Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-01-01
ITS F|FTY-SEVENTH YEAR.

lis FFN-SEVENlH YEAR.
COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF THE
WORK DoNE-THE COST OF SUPPORT
NUMBER OF INMATES.
&C., &C, &C.
We have received from the Medical
Superintendent Of the w. T.. Asylum,
DR.. A. NJ. Fauntleroy, copy of the
annual report of the Board Of Direc-
tors, and his own for 1884 S. It's fifty
seventh year. We condense from them
history of the operations of the institu-
tion for that period. The report of the
Board of Directors, signed by Col. w. l.
Bumgarduer, President, gives the follow
Ing
SUMMARY OF THE YEAR WORK.
1.-THE Board are pleased to be able to
state that the results obtained Indicate
that the asylum has made a decided ad-
vance towards the fuller attainment OF It's
humane object. Its benefits have been
shared by larger number than ever be-
fore in similar period of time. AS you
will see from the superintendent report,
the medical work done by the asylum was
greater than that Of any previous year OF
its history. During the latter of the two
years embraced in the report, the admis-
sions and recOveIles almost equal those Of
any two previous years. The financial
exhibit shows that since April 18th, 1884,
the asylum has been well and economical
ly managed, and the close of the biennial
term finds its various departments in good
order, and working harmoniously to the
promotion of the great end for which it
was founded"
THE REPORT OF THE MEDICAL SUPER
1NTENDENT-A COMPARE.
TIVE VIEW.
The report of DR.. Fauntleroy, addressed
to the Board of Din ecLors, opens with two
tables exhibiting the movement of the
population of the Asylum for the six
months extending from Oct. /, 'S3, to
April Is. 'S4. and from April Is, 81, to
Sept. 80 '84, the irst six being under
another administration and the second six
being under the present administration.
The report says:
The number of patients a. the beginning
Of the fiscal year 1883. was $50, instead of
the number stated in the report Of 1858 by
your predecessors. Contrasting the record
of the two periods. the following salient
facts appear: The admissions were very
nearly equal in number, though the dura-
ton of the first period exceeded that of
the second by d month and half. The
maximum number in the household during
the second exceeded 10y "a the maximum
number Of the first p3rIod. The daily
average OF the second period also exceed
ed by IA that of the first. The discharges
by recoveries, deaths, and removals. az.
gregated for the Gwo periods respectively
IL and 81, affordlng respectively IaLiO OF
recoveries to admissions of 26 II per cent. :,
and 56.92 per Cent. Tee percentage for
the latter periOi more than doubles that
for the previous six and a half mouths OF
the year. The foregoing statement of the
results obtained during the component
tenGion of instltulng an iBvidious COM
parlSOn between two di stinc5 admlni5trd-
tions, but in order to put upon record facts
creditable to your administration; not as
boast. but for the Information of the
numerous friends and patrons of the Asy-
lum throughout the State, affording as
they do, gratifying evideuce of the Asy-
lum's steady a1vancem9 ng ia ussfuln ess
and prosperity
RELIEVING THE JAILs OF THE CON-
MONWEALTH.
"Passing on to a necessarily brief re-
view OF the years unbroken statistics, |
shall close the narrative. so far as il re-
lates to the fiscal year 1888 81, with some
alluslon to Its most conspicuous facts and
incidents. The total number of admis-
slons for the year exceeded by 16 that of
the previous year, while the number of
patents under treatment was greater by
IS than that reported by your predecessors
for the fiscal year 1928. Tue expIana-
ton Of this actual as we'll as comparative
increase of patients during the year, is to
be found in the fact that three dormito-
ries occupied by attend .nts were utilized
for tue accommodation of applicants con-
fined in the jalls. Soon after assuming
control here on April Is. 1884, it was as
certained upon diligenJ inquiry that there
were 10 insane whites confined in the
jails, aud this number Was measurably de
creased by admittarce to the asylum. L.
is claimed by your predecessors that the
Jails of the State We're relieved of their in-
zane inmates for the first time in many
years shortly after they assumed control
on March 9, 1882. They failed, however,
to tell the public that this Was made pos
sible by the completion of building prior
to their control. The facts are brlt fly
these. The West addition 10 the male
department.. affording accommodation for
about 10 patients. Was completed in Aug,
1881. This building Was immediately oc-
cupled by patents taken from the old
male building, III order that sume essen
tIal structural alterations and repairs
might be maue in the latter. The Improve.
ments and alterations alluded to were
finished III January, 1882, and JUST be ore
my retirement as superintendent on
March 9. 1882, the s'l-r.ffs IT the coun 10,
tributary TO mis- asylum We're written to.
AID requested TO bring on, all Insane per-
sons confined in their j.lls. 1t is true that
the annual report Of 1882. So aliui1s To Tile
subject in tue loli owl ~ language: Near
ly all the patients adm tted within The
year have been received SINCE February
1882 Sucn d statement Was well CAL
cuiated 10 Delog The puDllc mud, leading
as it did to the inference that your preoe-