Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1841-05-27
From the harrington Gazette.
STAUNTON & IT'S INSTITUTIONS.

e. IT'S INSTITUTIONS.
No town in the interior of Virginia more
fully repays traveller for the stOppage Of
few days than Staunton. The proverbial
hospitality of its inhabitants and its intelli-
gent and refined society present inducements
10 the divotee Of pleasure which are as diff
cult to be resisted as they are to be excelled.
Staunton is the seat of Justice of the county
Of Augusta, one of the largest, most populous
and Intelligent counties in tho State. 1t IS
nearly the geographical centre of the State,
and being the point through which the prin-
cipal turnpikes pass, it is during the sum-
mer months great thoroughtare. Its loca-
ton is bad, being sunk into u hollow, which
renders its aspect less attractive than 1t
would be, were its public buildings brought
more prominently into view. Tho interest
to the visiter is no little enhanced from the
fact, that here are located three valuable State
Institutions, viz: An Asylum for the cure and
support OF the Insane, an Institution for the
education of the Deaf and Dumb and one for
the Blind. The celebrity of the first, and
high promise entertained after the first years
experiment of the two last, reflect great cred
tupon the state, and upon those to whom
has been committed the important trust of
their superintendence.
"7Ae Westcrn asylum for the maintenance
and cure Of Insane persons" was established
by an act Of the Legislature of Virginia in
1925. similar one had been in existence
at Williamsburg since 1898. The act Of H.
25 gave $4,000 for the purchase Of grounds
and erecting buildings. This sum being in-
sufficient, $4,000 were appropriated in l6-
% to complete the buildings as then design
ed. In 1888 it was found necessary to en-
large the accommodations, and a provision of
$4,000 was made for this purpose, which
sum was the next year increased to $l4 900.
AS at present arranged the Asylum consists
Of one large centre building with two con-
nected wings, capable of accommodating a.
bout 80 patients, with rooms for The stewards
family, hospital stores, &C., and large sep
arate wing recently built, but not completed,
which is calculated to hold about 60 more.
There are connected with the Institution a
bout GO acres of land, which are variously
arranged for the comfort and amusement ofthe
patients, and the supply Of the culinary wants
of the establishment. The Asylum was
opened for the reception Of patients in July
1898. From this period to July 1896, 10
insane persons participated Of its benefits, Of
which number II We're cured, being about
IL per cent. From July 1886 to November
1889, 10 cases were admitted, 81 of whom
were cured, escaped or died during convai-
escence, making as per cent. who recovered
during this period. Ofthe 10 cases admit
ted between 1886 and 1889, all but 80 had
been afflicted for periods greater than IL
months before treatment, and of the 30 whose
attack had been recent, % were cured and
discharged, being SO per cent. In the year
1887, l6 patients were admitted whose in.
sanity had not been for longer period than
10 months. OF these, IL were discharged
completely restored, 9 were improving at the
date of the report, ! died of Typhus fever,
and but regarded as hopeless. BY refer
ence to the reports of similar Institutions in
our country, we find, that at the Mclean A
sylum at Charleston, Mass, justly regarded
as the best Institution in existence, the ratio
of cnres in recent cases is Sc per cent, while
but 50 per cent. are restored where the dis
ease has existed for more than 10 months.
In the Connecticut Retreat at Hartford 80 pei
cent Of recent, and 80 per cent. of Chronic
cases are cured.
The Report of the Physician Of the Yves,
tern Asylum for the years 1897 and 1885
shows that the ratio of deaths was as low as
els per cent. Comparing this result with the
Mclean Asylum for the same period, the IA.
ito is over 4 per cent, at the Connecticut Re.
treat per cent, at the Bloomingdale Insti-
tuition N. Y, per cent, at the Pennsylvania
Hospital IA per cent, and at Williamsburg a.
bout 10 per cent. OF the 81 persons who
were restored and discharged in 1887 and
1888, 25 were paupers; the expense to the
state for their maintenance in the Common
Jails, had been $247 each, while the average
charge TO the state at the Western Asylum is
$i47, being clear saving of 500 year fol-
each of these uniortunates.
From the above interesting facts which are
drawn from the different reports of the Court
of Directors and Physician, during the period
noticed, we deduce several important observa-
tons.
l. That these Institutions are in most
extraordinary degree answering the purposes
for which they were so happily intended. 1t
appears that under proper treatment from 80
to sc per cent. of all cases Of not longer dura-
ton than IL months, are CURED. Indeed so
great is the success in the treatment of the In
sane, that one, whose skill and experience
entite his opinion to much weight says, "H
as no,o most abundantiy demonstrated, hat with
appropriate medicaifreatmcnt, insanity yields,
I icW not say merely aciM as much, but more
readiness than ordinary Diseases
Q. That the earlier the application for med
zeal advice, the greater the prospect of recov-
cry. While the above gratifying result is
shown in recent cases, but from 80 to SO per
cent. are recovered when the period since the
attack exceeds twelve months. Where years
are permitted to elapse before proper restora-
tives are applied, the cases are rarely, ifever,
hopeful.
3. That the Institution at Stanton may
proudly compare with similar institutions of
this country. In 1886 the present intelligent
and skilful physician, DR.. FRANCIS r. STRIs-
LING, took charge of the Asylum, and from
that period the ratio Of cures is higher than
some Of the best Of the Northern Institutions,
and but a fraction lower than that OF the Nc
Lean Asylum. We also notice that here the
ratio Of deaths for the year reported is much
lower than at either Of the other Institutions.
This is attributable TO the saIubrious climate