Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-04-02
course of treatment, to ascertain if perchance he

thew still think 50, and with much larger proper
ton of recent cases. 1t was proven DeIore the
committee that recent cases require much more ac-
five treatment and of course involve much more la
bor of the physicians, than those of long standing
This increase of labor may be reasonably expected
to be permanent since in an institution OF the ca
pacity of 42O capable of receiving cases as fast as
they arise the proportion Of recent cases must IN
crease constantly, while in an institution accom-
modating 200, new cases being excluded Tor want
of room, the proportion OF recent cases is con
stantly diminishing. Thus by the enlargement the
asvlum was to become much more essentially Gu
rafive establishment than ever before, and it was
reasonable to anticipate that the labor OF the ply
scians would on that account be increased much
more than in proportion to the increase of num-
bers. This too produceda necessity for more tall
ent, character and industry in the physician than
had existed before.
Guided by these considerations, the board Of dl-
rectors determined that such an increase OF labor
and responsibility would Justify the small addition
of 500 to the salary of the assistant While al
WAYS the advocates of rigid enonomy, using the
funds of the state even more sparlngly than they
would use their own, they considered it an act OF
mere Justice to allow to their officers fair COM
pensaton for their labor; they believed it the part
of enlightened economy to tempt the best talent
they could procure by just compensation, into their
institution, now SO enlarged, and in which active
and enlightened efforts to produce cures had be,
come so much more important to the patient and
to the state. They deemed the restoration OF
single individual to reason of more worth to the
cause of humanity than such increase OF salary
ten times told and therefore they hesltated not to
make it.
Although much the largest addition was made
to the salary of the superintendent, and much
greater popular clamor thereby excited, the dlrec
tors are prepared ro Justify that fact by arguments
vet mere striking and conclusive than those al
ready used in reference to the assistant physl-
clans.
They think the committee, from the brief oppor-
tunity afforded them TO inform themselves OF the
police and whole plan of government IN the instl-
tuition, did not appreciate the wider dlstnction
made by our regulations between the superlnten-
dent and the assistant physicians The supenn-
tendent is the head of the institution, subject only
to the supervision and bylaws of the court of d-
rectors. His post is one of heavy responsibility
and even of great personal danger, always lncrea,
sed in proportion to the increase OF patients, and
of the importance of the institution Ii the OBJECT
of the asylum was merely to restrain madmen, the
value and responsibility of such an office would
be comparatively nothing but in proportion as the
capactv and curative means of the institution are
enlarged, his responsibility and the necessity for
more talent learning, experience and humanity IN
that officer are increased. The committee in their
report seemed to have adopted the general error OF
supposing, that in adding to the capacity and num-
bers of the asylum, the labors OF the superinten,
dent and of the assistent physicians are increased
in an even ratio to each other. They miscall the
superintendent, designating him principal rhys,-
c,an the force of which term would confine his
duties to the medical department. This is great
mistake the presence of dozen assistant physl-
clans, in place of one to preside over any gwen
number of patients, would not diminish at all the
appropriate labors of the superintendent. Ihe
lack of a sufficient number of assistants might
throw upon him labors that do not appropriately
belong to him. and thereby hinder the performance
of his own duties.
His is the duty to superintend all the financial
operations Of the asylum to plan, order and dlrect
all the curative appliances oithe institution, moral
and physcal to superintend and direct the stew
ard and matron in the performance of their various
duties: to direct the assistant physicians IN their
administration of medicines and other means OF
cure to see the patients himself and watch the
progress of remedies to conduct personally an I'M
mense correspondence with all the anxious friends
ofthe patients He carries his life in his hands, and
wears it out in service. As the number OF durable
and hopeful cases increase, his labors and his dam
GERS are increased. In attempting cures ne must
expose his personals modern experience proves,
that cures must be effected, if at ALL not by the
use of bonds, but by the risks that flow from CIV
ing liberty, kindness and confidence
It follows from the foregoing observations, that
the actual labors of the superintendent are ncreas-
ed in the double ratio of the increase OF PATIENTS
and of the increased proportion ofrecent cases now
brought to the asylum; that his responsibility and
of ha
are greatly augmented; that as the scope for USE
funess of the asylum is doubled, the necessity tor
all those rare talents which 60 to make up the
character of superintendent, is doubled also; and
it is of the last importance, in fixing his salary to
place the state in position to claim tor that post
the most exalted ability.
Under these circumstances the board OF direc-
tors, in raising the salary of that officer to what
now is. were governed not only by sense ofJus-
tice, but by what they considered the dictates OF
enlightened economy. In looking to the similar
institutions of other States they found themselves
more than justified; for they believe no other in
stituton of sister state so enlarged as ours, can
be found, where the salary is not larger with per-
haps one exception If We have erred, then, it
was an error of the head, sanctioned by high au-
thority.
We have felt the more interest in laying this
subject and the reasons of our action plainly be.
fore the legislature, because of the recommends
ton of the committee that the salaries OF officers
should be fixed by law; We care not personally
to retain that power nor must the legislature un-
derstsnd Us as dictsting to them but we desire,
for the sake df our noble Institution, that should
the legislature here undertake to fix the salaries
of the officers, they should have the benefit OF all
the light that cah possibly be afforded to guide
their action. No member of the legisature-no
one of us-can say how soon it may please the
Great Ruler of events to visit our own dearest
friends or relatives with the terrible aiction which
that institution was designed to cure. How would
our anguish at the sad event be cumulated oy the
reflection that we had done aught 10 diminish by