Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1838-08-16

morning, and on Sundays they have a meet.
ing Tor religious worship, which has general.
~ been attended by some one of the Cleri>
cal gentlemen oil the vicinity. AT these
meetings more than one half OF the patients
attend; and according to the testimony of
Dr. beli, 'npart from any mora! influences
which they may afford to the convalescent
or monomaniac, they have proved highly
eiiicacious as means OF calling into action
the sell respect and seifconirol of oil who
have been subjected TO their influence"
The number of patients in this Institution
averages about 100, and the attendants. in
GLIDING Cooks, SC. about one to every five
patients. The annual expense of conduct
ing the Institution is about SIS, 09l, evclu-
sive OF salaries, which added, Wells the a.
meunt to $4,000
The numhcr Of cures effected here has
been stated in u former part OF this report 10
he S6 out OF 100 recent cases, and SO per
cent. where the disease had existed longer
than Vne year.
The Connecticut Retreat, situated in the
vicinity of Hartford, is an Institution of con.
siderable note; and from the success there
met with in restoring the insane, well mer-
lis our attention. Ii is conducted upon sm>
liar principles, and is in most respects, much
oil the same character with the one lust de-
scribed. They observe the same strictue.s
IN classifying their patients, separating The
curables from incurables, and the violent
| and excited from the quiet and con al escent.
Much stress is also placed upon affording oc-
cupat'cn and amusement 10 lis inmates The
males are employed in farming, gardening,
and in the workshop; and tho females in
knitting, sewing, &c. Two carriages are
here provided for exercising the patients,
and the various sources of amusement here
tofere enumerated are supplied. The aver
| age number Of patients has been about so.
The attendants are in the proportion OF abou,
one to seven and the annual expenditure ior
the support of the Institution is about Sl2. y
QUO. The proportion Of cures in recent ca.
ses is about 80 per cent, and in cases of
more than one years standing about 80 per
cent
| Ii may here be stated, that in estimating
| the annual expenditures Of the Northern In.
siiiutions, nothing is included for defrayine
the travelling expenses of the patients !:
whilst in the Virginia Hospitals, this item
/ forms an amount Of no moons siderable mag
nitude.
| The Asylum at Worcester, Massachu-
seits, although in most respects similar TO
those which have been just described, is
worthy Of particular attention, because, like
our own, il is emphaticaliy Il State Ins.iu.
''Oh, uptSt shS anu 6uDlcCl 10 the
control o! The State Legislature; and its cells
are occupied by subjects more nearly resem,
bling in character those whom we have in
! Change, than will be found in any other in
sane establishment with which am acauain.
ted. The officers here, as in ali other well
regulated Asylums, consist of q Physic
who is Superintendent, an Assistant Physi-
clan, Steward and Matron, with the su6or-
dinates heretofore named: and the duties of
these correspond with those already explain.
ed relative 10 similar departments in the
Mclean Asylum. Their exclusive time is
devoted 10 the interests of the Institution.
with the exception that the Physician is all
lowed the privilege of being consulted abou,
matters pertaining TO his profession by oil
who may choose 10 call on him for that pur.
pose.
Employment is here consider, next TO
medical treatment, ono OF the most success
full means of cure resorted to and while few
oil The patients are found indisposed to en-
gage in useful labor, most are said TO esteem
ii their greatest privilege. There are about
80 acres of land attached 10 The Institution
OF which acres are cultivated as a garden,
from IL 10 10 acres in corn, potatoes, sc,
and the remaining 35 acres are used for
moving and paslurage. The men do all the
labor on the farm and In the garden and Of.
sing le attendant, conducting themselves
so orderly, quietly and induslriously, that
stranger would never suspect them for be-
ing the minutes OF an insane Hospital The
product OF their labor, in vegetables, grain,
pork, &c. is valued at S 600 per annum
besides which, they bestow considerable
degree ofatienton on the grounds and walks,
and cut, saw and pile from two TO three hun.
dred Cords of wood
The Matron has weekly sewing parties
for the females, which from 80 TO 40 patients
regularly attend, and seem delighted with
the privilege thus allowed them. Here,
and in room appropriated to the purpose,
where many of the females daily assemble,
under the direction OF IA seamstress, is made
all the clothing for the patients, and all the
bedding required for the establishment.
The various amusements mentioned in
connection with the other Asylums, are here
also encouraged. Music particularly, Is
found to be source OF much eDjoyment.--
They have choir, composed entirely OF pa.
TENTS nnd their attendants, by which il is
said all the parts OF common Church Music,
both vocal and instrumental, are performed |
with taste and accuracy.
lhey form frequent parties for walking, /
and are oiien much refreshed and invigors- |
ted by excursions Of four or five miles and
The females, besides walking, are provided
with handsome carriage, which affords
them much pleasant and heslthfu recreation.
he importance Of proper classification
OF the patients seems 10 be fully appreciated !
by the able and experienced Superintendent.
Dr. w ooGward, who thinks il moi only in,
d1spensaole 10 success in restoring The cura-
bles, but OF The utmost utility in promoting