The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-11-13
Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.

had to omit in my letter Yesterday much
ot interest about the Eastern Lunatc Asv
tun and their centennial celebration. and
now shall be compelled to give briefly what
would afford interesting details.
The polite superintendent kindly showed
your correspondent everything about the
asylum, and | was more than pleased with
The admirable arrangements for the security
comfort, and cure Of the patients, and the
evident ability and skill Of the whole man.
agcmcnt.
The kitchen is provided with ranges. ro-
tarv roastcr, boilers worked by steam. and
all other modern appliances of the most i'm
proved pattern. The new building is mo.
del OF combined taste, convenience, and
adaptation TO its special purpose. and most
important changes and improvements have
been made i'll the old buildings. The new
steam heating apparatus Is complete sue
cesS-thc steam being conveyed rs far as nine
hundred yards. and the radiators at even that
distance working admirably. The water
works and gas-works seem models of their
kind, and the ventilation (by a new and Pc
culiar method) perfect. / went through
every ward, saw even the worse patients.
and WAS surprised and delighted ut the per-
feet neatncSs and comfort of the rooms, the
control over the patients which the kind and
careful nurses seem TO have, and the arrange
mcntS for interesting, amusing, and instruct
ing the patients, such as the regular religious
services III the beautiful new chapel, music
on various instruments, q good library, and
considerably over one hundred newspapers
and magazines, games of various kinds, fancy
work, The carpenter and other workshops,
the scwing-rooms, laundry, sc.
The farm aud garden, the pleasure
grounds, and indeed the whole premises, have
been very greatly improved, and in pleasant
weather afford the patients an abundance Of
fresh air and hcalthtul exercise. I was very
much interested in tho stcam-enginc. which
turns corn-mill, drives a number of WASH
inS-machines, and does other useful work !;
the stcam-pnmps, which pump up Il supply
Of water for the whole premises; the i'm
mcuse boilers (of Richmond make, which
generate steam for the heating apparatus
the kitchen, &c, and hot water for all needed
purposes and the gas-house, which stands
on the site of the old "ducking" apparatus
which WAS used in the early days Of tue asy-
lum to "souse" the patients, according 10
the practice then in vogue.
was told by those who knew land were
diintereSted wituesses) that the improve.
ments of the grounds and premises general
II within the past year have been marvel
lolls, and display the highest executive skill
in the management Of this institution.
But promised m account of the dinner
given by the superintendent to the Cover
nor. the Board of Directors, and Il select
company of invited guests yesterday after
noon.
The table was loaded with all of the luxu-
al. % ,,,.n
both the James and the York being laid ull-
der contribution for their choicest fish. oy>-
tiers. and wild ducks, served up in elegant
STYLE,
Among the guests who sat at the board
we noticed Governor Walker, Colonel
Thomas Owens, Rev. Dr.. q. Il. Wilmer, DR.
K. NJ. Garrett, Rev. \. NJ. Hall, DR.. Robert
Power, DR.. Charles Nichols of Washington,
John Mumtord. DR.. j. d. Turner, DR.. }. :
lev, Dr.. John Dove OF Richmond, DR.. K.
\. Wise. Colonel Ewell, and others.
Atter doing the fullest justice to the vland>
the regular toastS were read and responded
to Is follows:
/. Trg,nia--The grand old Common
| wealth that, in the abundance of her charity
made the first public provision for the main
tenance AID care of the unfortunate insane
MAY she always watch over and nourist
them with her maternal protection, and bt
ever ready and willing in the future to sup
ply in ms liberal manner everything necessary
for their successful treatment and general
comfort as she has been during the admins
traliou of her present Executive.
In response TO loud calls Governor Walker
o,,f
an appropriate ailu>ion to the occasion, said
that one ot the pr0udcst acts OF his official
life was to approve by his presence this cele
bration in honor Of the founding Of this III
>titution by our fathers one hundred years
ago.
When within sixty days he should retire
again to private life, and review from its
quiet shades his administration of the affairs OIL
the State, he would point with peculiar pride
to this institution and its admirable manage
ment; but there were those here who had ma.
tional regulations as adopts in this branch OF
the healing art, and he wanted TO hear from
them.
>. The american Association Of Supertn-
tendentS of Insane ASytumS.-Ihat noble
organization that originated III the walls OF
our sister asylum, that through Its enllght-
ened counsel has so much elevated pupllc
sentiment in behalf of the insane. May II
long continue its great and glorious work
may its able president eclipse in successful
management those who have Ill former
times SO admirably conducted its dellbera'
tons.
DR.. Charles Nichols, president of the AS
ISOLATION, made an appropriate response, IN
which he returned warm thanks Tor the
cordial reception he had received, spoke OF
the objects Of the Association, and pald a
graceful tribute to Or. FL. Stribling,who lad
won reputation even before the speaker
yraduatcd-whose high character and Skill
was well known outside OF Virginia anu
outside OF the profession, and whose name
he heard mentioned and praised more often,
perhaps, than any living Virginian..
He bore testimony to the great improve.
mcnts made in this asylum under its present
management, and concluded by saying face
tiouslv that as he held commission under
the present Executive of the United States
he would initiate his example IN the ten9W
OF his speech.
3. The Virginia State Medical Socfiy--
That organization of self-sacriticlDg phySl'
clans, yet in its infancy, that bids fair to be
of eminent service to the profession ut large,
Nav its career be long and prosperous, and
may it guard with its protecting arm those
noble charities of the State organized in be-
half of the insane.
DR.. l.. S. Edwards made facetious and
appropriate reply.
j. the Western Lunatic Asylum-Of its
successful management and worldwide
reputation the State may well be proud
Nav its distinguished superintendent long
be spared to labor in the work of its admin
istration, for which he is so cminently quail
fed.