Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-10-18
WESTERN LUNATIc ASYLUM.
Annual Meeting of the Board-suPerin-
tcndents Report. sc.
fco-re,pondonco OF the Richmond Dlspaich.l
..---......... Y. 0cAnlor II 1890


fcorrespondonce OF the Richmond Dispatch.l
STANTON. Va. October II. 1889.
The annual meeting OF the Boord OF
Directors of the Western Iunatlc Asylum
took mace Yesterday. DR.. Il. Blac kford.
tbo suDsriuteudent. submitted his report,
which is the sixtv-second q that llsutu-
ZION. and for the fiscal year ended the SO;h
Dr Elackf5rd was elected on the 18th Of
Anil and entered upon the duties OF ms
oaice the 22d 81 that month. HIS Oincial
connection therefore dates from the time
stated. bat from the records he complies
his report ...
The statistics referring 20 the patients at
the asvlum and their condition are con-
mented on ia the first part 81 the report.
Duriur the fiscal year therO were admit
ted 81 males and - fpiBRles. Of those re-
admitted 3 were males and D females. Inc
whole number Of patients under treatment
during tue wear we're GTl. The average
monthly number. GIL; daily average sos.
Deaths during the year were IL males ana
q females. The discharges recovered were
~ males and l3 females. Of which 4 males
were improved aud females non-ln-
proved. ,o
Total IN the asylum during the year. $40
males and 937 females. Tie tOtal capacity
of tie asylum Is ji2 beds. thus showing
that the number present for treatment UNI
formy exceeded the capacity 81 the ac-
commodations.
Among the deaths during the year was
one patient ninety-oue years Old, who had
been in the ASYLUM over sixty years: an
other, aged seventy seven, was there h-ly-
three year,.
The extensive repairs madetO the oldest,
winch Is also the largest Of the female
wards. are about completed. This was 4
long needed improvement, and VIII add
largely 20 the comfort OF the patients.
Many other Improvements are IN proGre So
ard among the completed IS large sIo
filed with excellent food for stock.
The protection of the property against
loss in case of FIRE. if such a calamity shonld
occur. eudanserng. too. the lives OF the
inmates, Is o matter which has seriously
engaged the attention of the Board OF d.
rectors and the officers Of the institution.
the Legislature not having provided any
special means for insurance or protection
ON that account.
An Arrangement has been effected with
the city government Of StauntOn Tor OBJ
tanning "a full supply Of wafer in case OF
fire. for the erection OF Ire-plugs on the
asylum grounds. and the Introduction OF
the electric tre-alarm system OF the city.
Tire pressure from the reservoir VIII throw
water over all the buildings, thus securing
safety to the property and patients III case
OF fire.
The Superintendent invites the attentlon
of the boa. q TO the necessity Tor enlargng
the gas-wOrks. lie also presents the neces-
sty Tor additional room for patients at the
gsylnm, as well as to the necessity OF pro-
vidiug some immediate means To take from
the tails oe the Commonwealth the insane
incarcerated in them because there is no
room for them il the aeylum. He suggests
some temporary remedies which county
governments could make till the better &C
commodations Of an asylum should he
open for their relief. and IN this connec-
ton refer with high appreciation 70 the
efforts OF Governor Lee in providing q
temporary asylum until better provision Is
made for the afflicted Of our people.
In communicating the report Of the
steward, Captain Lewis Hartman, the SUI
perintendent commonds it to the consid-
GRAFTON of the board. and urges for the
reasons stated therein, that the annual
appropriation rs heretofore should not
be diminished.
The report OF the steward shows bal.
ance on hand al the end Of the fiscal veal
Of nine thousand four hundred and fifteen
dollars and thirty cents (r9,4l5.3O). not.
withstanding more than three thousand
dollars 60. 900 had been paid out for the
repairs TO the female ward, building g
tons several circumstances which cOntri.
buted to lessen;ng the annual expenses
that NAV not occur again and says
"Itwould be by no meansJudicious to make
the surplus a basis for estimating the sum
that will be needed for a support Tor the
next two years, for il is easy to see that
the surplus is on accidental one. The
largest item IN it-S7, 100 for cOal-woulc
have been taken away if the coal We
bought had been delivered and paid foI
before the 3Oth September as we desired
and intended. In addition we will want
$1,000 or more of il 20 pay for the water
pipes, &C., 10 supply water in case OF fire. >
The further explanation III reference tc
the expenditure if embraced in the compi
lation made from the Superintendents re
ports.
The board entered on herecords an ap
proval of the reports and expressed then
high appreciation of the management Of
the affairs of the asylum. CAxroN.