Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1843-05-10


Two reports Of Asylums for the In &.
sanef 90 our table furnish pleasurable
evidence of the amcllorItion, in all res
poets, OF the treatment OF this uucortu
nate class. ri it DO cha rged on the
me ilc.d profession, that SD many Of its
members seem inclined TO regard crimi
nails as lnSIde, al thus SHELF them
from the infections OF law, il may, with
much more truth, BE- alleged, ia reply +,
that they have ceased 10 treat The in
sane as CRIMINALS, or, worse still, as
wild beasts, whom we were bound TO
cage and tame with stripes and slarya
lion A beuer philosophy OF mind has
taught US, IN 4 au exaggerated display
or morbid excitement aud Perver.iun Of
some one faculty, whether it be Of the
intellect or OF the prOpen sites or senti.
menls, DOES not exuuguIsh no- prevent,
though 1t may disturb, all the other IA.
-calties ct the mind, nor pGeveal uurnp
peallng TO them by the various incen
fives and motives opc alive in common
life. The insane, in large numbcrs.are
eheraLle to both the good and bad in
hnenccs oil Immunity. They may be
soolned by Kindness or wrought into
The widest paroXysms Of fury according
10 the treatment 10 which they are sub
Jectet. They will suffer from ennui if
unemployed, and be made happy for the
time by suitable amuSeme ntS, as readily
as those outside the walls and engaged
IN the customary pursuits Of life. Their
lncllnaiIous and tastes are rs diversified.
and require 10 be grarified or restrained
as readily as those OF the sane. We
can make appea's 10 their sense pro.
Prlety, and Of honour, and TO their reli.
glous senSibilities and duties, with often
adequate success. Can we then doubt
thai, IN :hc management of the insane.
the law of kindness should be the gov
erning principle, and the first and abb.
Ding conviction 10 be wrought in their
minds is, that all the persons by whom
their actions can be controlled have their
welfare at heart, and are willing to
afford them every reasonable gratifica
lion.
In Illustration Of oar meaning, and in
CONTRIBUTION Of the succe ss(ul workiu ps
ol the better modern system. We quote
.ircm the interesting report Of DIR Kirk.
bride, on the score Of the susceptibility
oil The insane 10 amuSements of an ele
Vaied intellectual character:
'During the last summer about seven.
ty Of our patients had The qualification
oil attending fine concert of voca) and
instrumental music, in the large hall oil
the centre building, which we founl we
could arrange admirably for such purpo
ses. While all were delighted with The
exercises, have the satisfaction TO saw
that their department could not have
been marked with greater propriety.
"tor this pleasant and rare entertain.
ment, We were Indebted To a portion OF
the band Of the 'Pennsylvania Institu.
ton Tor the Instruction Of the Blind.
and TO those who thus kindly volunteer
ed their services, and whose own afflic
tons prevented their seeing the elaI ia.
'ces oil their auditors, we al! tender our
sincere acknowledge ,nts.
at may be doubled, whether many
parties on the eve of Christmas and
New Year passed off more pleasantly
and merrIly, or with less that was ex
cePtloHable, than did those in this hos.
pital, IN which about sixty Of the ma.
tients participated. To the gentlemen
and ladies' who furnished, on both these
occasionS, the bodntirul supply OF re
fresh ments, ample for all in the house.
we would express our Oh legations.
lathe matron has had frequent parties
for various useful purposes, followed by
music and some simple entertainment.
These pa rites have been appreciated by
n large number, aud are generally look
cd forward to with interest by patients
of both sexes"
Equally impressibie are tho insane &c
the sober lessons Of religion and indeed
III this particular, they set an example
worthy Of imitation 10 many person,
who are considered free agents in the
world without. To say that their reli-
gious department is more creditable 10
humanity and common sense, and more
evincIVc Of true piety than rhaC of the
gangs OF MOrmonites, Millerites, ct id
sgeaHs OHlHe with which the country is
infested, would be no praise.
'On the Sabbath. says DR.. Kirkbride,
'"nany OF the inmates OF the knuse have
scORlIHUed to attend some Of the various
places Of worshIPin our viciIijy with
great regularity, and in the evening, a
very large proportion is present II the
reading OF the Scriptures in the large
rooms Of the hospital.
-fEntire Propriety ofconduct is nearly
always observed on these occasions or
the Importance aud Advantage Of the in.
sane paying aProper regard to religious
obserVances, under iudiciOUs regulations,