Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1838-08-23
Dr. Stribling's Report.
Extracts from the second annual report Of
DR.. FRANCIS Il. SrRIBLING, Physician
OF the Western Lunatic Hospital, made


DR.. FRANCIS Il. SrRIBLING, Physician
OF the Western Lunatic Hospital, made
July Z, lS3S.-Concluded.
trust, gentlemen, that you will now
without difficulty or delay, institute a com .
! parison between the Asylum which has been
conhded 10 your direction aud management
and those which have been thus elaborately
though impcrfectly described: and whilst
you will readily perceive that there is a gen
eral analogy between them all you Cannot.
apprehend, fail also 10 discover, us il re,
CARDS our Institution, several points OF dif-
ference, which must be deemed not simrly
| important, but as oil character strictly fun
damental. Amongst other things, you will
have observed, that the principle OF class iy-
ing the patients, thereby separating the
cleanly from those who are tilthy-lhe noisy
from the quiet-and the durable from the in
durable, Is considered one of primary im-
poriance, and is strictly attended to in all
Tie institutions which we have been consid
er:ng Whether viewed us a curative meas
sure, Or as one for the promotion Of quIe,
anu comfort throughout the establishment, IL
Is alike Indispensable, aud no effort shou Id
be spared on our part to avail ourselves speed.
ny vi its advantages. la consequence of the
internal arrangement OF our building, sue a
system has been heretofore impracticable,
but am satisfied that with little expense the
necessary alterations can be easily effect ed
| and that our present ediiice can be rendered
almost as convenient in tins respect, as that
is designed 10 he which we are abou, erect
ing. These alterations will he suggested
and pointed out TO you whenever il may lie
your pleasure To accompany ne through The
building, my chief object beiLg now TO a3-
prize you of the necessity for such chan se,
and to urge upon you the importance q! CIV
ing TO II your early attention. AS connect
ed with this subject, il becomes my duty 10
urge upon you also another point Ii is
known 10 YOU that at present our patients,
when out II doors, have TO minsle indis-
crminaicly, and that when the weather is
Loo inciement Tor them to enjoy the open air
they are obliged 10 be kept secluded in their
cells, entirely separated from each other,
and deprived Of all human society. Aud
when we reflect upon the length ofour win,
ters, adding the number of damp aud rainy
days during the other periods of the yea!
we perceive that they must he duomed al
least two thirds of their time 10 solitary con-
nnement. These evils afo Of magnitude
which all will admit call loudly Tor remedy /;
and there Is none of which can conceive,
! Gin addition to the architectural alterations
just spoken OF, more humane in it's char ac-
/ ter, likely tn be more beneficial in It's ono
ration, or that can be attained " 18th less dill
iculty and expense, than would result, from
employing number Of white attendants, ~ no
shall each have allotted TO them a class Of
patients and be required to devote their un
divided Time aud attention 10 those thus ola
ced under their charge. This arrangement
would 10 great degree remove the neces,
silly Tor bolts and bars, relieve the mind from
That sense of restraint which must now de
press II, and dissipate that gloom which is
the necessary conComilant Of their present
solitude. The attendant IS uid be their cons
slant companion he would eat with them
al The same table, and sleep in the same range
OF apartments. lie would no, only guide
and direct, but would join them in labor,
and participate in their amusements. He
would De always with them TO occupy their
attention with pleasing themes, humor their
capr,ces, and TO soothe and pacfy their
minds IN moments of frenzy. And may
asG, gentlemen, " hen Goes man So urgent.
ly require the aid Of rational fellow being
10 guide his footsteps, as when he wander ;
thus III mental darkness. Or when does he
SO much need The knowledge and guidance
oi others. as when his own mind is a wild.
chaos, agitated by passions which be Cannot
! que!l, and haunted by forms of terror which
the perverted energy OF his aature is perpe,-
uaiiy calling into being, bu, cannot dispense !.
AS 10 the feasibility of this arrangement.
cannot doubt but there are many Young
men 10 our own county OF uDeXceptionabIe
moral character, and suilicicn. mental at
tanments, that are now earning their bread
as Common day laboIers, " no would be Glad
10 exchange life Of toll and exposure, for
one OF comparative ease and comfort and
who would cheerfuliy avail themselves of an
opportunity where they might so much ben
efi their suffering fellow men, without al
The same time doing injustice 10 themselves
III may be that al first, some, yielding 10 the
Influence Of those mistaken ideas which per
wade the community in reference to the in
sane, and the institutions erected for their
| benetlt, will hesitate to engage in work
which requires that they should be the com.
Panions OF the one, and the occupants Of The
other but IT is only necessary that this sub
Jcct he presented III lis true and proper light
! III efuer 10 overcome such an obstacle, and
convince Them that the employm ent in itself
| IS lbe most honorable and ennobling in which
they could engage; and that fidelity on their
parts, IN Comply ing. with lis acquisitions
would secure 10 them not Only The respect
and esteem OF the good aud the wise. but
would promote their own sel..respect, and
inspire them with The proud consciousness Of
having thus been favored inslrum enis in i'm
parting SolaCe and comfort 70 their distressed
! and afflicted fellow beings.
And lastly, as to its economy. Doubtless
The services Of suitable male and female at
PENDANTS csn be bad at a cost of little more
! than what is now paid for the hire, clothing
taxes, &c. Of our ordinary servants; and il
will enable us 10 dispense with more than
one black for each white attendant iba, ~ a