The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1880-12-30

front OF the Asylum has been laid, and the
road around the Asylum grounds macadam-
lied
| The farm, garden, carpenter and shoe shops
while furnishing employment TO many patients
have also contributed substantially to the sup
port of the Asylum.
The net proceeds Of the farm amounted to
| 81 ,307.04 and the net proceeds OF the garden,
to 81 ,60705 The carpenter shop yielded the
net sum of $431,15, and the shoemaker shop
$3504O
The new building in the male department is
nearly completed, and will be ready for occu-
pants by the 1st Of January next. This build
ing will accommodate one hundred patients.
1t has cost per capita $500, which, considering
its substantial character and admirable APP
planes, is regarded as marvel of cheapness.
In closing bis report the Superintendent
makes handsome acknowledgement OF the val
| liable services of the assistent physicians Drs.
Hamilton and Fisher, and OF the third assistant,
DR.. P. L. Murphy. Mr.. j. w. Abby and others
are also thanked for their kindness in aiding
the choir, and the ladies and gentleman OF
Staunton, who by their theatrical entertain
ments had afforded much amusement TO the
patients, are gratefully remembered. The
able and accomplished attorney for the Board
Judge Jno. II. McCue, has been signally sue
cessful in collecting claims due the Asylum,
many of which were regarded as worthless.
By well directed efforts he has been enabled to
realize about $4,000 ON the old claims placed
in his hands, work well deserving commen-
dation and one which seems to be duly appre-
ciated by the Superintendent and Board.
The Superintendent recommends various
improvements in the old male department and
the erection of a labratory
Throughout the report is an able one, care
fully prepared, eminently practical and sug-
gestive, and far above the average of papers
of its kind.
We cannot dismiss the subject without
giving page of Dr. Fauntleroy's refe ctiOns
on the Importance of early treatment of the
insane. Both as literary production, and as
of general interest, it will well repay perusal.
Says the doctor:
The importance of early treatment in men
tai disorders has been urged and pressed by
enlightened alienists for more than half cen
tury Statistics faithfully gathered have shown
with reasonable conclusiveness that the re-
coveries, cetGris 7pa,iduS bear direct relation
to early remedial measures. Still the utter
ances OF experience have been unheeded, as the
Annual Reports of the Asylums clearly testify.
The facts colated during the tfty-two years of
this Asylum's existence, alone furnish ample
of 10 q
resort to treatment. From the opening of
this institution, July "a, 1928, to the present
time, September 80 1880, three thousand one
hundred and four patients have been admitted.
In 1906, which exceeded more than tao8lUe
Months duration on admission, the per centum
of recoveries is 2052. In /, 436 which were
of twelve months duration and less on adj
mission, the per centum is 66S5. These
figures attest mathematically the importance
of timely resort to treatment, and no apology
is deemed necessary for the admOnitory repe-
tition of this truth in psychiatry. Every mo-
tive demands the recognition and general
adoption of the golden rule of early treatment
Mans commercial value in the state calls for
the earliest restoration to useful citizenship.
But life has it values not to be counted in
money. The moral forces, the social ties, the
family affections, the relation Of the soul to
citizenship here and hereafter-all these give
to human life a sacredness which makes its
salvation from disease the peculiam of social
duty and privilege.
The earliest deviations in thought, feeling,
and action, when combined with protracted
Waketulness, merit and should receive prompt
medical attention, for they are the induces of
llsordered brainal structures. Dalliance here
is flaught with the greatest evil because the
organ implicated is the most important one in
the human economy. The complexity, deli
cacy, and refinement of its textures not only
dispose to rapid metamorphosis, but render
PREPARATION more tedious and uncertain when
morbid changes have occurred. Hence, timely
and proper medication may save the brain
from serious structural changes, just as the
prompt closing OF gaping wound may pre-
vent the occurrence OF lifelong and disfigur-
ing cicatriX. | doubt not if incipient morbid
mentality was as readily detected, and as
promptly treated as are the arrangements of
the grosser bodily structures many cases of
insanity would be nipped in the bud Unfor-
tunately, however, medical advice is generally
neither sought nor received until the affective,
ldeatlonal, and mOtorial forces have become SO
palpably aberrant that he who runs may recog-
nize the brainal trouble.
For the relief of so-called bodily ailments
medical advice is as rule promptly invoked,
while the manifestations of incipient morbid
mentality are usually disregarded or let
severely alone. Prompttude of action in the
former and passiyity IN the latter disorders
certainly cannot be ascribed to higher value
placed upon bodily than upon mental sound
ness. The explanation am disposed to be-
iieve, is to be found in the variant beliefs re-
speeding mental and bodily disorder; the one
being generally and justly ascribed to an al
teraton or modification Of part OF parts of
the organism, while the other is held falla-
ciously to be a perverson of an immaterial
I,,I,o L. Il
and prompt appeal to, remedial agents; the
other leads to Haerapeutical nihilisnn, as the
mind diseased is regarded by the laty as dis
associated from all bodily structures, and as
beyond the reach of so-called drugs or ma
terial agents.
| have neither the time nor the disposition
to enter upon a metaphysical discussion and
the end so desirable OF attainment must be my
excuse for attempting to popuarize some of
the facts and conclusions OF modern mental
science Physiological research positively af-
firms that "Mere Is and can be no intelligence
ooitt0ut brain substance ;" that sound mind is
conditioned upon sound and duly nourshed
BRAIN in which the reconcile forces Of nutri-
ton, as evidence by waste and repair, are ex-
quisitely balanced; that every thought, emotion,
and display of will are the correlatives of the
vital changes occurring in the brain, and ex-
emplity i'll the highest sphere of biology the
grand law OF the conservation ana correlation
of the forces of nature. Accepting these con-
illusions, attained by physiological and patho-
logical research, 1t becomes clear to the
average mind that mentality, whether normal
or abnormal, has material substratum lust as
certainly as the forces once styled impondera-
BILE are known tG b conditioned upon the
motions of m;teE, rhat diseased mind is the
synonym Of diseased brain, aud is as de-
monstrably wi hin the domain OF therapeutics
as any of the arrangements Of the lungs, heart,
liver or kidney D. hospital experience
establishes TIL taca insanity is not less
amenable to remed Nh s iIcal treatment than
are the Disorders sszs.e so-cale led bodily
organs.
An earnest appea ssssss 10 gbe practition-
ers of medicine tbro sa# commonwealth
to become coadiut "a eettort to impress
upon the public ul @Sal Importance to
the insane Of early 90 icous treatment
Let it not be dersiyely said mat though
knowledge cones, yet wisdom lingers," but
spread widely the facts and truths Of pshycho-
logic experience, IN order that the knowledge
so laborously aid patiently acquired may be-
come practical poecer, when its faithful teach