The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1868-06-17
The Meeting Of Hospital Superintendent.

The Meeting OF Hospital ShPeTlntehuehtS.
The following from the Boston Journal
Of the 9th inst, in regard 70 the proceedings
of the Association will, doubtless, be Of in
terest to our readers at home ABROAD:
"The meetings which have been held in
this city this week by the Association Of Med
ical Superintendent Of American Hospitals
for the Insane have been very interesting and
Seventeen States were represen-
ted by thirty two delegates, and the meeting
was the largest one eyer held by the Assocla-
ton. i has been meeting Of especial
interest to the Association itself, inasmuch
as several of the Southern Superintendent
were present for the first time in several years,
and the sessions have been important to the
general public, from the nature Of the discus
sions that have taken place. The time OF
the business sessions has been largely devo-
ted to the discussion Of a project Of general
law for letermipipg the legal relations Of the
insane.
The members Of the Association who have
been in our city this week are men who have
a wide reputation for thcir attainments in
their speciality, and the interests Of the IN
sane people in this country have had no tru-
er and more faithful friends than Drs. Kir-
bride and Ray of Philadelphia, DR.. Strib-
ling of Virginia, DR.. Nichols Of Washing
ton, Dr. Chipley Of Kentucky, and pFs. Earle
and Tyler Of our own State. These are the
oldsr and more prominent members OF the
Association who have been present.
Among the topics which came up for dis
cussion was the interesting one in regard to
shc responsibility of partially insane persons
for criminal acts.
Dr.. Choate Of Taunton thought that insane
persons should not be made responsible for
criminal acts but the President, DR.. Kirk
bride Of Philadelphia, DR.. Walker Of South
Boston. DR.. Earle Of Northampton, and DR..
stsibling of Virginia opposed SO sweeping
provision, onsthe ground that many pafsans
who are insane in some particular direction
are perfectly awsrs Of the distinctions be.
tween right and wrong, and should be. held
responsible for crimes committed. The knowl'
edge among insane or partially insane
persons that their insanity absolves them
from legal responsibility for their conduct and
acts would, in the opinion Of these gentle
men, tend to greatly increase ACTS Of violence
on the part Of inmates Of hospitals and Others
under the general shield of their admitted
insanity. This vieR Of the case vas gener
ally accepted, and was inaorsea almost pnani
mously by the Association. =.
A committee, to whom the matter had been
referred reported memorial, to be presented
to Congress, praying for the relief Of th'
Medical Superintendent Of Hospitals anc
Asylums for tho Insane in the lately rebelli
GUS States from all political disabilities inter
fering with the proper discharge Of their du
ties. The memorial was adopted, and vii
be signed by the members Of the Association
and presented to Congress by committee o
FIVE, including the President of the Assoeia
ton.
DIR. stribling Of Virginia, one Of the arlgl
nal founders of the Association and presen
at the meeting this year for the first time TO
| . rrmh.r of wears smoke very feelingly ant
gratefully of this action Of the Association
toward himself and other Superintendent.
The Association voted to meet in Staunton
Va, on the third Tuesday in June next year
and after adopting resolutions of thanks t
all whose efforts and attentions had contribu
ted to the interest and pleasure Of the meet
ings and excursions Of the week, the Associ
alton adjourned until june 1869.
"FoRaEr."- is the word used BY ev