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

resort 10 our puOUC fteytutnS, tnes0 apple |
cations will 50 far increase as TO render
this remedy inefficient, aud require come,
thing Of more permanent character, and
on more expansive scale, TO supply its place
There Is also reason why we should not he
satisfied with the too long continuance OF this
arrangement, and ii is to be found in the fact
that In order 10 accommodate by il the cura.
bile patients, NC will be excluding from cur |
Institution u number OF those whose disease. |
it is true, is beyond the probability Of reno
vol, hut who nevertheless retain their proper |
sensibilities, and could we'll appreciate that
solace and Comfort which it should here be |
our PROV luce TO impar,. You will, there
fore, at once perceive, that in order TO afford |
timely relief to those WHO may have become
recently insane, without ut the same time
sacrificing the comfort and we'll being OF |
such as are unfortunately incurable, il will
be necessary 10 enlarge our institution To a
seize commensurate with the wants of the
State. Some may probably he disposed To
conjecture, that as the Virginia Hospitals al
present contain about $50 patients. and are
now being enlarged each TO accommodate 40
or SO more, that when thus completed, they
VIII be FULLY adequate 10 our wants; but
lear that he who thus calculates, knows but
little Of the extent to which insanity prevaiis
in our land. IL is indeed ic =. regretted
tnst no data have ever been furnished, from
which We can correctly ascertain the mum.
ber OF lunatics in Virginia. But when we
institute comparison " it'll the States where
the census has been accurately taken, we are
forced TO conclude that there must be within
| the boundaries OF our State moi less than from
600 10 $50 insane persons. In New,Hamr-
shire, where the population does not exceed
$50 600, they have 600 lunatics. Ia Connecti-
cut, with population Of 29S 900 they have
700 iunaiics. In Massachusetts, with a pops
uietion oi about 6l2 600, they have ]. 600
iunatics. And in New York, where The
population is about 1000 900, they have ass
certained that it will be necessary TO erect
(anc indeed they have commenced the work }
an establishment to contain ] 500 lunatics
in addition 10 the number which IRE now
being accommodated NJ their Bloomingdale
Asylum. Taking then the population oil
Virginia at 200 900, Oess than il really
ISL and making every allowance for the
number Of her slaves, who are admitted 10
be more exempt from insanity than either
whites or free persons of colour, we canno,
arrive Of any conclusion more favorable tc
her interests, than that which would place
The number of her insane at what we have
:. above specified.
: In addition TO the reason already assigned
why our Institutions should be al once en-,
3 larged, l may mention the fact. with which
you are all doubtless familiar, that from &C
10 5O lunatics are now actually confined in
our common Jails, consigned TO the feion'l
7 doom, without having possessed capacity &c
, incur ielon's guilt; a circumstance, tho
bare mention OF which should excite the
good and the wise not only 10 immediate ef.
l fort for their relief, but should induce them
To provide ample security against the cruel
necessity Of in future subjeciing any norton
Of this unfortunate class 10 so hard fate. TIC
the insane man, gentlemen, one of our com
mon prisons is a tomb and should feshI,
( reason, whilst he is confined W ilhin ito walls
> for momoot resuruo heI throne me mus
1 suffer as ole who awsses to lite ia tho suIi
tude oi The grave; Existence, and Tho cspa
city of pain, are here alone left him. From,
every former source Of pleasure or content.
menf he IS violently sequestersd. Every for
, mer habit is abruptly broken off no medi,
Cal SIX i'll seconds The efforts of nature for his
recovery, or breaks the strength of pain,
, when il seizss him with convuIs;ne grasp'
He is alike removed from all the occupations
o health, and from all the attentions every
, where hut in his homeless abode, bestow ed
; upon sickness. he solitary cell the noisome
{ atmosphere, the unmitigated cold. and The
, untempered heat, are OF themselves sufiicien,
soon to derange every vital function OF the
body, and this only aggravates the derange
ment Of his mind. On every side is raised
up an iosurmounisble barrier 10 his recoye.
: ry. Cut off from all The charities OF life
endued with quickened sensibi.iiies 10 pain
and perPelualiy siung by annoyances which
though Individually small, riso by constant
accumulation 10 sgonies aImos, beyond The
power Of mortal suferance. / bis ex;led mind
~ ITS devious wanderings, ever approach the
IIsht by which il was once cheered and dr.,
rected, II sees every thing un welcoming ,ey.
cry thing repulsiye and hostile, and is drive
nway into reiurDless punishment"
But apart from considerations of human.
~, II cannot be doubted that two thirds at
least OF all The cases Of incurable lunacy now
IN the Stale, might, il timely provision had
been made for them in tpsH conducted Asy>
Iuins, have been restored, and the heavy ex>
penditure which is now being incurred for
, their support, and which must continue To
burthen the State whilst they live, might
c have been avoided.
Humanity and policy, then, Combine Il
urge the speedy enlargement ofour Hospitals
with a view TO aGeId ample relief 10 ,bisuD
fortunate portion of our population. Nor
eau il be believed that they will plead in vain
before Legislature whose members have
already erected monument, To their wisdom
and goodness by the liberality which has
characterized their legislation in behalf Of
the same noble and benevolent enterprise.
In forming an estimate of what has bean
accomplished in this Institution, and contrss.
ting the number fits cures with that of 9th
er establishments Of The same general char.
acter, II should not be forgotten ths. this is
The receptacle Of all who are aiiudged 10 be
SO furiously deraDged as TO render their con-
| al