Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1848-11-08
WESTERN ASYLUM.
question.

The annual report Of the Superintendent Of this
Institution, which has just been presented 10 the
Court OF Directors, we are happy to see represents
lis operations and condition. during the past year,
as emlnenlly successful and prosperous In no 81
mllar period have its benefits been dispensed to SO
large number Of the Insane, or with more graft
tying results; and in none has the general health
OF the Institution been better. The number of pa
tents on the 3ls, Sept, lS47, was two hundred
and seven-of whom one hundred and twenty.one
were males, and eighty six were felnales-Admit-
ted since, seventy-thirty- nine males and thirty
one females ;-making the whole number for the
year, two hundred and seventy seven. or these.
iorty-n have been discharged, forty of whom had
recovered, three much improved, four improved,
TWO unImproved, and one eloped and twenty. two
died. The prospect for recovery, of those remain
ing,ls stated to befavorable doubtful Is, deci-
dedly unfavorable l7S
Dr. SrRisLiNG again urges upon friends of the
insane the great Importance of placing them in an
Asylum at an early stage Of their disease He saws:
Although it may be thought by some unneces-
sary 10 repeat what has been SO often urged in pre-
v'ouS reports, we consider it duty once more to
invoke public attention to the importance of sendinu
IL
ter the malady shall have assumed decided cha
racter. he experience of each successive day is
out loo forclby eXempfying that the disease to be
removed must be judicously assailed before the
mind becomes Infatuated to lis morbid action and
10 'hose whose opportunity for observation is limit
90, II Is incredible how short period is required
lot The habit TO become mmovably fixed i'm mind
whose faculties are deranged. That kindness
winch prompts the aectionate relative or friend to
re'aln the insane individual, amid the scenes and
associations, where the maady originated and with
some OF which II may be connected in the relation
Vi eiiect 10 cause, Is most mistaken and too often
results dsastrously to those whom il is DESIGNED to
benefit Conducted as Asylums are At the present
day, II may be safely affirmed, that there are but
IL" MONIES, however opulent the proprietors which
can ooaSt more OF the needed comforts (althouph
'hey may and many doubtless do i'm the luxuries
ahu elegances of ife,) whilst in every requisite
which Is to bear materially upon the recovery Of
the patient, none will deny that such Institutions
properly conducted, possess advantages no where
else 10 be met with. In order to enforce the i'm
poTtance OF this topic, as well establish the cor
rectesS OF some OF assertions we refer to tables
accompanying this report, from which will be learn
ed the great dlSProportion of recoveres which have
'akeh place here between those who came to us
whist Inc disease was comparatively recent, and
those whose insanity has existed more than twelve
nonihs prior to their admission. We NAV simply
auo' that the results, as therein exhibited conform
IN remarkable degree, TO those reported from ma
ny other Institutions in this country and in Europe"
DIR. 5. admonishes friends of patients AGAINST
practising deception conceament in bringing
them to the Asylum. The effect is often mos, un
happy upon tho unfortunates themselves, and is
productive of much trouble to the officers Of the In
stltutlon Deceived by those in whom they might
most reasonably confide, they cannot be otherwise
tn IN dlsrustfu and suspicious of strangers and thus
they are rendered inaccessible TO those influences
which are so necessary for their comfort and resto-
ration.
The additional buildings authorized by the last
Legislature are under contract and will be compile
ted by the 18th Of November, 1S49.-The Ins,itu-
ton will then accommodate, conveniently and COM
iortably, more than four hundred patients.
Religious services, we are gratified to find, are
kept up with great regularity on the Sabbath, at
the Institution, by the Rev b. M. SMITH and the
Rev. L. Il. CAsTLEMAN, who officiate alternately
and are much priced by the patients The services
or these gentlemen, which are rendered pratuitous
ly, are acknowledged, in grateful TERMS by the Su
perintendent.