Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1843-04-21
IYssisra Lussiie Ayism.

Hesfsra L1Aafic AsslaH-
Other pressing engagements have hitherto prevented
from norcng the very interesting Report of this Institution
by the Superintendent DR.. Francis +. StTibng-one OF
the accomplished in the State and who has per.
formed the ariuous and painful duties ct his post with
such zeal aud assiduitythai his health, panied
hear, has suffered severely from the abOur
In the Report before US there subject Sdver,cd
of great interest all who feel socude io any
naey deprived Of g. the importance OF sending
the insane the Asylum early day possibe-and
before the disease has taken such that be
dicatcd On this point do better than copy
the remarks OF Dr. Suibing, and commend them the
attention OF the public.
Importance Of sendng the Insane earlv 10 an Asylu.
In report made several years since, endcavorcd
some length 10 impress upon public attention the absolute
importance o separating the insane the earliest practical
bic PERIOD from home aud friends and placing them under
the discipline and management OF well regulated asylum;
and affords ordinary degree OF pleasure toknow that
many OF those who have been restored in this
institution since that time, brought here solely
sequence OF the views then presented finding their into
the family circles where this unwecomc maady had ntru.
ded and vi whom would otherwise have proba-
bly, remained insane during long aud drcary life.
There is st. however, lamcntabc degree Of ignorance
or indifference this subject, prevailing throughout the
Commonwealth, and producing annually such effects the
phi.auihropS only contemplate with feelings OF the
most painful character. How common 1t j., the
present day. notwithstanding the lights o and
peucnec have combined To expose the DANGER not TO
cruelty Of such for the friends ct the insane,
either prompted 10y sicky dcicacy, from motives of
mistaken economy. dCtan them home with truics e
forts in their behalf aud last when the disease
has, from its duration from malpractice, become
hrmcd, then send them Asylum scarcely INDUCING
hope that they will be cured but chiefly tina; they may
be taken of during the remainder OF helpless exist
ence We must again appeal, with earnestncss, To
IN behalf OF their unfortunate relatives, and
entrea them by every consideration whether Of wisdom
humanity christian feeling, economy be influenced
by reason, when powerfully sustained by facts and
bindly obstnatey perscvcre course which must
as'en upon their friends the most painful mnlady
which aiiicts race.
Home, with Its associations, is Of all other places the
Objectionable a residence the insane. IL here
that the mind first yields ianelcd impressions, and be-
comes tortured with images Of its Here, too
the feelings of the parent child and spouse first become
perverted, causing family lose ties the domestic circle
It's cndeamcnts, aud friends their kind and soothing nf.
Here, also, the passions become morbdly mpca-
ted suspicion takes the place ct confdng jealousy OF
love- aud prejudice Suppants all natural affection. lie dis
cards the kind offices OF his relatives and friends, when he
most needs thcm rebels against whatever restraint they
deem necessary To impose, and becomes cxaspcraed
request, command remonstrancc, from such, when
would have been willingly complied with quietly acqui.
ecod m had II proceeded from thus intimate
ly connected
Another objection retaining the insane home. re.
suits from the inadcquacy OF there provided his
relief Few physicians, however skiliu experienced,
give that attention, which such invariably require
and when often happens the disease only be
come by long continued perseverance, the
dies, rarely that the practitioner and friends do
alike become weared discouraged and unfortunately
desist too soon from further attempts the mnady
It's to he feared that many decline sending their insane
relatives to Asylum, IN consequence of their gno-
rance misappreh nsons, IN regard the character
such Institutions, whilst Others deferred by dread, Of
nearing the prejudice Of such relative should he
his reason, aud again the domestic circle
In order 10 remove the first point OF difficulty surely
o1y required that they visit these Institutions person. or
cNamaC the Annual Reports which issue regularly there.
from 10 become convinced that nowhere (humc eNcep-
ted could greater sympathy kindness aud attention be be-
slowed upon those who 50 much need these soothing app
and regards the apprChcEded effects upon the
feelings OF the patient, beg be believed, when de.
clare tina, although OF those who have been
mates ui this Asylum belonged the intelligent re-
fined and wealthy circles of society, and forced here
defiance OF the violent opposition and resistance on
their parts yet some OF these who still with express
no regret with more apparent sincerity than that they had
not although formerly much opposed been brought at
much whilst those who have been fortunate
to recover and again their friends have with
single exception left protesting the heartfelt gru.
ud TO all concerned for the which had been adop
ted.
LII impossible, that any who will undertake to COM
the results of treating the insane elsewhere with those
at Asylunis, for moment hesitate what course
this respect the interests of the patient peravey re-
que. We make the assertion, believing be correct
that Of the large number who detained home, and
subject tn the routine of Practice universal throughout the
Commonwealth, Onetenth their reason whilst
the result is precisely reversed regard those who
placed at an carly period their disease IN the Asums. In
this Institution OF all who have entered during the last
years, within IL months OF the date their malady
have been cured and discharged and only one
tenth remain hopelessy insane. Nor this success pecu
liar Asylum, but corresponds merely with that in
well conducted establishment throughout the Union
The difference, Also in pecunary point OF view, will be
clearly seen on reference TO the 9th table OF this Report
which exhibits the fact that the average Of treating and
curing those who when the disease was recent
has been only hundred and dollars whilst that Of
supporting and treating HHsHeeesStuLy each chronic
therein cited, has been tro thousand ire hundred and
tioenfy dollars!
In view, then, of such facts may well be asked
how those claiming be rational and humane citizens
inc serious injustice upon this class of unfortunatcs
kecpthem home moment longer thanit found
practicable them an Ayslum' And If So IRA.
tona and cuela persisted n after these
shall have been fully made known, will be evident
that the recovery the patient has been deliberately aud
wanony sacrificed 10y those who could they rould have
ayered so unhappy fatel