Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-12-31

DR.. R. S. Beasley. James P. REILLY, DIR. T.
W. Shelton. r. II. Catlett, Asher w. Har-
man, VIM. L. Bumgardner, VIM. A. Burke
and VIM. Crawford. The officers are DR..
A. NJ. Fauntleroy, Physician and Superin-
tendent; Drs. VIM. Hamilton, E. G. Fish,
or and P. L. Murphy, Asst Physicians;
Samuel A. Hoshour, Steward, and Mrs.
s. L Henry, Matron.
The report of DR.. Fauntleroy covers the
whole fiscal year ending September SOth,
though he only entered upon the duties Of
his Office on the LIST of January last. There
were in the Asylum Sept. 30th 479 patients
of whom 1923 were admitted during the
year. Of the number 2O6 are males and
273 females. During the year 63 patients
were discharged-49 having recovered, S
having improved and unimproyed. There
were 20 deaths among the patients in the
year being the small per centage of S CO to
the number treated. A larger number of
patients were treated the past year than
ever before in any one year. Lack of room
has forced the rejection of many applica-
ti0ns for admission and in deciding the
Superintendent has Disseminated in favor
Of those recently insane without regard to
worldly wealth or honOrs. In view of the
unusually large number of chronic cases
received during the year from the jalls TIE
number of cures in proportion to the ad-
missions has greatly exceeded the expecta
ton of all. Among the reported recove-
rles especial notice is made of a case OF
climacteric mania of twelve years duration
and this result so exceptional, after so
many years, created a profound impression
in the asylum causing number of those
chemically affected to take heart The
per capita cost of the support of patients
for the year was $l65 10, an increase of s
cents per day over the cost of last year,
which is attributable to the increased cost
of provisions and also to an augmentation
Of the item of improvements during the
year closed.
During the year the heavy iron fence
four hundred feet in length fronting on
Greenville avenue. has been moved back
and seven foot brick pavement laid; the
road from the main entrance through the
grounds in front has been Macadamized; a
refrigerator of brick 14x2O feet with tin roof
has been erected and also coal shed SOx27
feet. AS additional precaution against
loss by fire 815 feet of hose has been pur
chased and distributed through the build
ing. In these improvements the patients
and those connected with the asylum did
nearly if not all the work.
DR.. Fauntleroy urges that the insane be
sent early to an asylum. Since the open
ing of the institution 3,104 patients have
been admitted. In the cases of 1906 whose
insanity exceeded more than twelve
months duration at the time of their ad-
mission the recoveries were 20 SO per cent :;
while Of 1.4S6 whose insanity when admit
ted was of twelve months OF less duration
the proportion of recoveries was 66S5 per
cent. He appeals to the practitioners of
medicine throughout the State to co-ope-
rate in the effort to impress upon the public
mind the vital Importance to the insane of
early and judicious treatment. Dr. Faun-
tleroy takes an important step forward in
urging the need s.of laboratory. adapted
by construction to the purpose of, and ad-
equately supplied with the requisite appli-
ances for, the microscopic study of the pa
biological changes occurring in the brain
of the insane. 1t is Of the highest impor-
lance that the morbid changes IN structure
should be studied in connection with the
mental phenomena observed and recorded
during life, The failure generally to make
thia associated study has robbed autopsies
of their fruit-bearing purposes"
The statistics accompanying the report
areiinterestiug reading. One fact Is that
of s,1O4 admitted there since July 1928,
1910 have recovered and $50 improved.
Among the causes OF the insanity of those
admitted during the past year were: do
mestic affection, 3 males and 4 females;
domestic trouble. male and S females; in
temperance, 2 males and l female; relip-
lous excitement, 2 females, and fright. l
male. The patients admitted we're 10 sim
gle men and "a single women, Is married
men and 81 married women; 8 widowers
and 18 widows. and ] male and 2 females
whose civil condition was unknown.
The largest items among the expenses
for the support Of the Asylum during the
year. were as follows-for provisions and
groceries $27 ,l3& So; wages of attendants
and others, $10,S l5s salaries of officers. &c.
1856. A; improvements and repairs, $685.
81; furniture, $4,66a,s2. fuel, $4.os5,7s;
clothing, s2,57Q,1a; medical supplies. ST.
39a, AZ; servants hire, $2.27O,9s; miscella-
neous, s1,4a1 20, and farming expenses,
stables, &c., 81 .229,73. The garden of the
Asylum showed a balance in It's favor of
$1,607,O5 and the farm showed profit of
81 ,327 IA.
The Superintendent referring to the
needs of the Institution for the next year,
says: Assuming that the average per
capita cost will remain undisturbed for
1ssO-S1, and adding 100 1.-THE capacity OF
The new building, now almost ready for
occupation,) to the average number of pa
tients during last year, we shall have 56S 5
as the average number, and s93 1853, IS as
the cost of support. Deductine from this
the sum of Sis, S59. IS, as about the possible
amount of collections on board account
during the year, will leave $s0,QGA as the
amount necessary to defray the expenses
of the year already entered upon.''
RAaYERN LUNATIC ASYLUM.
Weare indebted to MIR. Richard F. Walk |
Pr, Public Printer, for copy of the report |
Of the Eastern Lnnatic Asylum at Will
liamsburg. The whole number of patients
admitted during the year was IS. making |
The whole number treated 4O8, The dis
charges We're 4s, one eloped and 20 died. Of T
hose discharged, As were recovered. Q i'm