Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-06-22
Convention of superintendents of Insane

ing commenced on the 18th and continued till
the 18th.
The following Superintendents and Physi-
clans were present:
Thos. s. Kirkbride, Pa. Hospital! for the In
sane, Philadelphia.
W. P Jones, Tenn Hospital for the Insane,
Nashville, Tennessee.
D. r. Brewer, Z. L. Asylum, Williamsburg,
Va
Jno. P Gray, N. Y. State L. Asylum, Uti-
ca, n Y.
Jno. S. Butler, Retreat for the Insane, Hart
ford Connecticut.
Jno. L. Tyler, Mclean Asylum. Somerve,
Mass.
Clement A. Walker, Boston L. Asylum, Bos-
ton, Mass
Isaac Ray, Philadelphia.
r. Hills, W. Va Hospital for Insane, Wes-
ton, w. Va.
Edward R. Chain, Kings county L. Asy-
lum, Flatbush, L. l.
Abram NJ Shew, Gen. Hospital for Insane
Middletown, Connecticut.
A. B. Cabaness, Miss State L. Asylum,
Jackson, Miss.
B. Graham, Texas i. Asylum, Austin City.
f. T. Fuller, Asst Physician, N. C. Insa ne
Asylum, Raleigh.
Jas. Rodman, W. l.. Asylum Eopkinsyille,
Kty
Joseph Workman, Provincial L. Asylum
Ontario, Toronto.
Francis 7. Stribling, W. L. Asylum, Staun-
ton, Va.
Jno. Curwen, Pa. L. Hospital, Harrisburg
c. Fl. Hughes, Mo. State L. Asylum, Full
ton, Missouri.
D. Tilden Brown, Bloomingda!e Asylum, n
Y City.
Henry Landon, Amherstburg, Maiden Asy-
lum, Ontario
Alex. S. McDill, Wisconsin State Hospital,
Moderson, Wis.
Edward Meade, Cincinnati Ohio-former
member
Chas II. Nichols, Gov. Hospital for Insane,
Washington City.
Jno Moore President Board of Directors of
the E. L. Asylum, Va.
Robt Reyburn, Special Delegate from Amer
lean Medical Association.
--- Jarvis, Massachusetts.
DR.. Kirkbride, Of Philadelphia, President,
and DR.. Curwen, of Harrisburg, acted as Secre-
tary On the first day DR.. Curwen read re-
port upon the treatment Of the insane in private
institutions, in which he took occasion to express
his contempt for certain legislatures in passing
rules and regulations for the government and
treatment of maladies of which they we're total
ly ignorant.
DIR. Ray presented an important paper on the
law Of insanity in which were described several
recent judicial decisions showing most crafty
ing progress In the right direction. The de-
cision of the Chief Justice Of New Hampshire
in recent criminal case was regarded as en-
bodying really correct law in respect to insanity
as an excuse for crime. All questions of insanity,
inc Guiding tests and definitions, are questions of
fact to be determined by the jury, and the duty
of the Court is not confined to the simple In
struction that if they find The prisoner to have
been insane when he committed the act, and
that the act was the offspring Of such disease,
they must aceuit him On the ground of insanity.
After an amusing discussion about the treat
ment of the insane in Massachusetts, by ducklng
and confinement in high pressure compressed
water tanks enc hundred years ago, the scientific
conversation was adjourned till nine O'Clock
Wednesday morning.
On Wednesday resolution by Dr. Graham,
of Texas. favoring judicious system Of religious
worship in insane asylums, produced an animal
| ed and general discussion, particularly as to the
kind of religion and the manner Of its preach,
ing, it being held by DIR. Landon that exciting
sermons would tend to increase the malady of
the patients. Resolutions were adopted favoring
regular religious service in hospitals, the choice
of and authority over chaplains to be vested in
superintendent.
A paper by DIR. Work. man, Of Toronto, on
the phases of insanity in females and perversions
of mind occasoned by disorders Of the system,
was debated at length, as was also DR.. Ray S
report of the day before.
Ga Thursday, by invitation CT Mr. Abram
Mohler, the members paid visit to Weyer S
Cave.
On Friday morning, DR.. Ray read paper On
the abnormal condition of mind occurring in
cases of fever, acute inflammation, parays is,
&C., where the patients, apparently perfectly
sane, declare afterwards that they dc not re-
collect what they did. The paper, after dis
cussion by nearly all the members was ordered
to be printed.
The following resolutions Of thanks were "a
dopted:
The Association of Medical Superintendents
of American Institutions for the Insane, now
about to close its 23rd Annual Session, at
courtesy and hospitality that have attended
their soourn here,
Resolve, That our thanks are due:
To the Managers of the Western Lunatic
Asylum for the opportunity of examining, at our
leisure, the arrangements and management OF
this old Institution. We are grateful to find
SO many appliances for the comfort and enjoy
ment OF the insane, and such abundant evil
dence that humanity and hberalIty character
lze the administration, as shown not only in
the beautiful grounds and ample airing courts,
bat in many unobtrusive, internal comforts which
transform the Asylum into Home. We rec
ognize in it all the hand Of the experienced,
intelligent, conscientious and devoted Medical
| Superintendent, Dr. Francis T. Stribling. A
service Of more than one entire generation has
| not dlmmid his vision nor abated his ardOr.-
We congratulate the Managers Of the Asy um,
and the people Of this old Commonwealth upon
their singular good fortune in having, for SO
long a period, enjoyed the benefits of his la
bors. May he be longer spared to devote his
matured experience and ripened judgment,
with Christian fidelity, to the best interests of
| the Insane, and to the honor of the Old Do
mnion.
To the Managers and Teachers of the Asy-
lum for the Deaf, Dumb and Blind for the vel
come privilege of witnessing the exercises of
the pupils in the various Departmental ex-
hibition Of rare interest and excellence, and al
so for their abundant and elegant hospitality.
10 Mr.. Abram Mohler. Proprietor, Of Wey-
er S Cave, for the opportunity Of seeing that
great natural curiosity under the most favora-
bic circumstances. We are indebted to him
for day of relaxation and enjoyment, the like
of which most Of US have never before expe-
rienced, and which we shall long remember with
peculiar pleasure.
To Messrs Peytons & Co., Proprietors of
the White Sulphur Springs, for an invitation
to visit that attractive watering place, and pass
few days there, as their guests--an invita-
ton which we find it hard to decline, but which
we regret we cannot accept consistently with
the full execution of the purpose which has