Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-01-21


kins
THE WESTERN LUNATIC ASYLUM
We have received from DR.. Robt F. Bald
win, Superintendent of the W. L. Asylum
his own report, and the report of tn
Board of Directors, for 1915. The tabu
lar statements, including two years lending
with September, 1875, show that Their
were % more patients in the Asylum a
the close of that period than at its com
mencement There were 1856 patients re
manning in the Asylum, Oct. '75-of whom
1913 were males, and 1853, females, and Of
that number 332 are put down as ''lncu
rable." There have been 26 deaths in the
Asylum in the two years-one by an acct
dent, in June ia female patient man.
aging to open the protecting blinds of he1
window and falling to the pavement dis.
tanct of twelve feet, causing her death.
There were two suicides-one a female
patient who hung herself to the head-rail
of her cot, by a strip torn from a bed
spread, and the other a convalescent male
patient, who went beyond the limits of his
parole. and hung himself in a secluded
part of the orchard. The fearful import
of impulsive insanity may be illustrated by
the following extract from the report Of
the Superintendent:
A male patient was admitted last spring,
with the evidence of this proclivity upon
his person. Special instructions are given
his attendant; he submits so quietly to dis
cipline, aud is apparently so rational, that
apprehension begins to Subside. One even
ing his supper is placed before him, and his
attendant steps into an adjoining room for
a moment, and is horror stricken when he
returns, to find his patient covered with
blood from a frightful cash across his
throat, inflicted with small fragment of
the looking-glass hanging upon the wall. 1
said to him, some days after, "my friend,
how long had your attendant left you?"
He replied, s'as soon as he left the door,
sprang to my feet, broke the glass, and in
ficted the injury, yielding to an impulse
that was resistless.'' This is impulsive in
sanity, or the impulses Of the insane, of
which we daily have more Oh less cause of
apprehension. We are informed by the
best authorities that the surest way to pre-
vent suicides is to keep your patient under
night, but under our system, this cannot
be done. We are compelled to rely, in a
great measure, upon the imposition of me-
chanical restraints, which, besides being
insufficient, are Objectionable as retarding
recovery.
The amount received in the year '74-5
was $74 ,4ss, and the expenditure, ST. Alb.
Mr.. Robt. G.. Stratton has been appointed
carpenter OF the Institution. Under the
supervision of Mr.. Jno. S. Hoshour IT'S, 900
bricks, of the finest quality have been made
in the Asylum grounds, at the moderate
outlay of $3.50 per thousand, conyalescent
patients being used in the work. Four
new boilers, made by VIM. E. Tanner & Co.,
of Richmond, have been added to the
steam department, at q cost of So ,240. Dur
ing the two years there have been admitted
from Augusta county, IA patients: Allie
ghany, 2; Bath 1; Rockbridge, 6; Rocking
ham, 8, and Page, 2. OF the new Superin-
tendent, the Directors say 'Dr. Baldwin has
modestly and worthily filled the position
made vacant by the death of the lamented
DR.. Stribling, and the Asylum. under his
administration, with the cooperation ofhis
able assistants, has been kept up, in every
department, to the high standard establish
ed by his distinguished predecessor"
MEETING OF THE STATE G oUNCIL OF
THE Sons OF JoNADAB.-The quarterly
meeting of the State Council, Sons of Jo-
nadab, took place on Wednesday last. at
the hall of Excelsior Council, in Staunton.
On the arrival of the delegates from
down. the Valley, Maj. J W. Newton,
the active promoter of the Tenn
perance cause, notwithstanding the
shocking weather, which would have dis
mayed anybody else, got his troops to-
gether, and, securing the services of Wild
mans band, received them at the depot.
The procession was two or three blocks
long, and included nice array Of little
children in regalia, known as the sJuven-
lie Tempiars," which was very pretty
feature, indeed. After marching around
several streets the delegates repaired to
Excelsior Hall, where business was pro-
ceeded with.
The officers of the Grand Council present
were DIR. W. J. Points, of Harrisonburg,
Past Grand Chief. Maj. J. W. Newton, of
Staunton, Grand Chief; J. D. Butcher, of
Bridgewater, Grand Patriarch; I'D. Price,
of Harrisonburg, Deputy Grand Chief; J.
K. Smith, o. Harrisonburg, Grand
Treasurer; r. O. Haines, of Staunton,
Grand Guide; J. W. G. NEWMAN, Out
side Watch, and E. M. Houston, Inside
Watch. The representatives present were
from Alpha Council, MOL, Harrisonburg,
Messrs. G. S. Christy, Philo Bradley, Geo.
o. Conrad and A. q. Roller; Excelsior No.
2 of Staunton, J. W. C. NEWMAN and John
Shomo; Vigilant No. 8 of Harrisonburg
B. w. Robinson and T. 81. Miller; Reso-
lutte No. of Brldgewater, j. D. Bucher
and W. Herring Lee No. 5. of McGaheys-
vile, Geo. Conrad and - Hodge. The
report of the Secretary showed that during
this quarter 60 members have been added
to the order and one new council, that at
McGaheysville. Arrangements were made
for funds to put the Grand Council on a
footing with Columbian Council. The
Council adjourned to meet at Bridgewater
on the Sd Wednesday in April. The band
of "Juyenlle Templars," of Staunton, who
paraded in the procession attracted gene1-
al attention. 1t is the only organization
of the kind in the State.
FESTIVAL OF ALL NATIONS. Nv
are happy to announce to the public who
are interested in the success of the Y. NJ
G. A in the establishment of a circulating
library for our city. that the entertain
ment projected for Christmas week and
then postponed, has not been given
up, but has been changed from ia