The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-11-30
Western Lunat1c Asylum.
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT AND BOARD
OF DIRECTORS.

REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT AND BOARD
OF DIRECTORS.
We haye received copy of the annual re-
port made to the Governor by the Board OF
Directors Of the Western Lunatic Asylum,
together with the comprehensive and excellent
report of the Superintendent OF the lnstitu-
ton. This being the first report made under
the new administration, it possesses especial
interest, and we doubt not that brief synop-
sis of its statements will prove entertaining
to our readers. Dr. Hamilton is clear and
forcible writer, presents his subjects direct
| and accom- 2anies them with valuable and prac-
tical suggestions. In short, the State has no
better officer, nor one better qualified for the
position he holds than the present Superin-
tendent of the Western Lunatic Asylum.
The report before us states that the year be-
gun with 499 patients under treatment. Dur
ing the year 13l new patients were admitted
and 115 were removed. OF these 66 were dis
charged recovered, improved, and unlm-
proved, are absent on furlough and 80 have
died. This leaves the Asylum on the 30th
| September, 1882, 500 patients Psi males and
257 females. 1t will thus be seen that the num-
/ Der of resident patients at the end OF the year
is only sixteen more than at its beginnings
result due to the large excess of discharges,
over admissions, which happened to occur
about the latter period. This, of course, af-
fords Just at this time number of vacan-
cies; but with the pressing applications that
| are daily being made,it is safe to say that,even
with the use of the most prudent dlscrimina-
| ton, the middle of November will find them
all occupied. 1t may be remarked here, also,
! that the large excess in the number of males
over females that haye been admitted during
the wear possesses no bearing upon the ques
| ton of the comparative liability of the sexes
| to insanity, but was due to the increased ca
pacity of the male department of the Institu-
ton. The number of applicants for admission
may have more signficancy touching that sub
ject. From March Sth to October 1st the num-
Der of applicants were 227-1OS males and 119
! females. OF these 81 males. and 80 females
were rejected, and AZ males and 80 females adj
mitted
| Whether these figures possess any sigpif-
cancy as regards the comparative liability of
the sexes to insanity or not, certain it is that
the number of rejected appeals loudly for ad-
ditional provisions or accommodations for the
insane of the Commonwealth. The Superin-
| tendent says:
"To receive into the Asylum anything like one
half the number who apply for admission was found
10 he utterly impossible; and the rule of selection
WAS then adopted which has prevailed perhaps, for
many years-viz; to admit IN preference those
whose condition gives most promise or dement, from
treatment to the exclusion, II necessary, OF those
who require only custodial care. And since about
the lst Of April latter the rush OF applicants Incl
dent to the completion OF the westend improvement
In the old male building this plan has been strictly
| adhered to, and with the above result. We have
aimed to perpetuate DR.. Stribling's invariabe
of discriminating In 'favor OF the recent over the
chronic applicant; and when the probabilities of
benefit are supposed to be about equal the poor
taken in preference those whose pecuniary means
will enable them to secure hospital accommodations
elsewhere
Jnspectton of the tables shows that nearly all
the patients admitted within the last fiscal year
have been received since the LIST of February This
because of the completion, at that time, of the
structural improvements in the west end OF the old
male buildings-an important improvement begun
and carried on by your immediate predecessors i'll
office, and which contemplated like alteration of
the east end But, effect Indispensable repairs
and improvements elsewhere on the premises, and
for other reasons satisfactory 10 yourselves the pro-
posed alteration in the end has not been pros
ecuted. The plan has been suspended at least for
l. present. /
with the improvement Indcated-began TO be re-
sumed about the lst of February, from which time
the admission Of male patients has, as matter of
course, been largely in excess OF that OF females
The ratio of fatal cases has greater the past
than for several preceding years, and especially in
the months Of March, April May and June, but still
1t does not reach the average annual mortality since
the foundation Of the Asylum. Running back in
the history Of the institution as far as 1S40the ratio
is found to range variousy between the extremes of
2S and 1871 per This year it is 523, which,
fnttmatod below
In the Asylums history For the fact that the per
cent of mortality in the year just closed has been
greater than during either of the several last pre-
ceding years explanation may be found, in part, i'll
the obviously increased accumulation OF oldincur
able but especinttu in the rapid and for
| time indiscriminate transfer Of large number
of patients from all parts of the Commonwealth
the Asylum. The largest mortality of the year i'm
mediately followed this transfer
Tn6le III shows tnat in February and March there
was admitted unusually large number, many of
whom had been for oug time confined in jails and
other unsuitable receptacles, with little
ment, in whose cases all reasonable hope of
| had disappeared and who could only be expected
| to ''help swell the death list.
The same results are reached from the same
causes the history of all aSylums AS may be seen
by reference to the tables of statistics of almost
hospital report.
It may be added, Just here that peculiar difficult
ties Rnd embarrassments necessarily attended the
reception and classification of these PATIENTS all
strangers, and many with history unknown and
often unattaipable at time too when the organ
ization of the hospital was necessarily imperfect
and medical officers attendants and employees were
strangers to each other and to the patients. With
so many new patients, ana also large number of
old inmates in the Asylum, of whose past history
no record could be found matter OF course the
work of classification which had to be hasty, was
doubtless imperfect at first; and the systematic in
diyfd4al study OF each case was, for Lime
sarily daferred but 1t is confidently believed that
| these embarrassments were such as to bear only |
upon the administration, without seriously inter
fertng with either the comfort the well-beng Of
the patients themselves
The general plan of the management has |
been based upon the principle of recognizing
the individual in dealing with the insane. The
Superintendent adds:
And leaving out all specihcs-whether as to med
feinal moral or mechanical treatmenu-al routine
methods and paneceas the prime effort has been to
make each individual study, and then to |
adopt the course OF treatment and care indicated
by the facts in the far as the means at hand
permit. Endeavortng to sail between scylla and |
Chary bdis much personal liberty is granted and
as little repression imposed possible, although
it has not been found practicable TO discard utt
straint And in settling questions of this GLASS;
all Others the exercise OF the actual
facts In the case has been chief aim reliance
in sspreference adaptiI any of the special dog
mas which sometimes have gained prominence
out of proportion to their real consequences
A gratifying exhibit of Improvements about
the premises is shown and suggestions made
which will no doubt be recognize as essen
tial to the welfare and progress of the Insti-
tuition, as well az to It's increased efficiency
and capacity.
The reports made by the Stewart exhibit
care and success i'll the management of the
complicated affairs of the Asylum, outside of
it medical dep"rtn. ept, ard demonstrate Il e
wisdom of the Directors in selecting The PIES
ent efficient and energetic Stewart
Taken throughout, the report is a very graf
| flying one, and bears ABUNDANT evidence to
| the capacity and enthusiasm in the work of
those who have been placed in charge of this
one of the greatest Of Virginia's charities
MARRIED.,