Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1844-01-18
tFrom the Watchman of the South.)
IL L n A TIC ASYL MS.

f''P'' """' va "ea''iS 'leu'. the importance
OF early attention TO their malaty, and the
utility of good Asylums. We have for many
years, whenever il was in our power, visited
such institutions, read their reports, prosecu-
ted inquiries, and observed the effects Of diff
lerent kinds of treatment But as vet we have
never lelt competent to the task of cnIighten-
ing the public on such q subject We have
feared lest we might through ignorance COM
NIT some blunder, which would miSlead 9th
ers Last summer we hoped we had secured
a series of articles from an esteemed aa,. az,
ny way competent friend; but as vet his en-
gagcmenis have prevented him from execui-
ing his purpose. In the mean time i, is with
great pleasure we publish any thing which
may attract attention 10 the subject The
following well written article is from the pcn
oil one well known and much esteemed in Vir-
gina as gentleman, scholar and christian.
lie is a member of the Baptist Church, and
writes III the gratitude of one who feels him
self under many obligations TO merciirl
providence We hope his article will be ex-
tensiveiy copied throughout the State. Well
authenticated facts are worth volumes of alb
stract reasoning on such subject The com
muncaton is as follows:
| vi he system OF treatment pursued at pre-
sent IN institutions for the relief of the insane.
has deprived of half its tcrrors disease once
the most dreadful and hopeless of human ca
lamitleS But, many persons who live remote
from any such institution, and who are ignor-
ant OF the methods of treatment and The vari
Gus appliances which are used, not only 10
remove the specific disease, but TO promote
the general health and comfort of the patient.
are often prevented by prejudice from giving
their friends the benefit of such treatment I'M
I'll 1t is too late. When INSANITY is taken in
line, 1t admits of as certain and perhaps as
speedy cure as most other violen, diseases.
In the Western Asylum under the admirable
management and the kind and assiduous care
| oi lis superintendent, DR.. Slrbling the pro-
portion oil recent cases cured is from eighty
1--we to ninety per cent. But the chances of
recovery diminish in a very rapid ratio as
/ The curatlon OF the disease increases With
the view, therefore, of lmpressing on all the
Importance oil an early resort 10 The benefits
- s""n inn'it"'io''s when neCieT', and OF draw
ng the favorable regard of the public to that
which is located i'll Stanton, and which has
already filled many u heart with grateful re-
collections, the writer will relate the history
| oil case OF recent recovery, in which he was
deeply interested. The patient was a Young
married lady, who but few years ago, had
ieit The house oi her parents with the brightest
prospects OF happiness. Many of her relatives
thought not only that insanity was incurable.
out that 10 place her IN an asylum was TO
consigh her to perpetual Imprisonment among
| strangers. Hence every other means was re-
sorted 10 to afford her relief But the tender
and asslduous care of aflecuonate and sorrow
ing relatives, the cons,an. attendance of skill
.Iul physicians, change of scene and all other
means, were unayalng After the lapse of
nine months, the delusions which! had taken
possession of her mind, continued undated.
/ The same deep melancholy, the same indiner
ence to her dearest friends, the same strange
iaDcles, gave sad presage that the disease
would end only with lie Her friends fnal
! ~ consented to send her to the ASYLUM at
Stanton. Yet so great was the horror of her
mother at the idea, that it was thought atlvis-
able TO Keep her ignorant of the removal Of
her daughter, until it had been ACCOMPLISHED
1t was unprecedented, too that as the patient
| herself had always regarded the ASYLUM with
dread, hcr removal TO il might give her feelings
a shock which would lead 10 the most alarm
/ ing consequences And never will he, whose
painful duty 1t was to conduct her to the in
stitutlon, forget the agony of horror and APP
prehension with which she entered il. But
she was soon composed; she was placed in
| retirec ana comfortable room, With an anec-
Tomato attendant TO minister to her wants.
he efforts OF Dr. Striblng were unce:sing
to afford her pleasing occupation, TO amuse
I her NH md r
and hcathlul channel. In few DAYS she be-
gan TO ride out in the carriage OF The institu-
ton, and TO amuse herself by PLAYING the
cruces with her attendant. and in other WAYS
A!ier awhile she would employ herself in
needle work, and in the nurture of flowers.
which were carefully provided for her. Her
health gradually improved, her SYMPTOMS
began TO give way one by one. TIL at last.
after ne lapse Of five months, her mind burst
forth from all its decisions, like the sudden
opening 81 spring after long and t!rearv WIN
ter, and with perfect health and Geelng-rlpht
and exqulsltely fresh, she returned 10 all the
happiness oil new existence. She EXPRESSED
the lIveliest gratitude to the superintendent
and others. She regarded the ASYLUM not as
a prison but palace, and left it almost with
/ regret to return TO her gra,ifed friends. A
lew months longer delay would probably
have rendered her disease iucurable.and would
thus have made her life dreary blank, shut out
from all the sympathies of affection, and all
the blessings Of existence
"1'he writer Is in no way connected with
the Asylum, but has been prompted in what
he has written, by gratitude to its managers.
and the desire that others may reap its bene-
fits by an early resort to the remedies il aC-
lords. PHILANTHROPY"