Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1839-12-05
WESTERN LUNATIC ASYLUM.

Western Lunatc Asylum, DIR. Il. II. SrRIR-
LING, TO the Court of Directors, made on Sat
urday, was one of the most interesting docu-
ments ofthe kind which has ever fallen under
our notice. 1t is impossible for us, in the
brief space we can command at present, to do
full justice to it. Nevertheless the whole
subject is one of such deep interest to the
philanthropist, and there are parts of the re-
port so suited TO the correction of miscllievous
popular error, that we feel il to be duty TO
make some considerable personal sacrifice to
get them before the public, ere we are over
whelmed by Messages, and other Congress
sional and Legislative documents.
The report embraces a period of sixteen
months, owing to a change made in the time
of closing the fiscal concerns of the establish
ment. The number of patients remaining in
the institution at the date Of the last report
was 72--numbcr since admitted 32-whole
number who have enjoyed its benefits during
the interim, loi-number discharged 81
died, 7-eloped, 2-leaving in the institution
At this time7l. Tables are also given show
ing what had been the civil condition of the
patients. admitted within that period-their
ages-pration of their insanity--and also of
its partlcular form, and its causes. This in
formation. SO highly necessary to the success
full treatment of patients, has only been OBJ
tanned, within the period mentioned, by a
plan suggested by the Physician, and sane
toned by the Court of Directors. The re-
suit has been that the number discharged cur
ed since July, 1888, has exceeded greatly
that Of any similar period within the history
OF the institution, and the vacancies thus oc-
casioned being speedily filled by others, the
number who have enjoyed the advantages of
the institution, has been proportionably great
vi the recent cases admitted, I6 out of 90
have been restored-two have been much inn
Proved-one eloped, after having been so far
restored as to induce hope ofhis recovery
and the remaining one, who was in feeble
health at the time of his admission, died.
FROM these results, it will appear how I'M
speakabiy important it is that adequate pro-
vision should be made for accommodating pa
1lents In the early stages oftheir disease. A.
bout one-thrd of those who are now in the
Asylum have been insane from ten to thirty
years-nearly two-thirds upwards of five wears
and not sixth can date the origin of their
disease within the last three years-'shence''
rs the report remarks, 'swe left to deplore
the fate Of so large number in whose minds
the force of habit alone would keep up the
morbid action, even should its cause be re-
moved''
In regard to the system oflnoral treatment
introduced into the institution, the report
says:
'As the Board of Directors have on sever
al occasions applied to the Legislature for
means with which they might be enabled to
AFFORD the necessary facilities for CONDUCTING
proper system OF moral management with
the inmates of our asylum-whicf means
have been most literally bestowed. and as
have some reason to believe that my sueoes.
Mons ana assurances, were, In part at least
mace the basis OF these applications, and may
have had some influence in proInotino their
success, feel it to be due, no less to nv
self than to yon, now that this system has
had time TO produce its results, that I should
endeavor to exhibit these for public inspec-
ton and consideraton-and for this PURPOSE
permit me briefly to contrast th&ondition of
The institution, as regards the benefits which
II has conferred upon its occupants and the adj
Vantages which have resulted to the common
wealth, subsequently, with what these were
prior to the Introduction of any such means.
"Ihe asylum was opened for the reception
OF patients on the LIST of July. 1928. from
which time to July 1st, 1896, period OF eioht
years, 70 patients only participated in its ben-
ehts--and during these 8 years. I3 recovered
and were discharged. AS to the number here
IN embraced who may have entered the insti-
futlon In the recent stage of their disease. +
regret my inability to apprize you, not having
enjoyed the advantage of an acquaintance wifi
its affairs during that period, and fnding M.
thlng upon It's records calculated TO remove
the difficulty From July 1896, to the Isl Of
the present month, Nov.) 78 PATIENTS have
been admitted, and Of these 81 have been err
ed--f others died or escaped during a well mark
go convaieScence--and several now here give
strong indications ola certain recovery. But
conilnlng our estimate to those who have
been cured, we find that it embraces upwards
oi rs per cent. OF the whole number received
s,hce the date last above mentioned. Ofthese
.o' ~ Were placed in the institution within
months OF the date of their attack, and of
.,.'S number 20 have been restored /; so that
-Ne.a'i'e On tnose who were removed by death
" o'iiei wise from the sphere of our influence,
. 'noIe tlan 81 per cent. Of all recent
a.I'' WITCH =, nave been under treatment with
30 'i'e idst three years have been cured. ri
on a"dtc Ihat uPona comparison of this state |
, ,iIoh' WIN hose exhibited in former reports !
some discrepancy will be manifest, but This |
ii NC SiihPiy apparent, not real, and results |
i.s I'm u, circumstance that in this report ( |
nave ADOPTED the standard universally pursued
INST rfttt.r