The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1880-01-08
The Western Lunatic Asylum.
REPORTS OF THE OFFICERS FOR THE YEAR
ENDING SEPT. 80, 1879.

The Western Lunatic Asylum.
REPORTS OF THE OFFICERS FOR THE YEAR
ENDING SEPT. 80, 1879.
The report OF the board OF Directors and
officers Of the Western Lunatic Asylum, for
the year, ending Sept. last, is before us.
In reference TO the new buildings the Presi-
dent of the Board states that the female
addition to the asylum is most admirable
building, constructed in accordance with
the grand principles of modern sanitary
architecture. It's interior arrangement is
comfortable and convenient. The ventila-
ton and lighting of the rooms and passages
are excellent. The economic and social
value of this and like structures is well
known to the hygienist. The entire cost
of this building was s11 ,651 IL. of which
cost, however, $1,000 represents the share
of this building in the expense incurred
during the year at the boiler house, and N
other work done by the asylum. This build
ing affords accommodations of the most
ample character for forty five patients, and
under pressure will readily shelter fifty.
Therefore forty-five is the minimum accom-
mediation, the cost per capita being S2o9. a
triumph in economical construction, s4oo
being about the minimum estimates OF such
constructions made by the Association OF
superintendents and physicians OF insane
asylums.
In the male department an additional
building is now rapidly approaching COM
pletion. This building will amply accom-
modate one hundred patients, and will
likewise contain all modern sanitary appli-
ances.
Continuing, the President Of the Board
says: In maintenance Of the asylum care
fulness and economy have signally charac-
terized the management,a s the expenditures
of the year just closed plainly testify, the
cost per capita being only sl35.97. The
admission during the present fiscal year
may possibly reach six hundred, yet the
discharges and deaths occurring would
likely make the average number of patients
to be maintained throughout the year not
far from FIVE hundred and fifty. Assuming
the probable cost of maintenance at $3.50
per capita, gives product, which, after
deducting therefrom $40, 900 Of possible col.
lections on board account, leaves $72, SOC. the
amount necessary to carry on the asylum
successfully for the fiscal year just entered.
The $40, 900 due on support account for the
fiscal year ending September 30, 1879, will
be needed to free the asylum from debt. It
IS confidently anticipated that the General
Assembly will cheerfully provide the
amounts necessary for the maintenance of
the asylum for the years 1s79-SO and $780,
81, to wit: $72. 500 and 1000 respectively;
and also the $4,000 required for certain
repairs and improvements contemplated.
After protesting against the auditors
charging the annuity of the asylum with the
cost OF transportation of insane persons and
their guards, the president states that in
the adjustment of any outstanding claims
which the asylum may have against the es-
tates or sponsors of those who have been
admitted, 1t is hoped that the General AS
sembly will not for moment entertain any
petition for redress made directly to them.
There is mode of redress prescribed by
law. The Executive Committee or Board
of Asylum are fully competent to abate the
charges if the circumstances should, after
full statement Of the facts, justify it. In
deed, in many instances they have done so,
justice to all parties being tempered by len>
iency. To establish any other tribunal
would greatly, if not totally, impair the
efficiency of the asylum authorities in their
efforts to collect the dues on board account.
Through the diligence of the attorney OF
the Board. Judge j. II. McCue, $1,000 from
old outstanding debts on board account has
been secured during the year.
The president refers as follows to the re-
cent deaths in the asylum corps during the
fiscal year embraced in this report Death
has claimed tribute from the asylum staff.
On the Oath of October, 1878, Mrs. Eliza j.
Tinsley died. For twenty-five years she
had acceptably filled the Office Of matron.
Her devotion and diligence in the cause Of
suffering humanity make up the history of
life worthy of the highest praise and of
enduring record in the archives Of the State.
Mrs. William B. johnson, who had worth.
lily succeeded to the position of matron, died
on the 14th of June, 1879. Endowed by
nature with the highest qualities Of head
and heart, she had added thereto the refine
ments of culture and christianity. Already
schooled in the exercises of wifely and
motherly devotion, she had. during her
brief connection with the asylum, exhibited
the highest matronly graces.
Though it does not come within the strict
province of this report to record the death Of
Robert F. Baldwin, superintendent and
physician, which occurred after protracted
illness on the morning of the 18th of Novem-
Der of the present year, yet this event so
deeply affected the interests Of the asylum
as to become an item of present mournful
record. A man of ability and administra-
tive tact, he united to the highest factors of
true manhood the gentleness and graces
OF woman. rounded out into The highest
type of the Christia gentleman.
During the illness of DR.. Baldwin, and
for some time previous to his death, the
duties of the SUPPLEMENTARY devolved
upon the assistant physicians, Drs. Hamilton
and Fisher, whose discharge thereof is high.
ly commended by the Board. In their
report the assistant physicians say, that the
percentage Of rccoveries, though slightly
below the average, is nearly double that Of
the preceding year, in which large num-
Der of chronic cases was admitted. In the
coming year the percentage ct recoveries
will probably be very low, as large influx
of chronic cases is expected.
In noticing the fact that five nersnns ha ue