Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-12-15
&C., &C., sc.

We nave received the annual report of
DR.. Robert F. Baldwin, Physician and Su-
perintendent of the W. L. Asylum, for the
past year, ending Sept. 30th. There were
in the Asylum at the commencement of
the year 356 patients and during it there
were 81 admitted and 65 removed leaving
1858 at it's close, showing a larger number
of patients receiving the benefits Of this
State charity than at any time in the last
thirteen years. Of those removed 81 were
discharged recovered, 7 discharged i'm
proved, 2 discharged ~unimproved and 10
by death. The per centage of ~1ecoveries
to admissions was over So per cent.
DISEASES.
The mortuary list shows nineteen deaths
of which four were persons who had resided
in the Asylum for thirty years and upwards
and two others for more than ten years.
T%wo-thirds of all the deaths were caused
by incurable organic changes. There were
five cases of typhoid fever Of which four
were aged Ind enfeebled persons and were
fatal. The fifth was q healthy young man
who had exhibited suicidal propensities.
When first attacked by fever he ceased his
direct attempts ut self destruction, but
would take no nourishment as "God told
him not to eat" When his physical
strength had completely returned by re-
covery, his impulse to commit suicide re-
turned with it IN full force. No suicides
occurred in the institution during the
year, though two patients were discovered
in the very act.
REJECTED APPLICATIONS.
One hundred and ffty-ive applications
for admission were rejected during the
year, of which 118 were made for
the first time and on looking into the his
tory Of these he Superintendent finds that
a large majority were permitted to remain
at home until the durable stage had passed
and they now swell the list of iucurables.
He takes the opportunity to urge that
when persons are attacked by insanity,
they should not be kept at home, through
false shame, instead Of being sent at once
to an Institution prepared for them. OF
those discharged from the W. L.. Asylum
during the year 25 cases had. been there
from l to 8 months, 8 from 5 to u months
and only three had been there II months.
Of the present mental status of the patti
ents in the Asylum, the Superintendent
puts down II as having favorable chances
for recovery, IA as being doubtful and 333
as u%nfavorable, He says that one-tenth
Of the present patients belong to a class
whose habits justify them being placed in
private houses, which he rather favors,
the proper legal protection being thrown
around them, and asylums being used for
patients who need attention.
In this year there have been five elope-
ments OF which tWo'are 0 absent. Two
attendants have been discharged for de-
reelection duty.
THE COST OF II INSTITUTION.
The financial report of the Asylum for
the year shows that it received $50, 900
from the State. Sic, 565. 66 for board of pa
tients, 81, 609.44 from other sources and
had a balance Oct. /. rs, of $3,O74. 81
making d total Of SIS ,249.7 II of which $64,-
411.76 was spent, leaving a balance of $10,,
83S.01 on hand Oct. l, rs. Of the expen-
diture 25,150.S3 wa for provisions, So
al. &c for salaries, 81 $50 for wages, fuel
$4,410, improvements and repairs $2,417,
transportation Of patients 1882, &C., &c.
The amount Of claims for board returned
to the Asylum unsettled for the fiscal
year was SIG. 299. Is.