Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1842-02-03

MAC, however riveted the disease, can in his wild
| est paroxy sms of phrenZy. be soothed and tran
lquilized. The detected and care-worn melan.
cholic can be cheered and enlivened. The dread
ful apprehrnsions and imaginary suilerings OF
the miserable hypochondriac, can be dispelled OF
suspended. The thoughts of the unhappy mono
maniac can be diverted from the topic of halu
cinatior, which had dethroned his reason, render.
ing him burihen to himself and drone in socie.
ty-and all, whatever the character or grade OF
their maady, can be rendered for time, at least
both useful and contentcd.
ut is tue that the rational mind can no longe,
doubt, that when an asylum is so limited in its
means of accommodation, as not to receive all OF
this class Of unfortunates who may require its
benevolent provisions, the recent insane should
be entitled to its apartments without contest
Yet II must cause deep regret that so cruel ne.
cessity should ever occur, as To deprive the indi
vidual, who is even beyond The hope of cure, from
those aids to con,fo,i and ,isefuioe>s which are
alone to be found in such insitutions-nor can
it be doubted that if the humane and Intelligent
members Of our Legislature could be made srnsi-
Bile, either by observation otherwise, Of the
happy consequences which result to all classes of
the Insane, FROM being admitted into the asylums,
now SO inadequate to the demands upon them
the day would not be distant when every one of
| this large class of human sufferers, i'm our Com
monwealth, would have an appropriate refuge in
the hour of his affection.
$40 illustrate the truth that even the hopeless
! ~ insane, can, by proper management, be render
ed both useful and happy, the following case is
selected from many of which this institution can
! proudly boast:
mo. IS has been insane about ten years, and
those who knew him best, having apprehended
danger from his being permitted to go at large,
lie was confined for some years TO the Jail Of
county, awaiting vacancy in this asylum lie
Is quite poor, and previous to his mental afilic-
ton, supported himself as common day laborer.
fie tanclrs himself mysterious being, who
came into the world, he knows not how, and from.
he knows not where, unless indeed he "dropped
from the Sun" OF this however, he is certain,
that he never had ''Father or Mother i'm the hesh'
THAT he was not conceived, neither was he
born" He believes himself possessed, il not of
the attribute Of ubiquty, at least of being i'm sew
eral places. very remote from each other, at one
and the same tlmc-and will relate to you with
much earneStness, the different occupations in
which he is constantly engaged at these various
locations. He holds Ircquen ut converse with his
"Father, the Spirit" who although invisible to
others, is distinctly seen and heard by him, and
renders tn him daily an account OF the product of
his multiplied labors, which amounts according TO
his estimate, to no inconsiderable sum. The Fa-
ther is entitled to one half his earnings the re-
mainder, numbering at this time, many millions,
is at future day To be at his disposal. n OF
wthstanding, however, the Immense trenHh Of
unncumJered tgiM mortality, he is one Of the
most industrious and useful men that have ever
seen, III the sphere tn which he belonged prior TO
his insanity. He regards neither weather or any
other obstacle, hut is constantly engaged in ne
cessary and protiiatin l:,ur. II Is only required
to intimate what you wish done, and he accom-
plishes it expeditiously and properly. lie is per-
mitted TO go alone, any where that business may
call, and Is often engaged In labor during the
whole day, remote from the building and cut Of
t,rtI, .iah
deed is confidence in him, that we have en-
trusted To his charge stock ofcatilc and hogs.
numbering almost forty head, the duty of feed
ing and otherwise taking care of which he per-
forms regularly and with scrupulous fidelity. In
stead therefor of being ill the common jail (rrom
whence he was brought to us,) in Il state of filth
and wretchednesS, at a cost to the commonwealth
OF almost two hundred and fifty dollars per an
mum, lie is here, genteei, orderly, industrious
individual, who is at all times cheerful and hap
Ply, and is over by his labor. saving annually
to the State, the sum which it would otherwise
require to hire and support laborer, to perform
more imperf,cly the duties discharged by
him.
''lt circumstances permitted, other instances
could be cited, of results equally gratifying; but
surely this case is sulhci, mt TO demonstrate be-
You'd the possibility of doubt, That however dis
ordered the intellect (short Of violent mania
the one hand and confirmed dcmentla on the 9TH
er,) and of whatever duration, the insane man is
still capable OF being rendered happy III himself
and useful to those around him"
! Table 7 shows the various forms Of insanity
| of the patcnts.-liana 57--melancholic variety
| 10, epleplc, 3, homocidal 2, suicidal 2-Mono-
mania l6, demenlia &c, idiocy ,, moral insanity
LIN making division necessarily so arbitrary,
| the Doctor remarks that he has endeavorei to
| dispose OF the various as to represent the
present condition of each patient, excep, indeed,
in regard to those who seem TO be laboring under
demenGa. ut sometimes happens ike says) that
| individuals appear for short time demented,
whose mental vigor is subsequently restored, and
| as this term is ordinarily used to designate
| that state of mental indifference which had been
Of long Standing, and is of all other diseases of
the mind most hopeless, we have preferred plac-
ing under this head all those whose condition
corresponded with the general understanding, ex
GLIDING Of course such as may have been only
for short tine in this state, ard ofwhose recov
cry we have not despdired."
Table cassGes the patients according to the
supposed cause of insani;y-15 of which are from
moral causes, 81 from physical, aud 81 unknown
Although there is no subject connected with in
sanity Of more interest than the causes from
which it proceeds, yet there is none in regard to
which there is more difficulty in arriving at the
truth-often as well from the ignorance or rc!uc.
lance of friends. from the fact that the inmates
were in many cases insane wanderers, arrested