The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-12-15
VIRGINIA STATE ASYLUsfs FOR
T7IE INSANE. 80 72Fs22 q
4BsTRAcTs or REPoRTs FoR TIE Fiscal
IEAR.

From the onn,lll reports Of the directors of
these institutions to the Governor the sub,
Joined interesting facts are derived:
TUE WESTERN LuSATIC ASYLUM.
In this institution, which is located at
Staunton. there were on the Goth of Septenl-
Der, 1869, 324 paticnts-maleS, 11G; females,
las. Since that time there have been admit
ted 1lT-macs, -; females, 10. The total
number cared for during the two years was
AL. of whom 2fS were males and l93 te-
males. OF these IS were discharged as reco-
ycred-inalcs 81. females %; as mitch I'M
proved. 9--lralcs ), females 4; as improved,
l-malcs [, females 3; as unimproycd,
males One man cloped, and there were II
dc.rtlls-nlaics -. females Q. On the "Oth OF
September, 1871, there rcnaiucd III the asy-
lum }42. Of whom 1SS were males ana lo4
| females.
The money expended In the original out
| lay and for perDlanent improvements at Tue
ASYLUM since its foundation in 1873 is thus
classified: Land, S,505.10 buildings, $780,
| 1T 80 covered ways, S5,G64.10; enclosures,
S20,Si2.2S; water works, sl9, 1884 steam
works. S21 ,3G9.S3; gas works, S4,999.9l.
Total, S216, ,3o2.4G. -.--------- .----...... .. F..
| In IS2S there were only fifteen patients,
and the amount expended for their support
was 5000; in 1913 there were supported
two hundred and six patients at cost Of
S33,219; in 1853, three hundred and eighty
one cost the state S5T,gI0.T7: in 1868, three
hundred and tlliIty-one cost the State SC0,-
1870; and in 1871 the same number cost
about the same amount. The figures given
show the average number Of patients IN the
years named.
The report of DR.. stribling concludes with
| the following recommendations:
Il respectfully suggest that your Board
usk an appropriation of 100000 Gn addition
to the small balance reported rs Oh hand, and
the amount which HAY reasonably be antici-
patcd from the board fund,) with which to
support the asylum during the fiscal year
| lSl1-'I2. The law prcscribes two modes for
admitting insane persons to the asylum. (Sec
Code Of Virginia. chapter So, sections II 10
II, inclusnc.) 1t is often found difficult TO
obtain three magistrates to convene in order
to commit patients under requirements Of
sections II, l3, and II. The delay operates
| in many cases to the serious hardship Of
| officers and dctrimcnt to the afflicted. Would
it not he well that the law be so modified as
to give to the judges Of the circuit, county,
and city courts concurrent jurisdiction with
magistrates in all matters pertaining to tho
examination, &C., of persons supposed to be
inSane."
The following are the present officers of
the asylum: DR.. Francis I. Striblin@, mcdi-
cal superintendent DR.. William Hamilton
and Dr.. +. \. Berkeley, assistant physicians !;
Samuel \. Hoshour, steward Mrs. Eliza J..
Tinslry, matron; john B. IIoge, treasurer |;
James II. Buckley, clerk.
EASTERN LuyATIC ASYLUM,
at Williamsburg, is olliccred rs follows: DR..
ID. Il. Brewer, superintendent and physician;
DR.. John Clopton, assistant physician John
{. TiiiDrd, treasurer: T.. N. Ice, steward ;
Miss VI. \. Wootton, ulatron !; I. ". Soutlall,
storrkccpcr; Jui:n l.. Mercer, clerk: Mrs.
Mary Williamson, teacher. SiGiiey Smith,
ESQ. of Williamsburg, Is president OF the
board Of directors.
Inc number ot patients remaining at the
date of last report October /. 1S10,) was two
hundred and nine GOO. Of whom nincty-six
(96) were males. and one hundred and thirteen
| ,ll3, We're females. Since that date tifty-3iX
800 have been admitted. thiriy-ivc(33j males
and twci,tv-one (2l) females; making the
whole number under treatment during the
year two hundred and siN'y-iivc (2G3l--one
hundred and tllirty-o nales. and one hum
lrctl and tllirty-iuur females. OF these were
discharged the fuiioWiu" :RcCoECrcd, twenty
six (2Gl--Scrcitccn lTl males. nine (1 1c-
males: Improved, two (2) females; stationary,
two (2} males; died, twcuty-i0ur (24}---fo1Ir-
teen males, ten females. Remaining st this
! date, ninciy-cigllt males, and one hundred
and thirteen females; making in all two hum
,lred and eleven patients. The daily average
during the yc;lI was two hundred and t4lr-
teen.
The number of recorcrics equals 46.j per
centun OF the number admitted during the
year. The number Of deaths equals nine
per centum Of the whole number treated
| The ages at which the patients died were
respectively 80, A., IS, 4G, 2G, 23, 81, GO,
-, ~, 50, Do 80, 4G AZ, a., 10, 40, 50, 49, %:
II. 4j, Ii. Thus the average age would be
1913. All Of these deaths occurred from
diseases considered inculablc with but two
exceptions.
Dir. Brauer says the cost Of feeding pa
ticnt yelv in the Western Asylum is SSO.23.
The cost of feeding patient here for the
same time is SI9.GG-a difference OF SLIT In
favor of this asylum.
| The expenditures Of this asylum for the
| fiscal year 1870 were as follows: On account
of general support, $l6, 16T.07; on account OF
Transportation, 50, I55.19; on account Of re-
pairs and improvements, 81, ,l21.SS: on ac-
count of debt contracted before the war,
$2.5S5.9S. Total, $H5,G30.52. ri. .@
| Expenditures of the Western Asylum for
the same year was rs follows: On account
of general support, S64, 1892 on account
of transportation, s2,175.02: ca account OF
repairs and improvements, 3,7G9.n4. Total,
| $10,GS3.SS. ---.- -.---
From the report of the Board Of Directors
we make the following extracts:
"It will be observed that the expenses
have been S5,542.30 less than those of last
year. The $30, 900 specially appropriated by
the last General Assembly to enlarge the
asylum have been, in accordance with the
act, exclusively devoted to that purpose !;
and, with the additional amount of 5000
which we were enabled to save from the
annual appropriations there will be conf
pleted by the 1st Of january mex two large
thrce-story brick buildings, beautifully To-
Gated, and arranged upon the best improved
style, aud so to enlarge and improve some OF
the old buildings rs to give increased accom-
moGlations to sixty-ive more patients. We
look forward with no small degree OF plea
sure TO the prompt completion Of these build
ings. when there will be more room to ac-
commodate comfortably mally Of the unfor-
tunate insane Of the State now lying in i'll
hosDitable iails, or upon their friends, with
out adequate means Of caring for them. ..
"ln this connection we take occasion to
say that we unite cordially with the supeliu.
tcndcnt in his appeal to the Genera! Assem-
| bly, for special appropriation Of $1,000 to
enlarge still further this asylum. With that
amount, we believe its capacity can be IN
| creased so as to accommodate all the white
lunatics of the State now unproYlded for.
We also unite with the superintendent IN
asking for an appropriation Of $40, 900 to pur-
chase heating and VcntiIating apparatus"