The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-12-12

4 f3~>--SN
GI pounds, and ultimately recovered at home
during furlough of two months.
There have been II deaths, which is 1853 per
cent. OF the number under treatment. This
below the annual average of s .43 per cent,
and lower death rate, perhaps, than
will ever be recorded again, judging from the
character Of last years admissions, and from
that of many others that may be expected
during the present year, there being many
old and inirm persons among the applicants,
and no discrimination being made in filling
the new building. Among the deaths were
those of five persons who had been insane
for periods ranging from 10 to IS years.
A case of suicide occurred at the patieut's
home, OF which the Superintendent gives the
following circumstances ut was case OF
puerperal mania, of four months duration
at the time of admission, and exhibiting
homicidal propensities. The patient arrived
here in an emaciated condition, and was I'M
| der treatment eight months and nine days
| During the first five months OF her stay in
the Asylum she showed, on several occasions.
disposition to commit suicide, but during the
last three months she was entirely free from
such procllvlties. Her convalescence was
gradual, but her recovery of both mental and
| bodily health seemed complete, and she be-
came bright and cheerful in spirits. We had
every reason to suppose that this improve
men5 would be permanent, as puerperaI cases
/ seldom relapse. But inasmuch as she had
attempted suicide both at home and in the
Asylum, I felt that extraordinary care should
be taken of her when.she first left the insti-
tuition. I therefore invited her sister, who
had been discharged under similar circum-
stances some three years ago, to make her
| visit to see If she could confirm our opinion
of her condition, but she was prevented by
sickness from coming. The patients hus-
band therefore came for her, gave the usual
bond required in such cases.and also pledged
himself to provide for his wife a responsible
companion. This he failed to do. as his per-
sonal observation led him to believe her entire
ly restored. He states that during the eigh-
teen days she was under his charge he had
never seen her in better health, and that con :
sequently neither he nor her friends thought
such extra supervision necessary. Accord
ing to his account of her dea N, she dressed
| herself with unusual care and then visited
each one of her friends. She afterwards
walked to mll-pond some distance of, was
seen by some persons to lay aside part OF
her clothing, and then deliberately waded
in until she was beyond her depth. Those
who witnessed her actions were completely
nisled by her deliberation, and consequent
ly did not reach the spot in time to save
her,
The majority of the chronic insane recent
Iy admitted were removed from jalls, and
we're in the hands of friends with allowances
made by the State Of from 30 to 70 conts
daily. In most cases they appeared to have
been we'll cared for, but in some instances
there were evidences of the most outrageous
neglect and abuse.
| The present status of the patients is as
| follows: Favorable for recovery, 10; doubt
| full, IL; incurable, 402. The male DEPART
ment is blocked, and the authorities must
again discriminate, reject many applicants,
and over crowd the wards.
| To show how vigiIant the attendants are
at all times compelled to be, we give the fol
lowing extract from a letter written by one
of the patients, who, two days after its in
dlte.nnnt, made sudden aud desperate, as
ssult upon his attendant, and injured him
considerably: t-''
"DEAR MOTHER I have so far
met with excellent treatment here, and am
as well satisfied as l am capable Of being
anywhere I am in ward with sixteen
crazy gents, and their odd ways are certain
| " interesting 10 the student of human ma
ture. We have a library here, and
a patient can get any book he wants. Don't
be uneasy about. me, dear mother. am
confident that, with the blessing of God,
you will yet have your boy restored to you
| in health. both Of body and mind, to be a
| stay and comfort to you in your old age
| You have cast your bread upon the waters.
and after many days it will return unto you.
| Ny love to all my friends. and assure them
that am in good hands,"
| While speaking of home life In the Asy-
lum, the Superintendent states that among
the arrivals were two babies in the house.
l uc uTSG, d llIttC Suis vas az UNIV
claimed and taken away by her father, being
his first and only child. But the father of
the other, being informed of the birth of his
fourth daughter, at once ceased all cores
pondence, and to this date has not
been heard of for three months.
The Superintendent devotes considerable
space to detailed account OF the many and
| important improvements which have been
made, and closes his report with an express
sion of thanks to his valuable assistants.
MUSICAL AND ART ENTERTAINMENTS
The entertainment given by the Luther Aid
and Won Bora Societies of the Lutheran
Church last Friday night, attracted an au-
dience that filed the Hall. The programme
was published last week. Its composition
left nothing to be desired by the lovers oil
music, whilst the recollection of a former pro.
duction of its art features was so vivid and
pleasant, that large audience was assured.
If tho performance of the musicians was
equal to the implied promise OF the pro-
qramme, the audience was certain to be well
entertained, and only glance over the stage
and Hall was necessary to show, as the cur
tain was raised, that the orchestra and au-
dience were alike competent and prepared
for their respective parts of the evenings en-
tertainment. On the stage were Profs. Ide,
Turner, Hamer and Koerber, and Messrs
Abby, Armentrout, Carroll, Haines, and
Strasburg, who composed the orchestra. anc
the room was crowded with as intelligent
and appreciative an audience as Staun-
ton could afford. The first piece on the pro-
gramme was the Overture, ''La Dame
Blanche" which was played with finisi
and elegance to be expected OF this orches
ira, and was thoroughly enjoyable perfor'
nance. 1t was followed, at intervals, by 9th
err splendid and difficult selections, all o.
which were given with unity and precision
, and as carefully as il each musician was 6
solo performer. The vocal part consisted Of
solos by Mrs. Bumgardner, Misses Daniel
Turner and Stiff, and Mr.. c. l.. Cooke, ant