, of 100 re,
cent cases have recovered, and 3S per cent
OF cases which had existed more ,i.an one
year.
And in the Bloomingdsle Asylum, New.
York, out Of 6S recent Cases, 90 have been
cured; and oil! Of l73 cases of longer stand
ing, G only have recovered.
In view Of these isc,e, would do ipi,s,;ce
W my own feelings, and would deem myself
wanting IN proper regard tor the interests of
The community, did not renew The effort
made on iormer occasion 10 procure through
your intervention, somo legislative enact
ment, by which accommodation may be Sc :.
cured IN our Hospital for those whose maIs-
dies ere OF recent date, and whose friends nav
ne desirous ut procuring for them, in propsr
IWse, The advantages here provided Surely,
hher Inc above exhibition Of results, so con.
cfusive and irresistible, nothing more need
10 saio 70 enforce the importance OF this mea,
sure anu The only question ask ed, will be.
hfto .he Character OF the remedy to be pro
Poseu. There are two methods ~ hicb have
suggested Themselves to ,oy ,,,;,J. 81. -