Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-12-27
THE INSANE.
THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE WESTERN
LUNATIC ASYLUM,

LUNATlG ASYLUM.
FACTS ABOUT INCURABLEs WHICH OUGHT
TO APPEAL TO THE LEGISLATURE FOR
| RELIEF BY ADDITIONAL BUILDINGS
FOR THEIR UsE-THE NUMBER OF PA
| TIENTS TREATED DURING THE YEAR
WHERE THEY CAME FRoM-THEIR OC-
| CUPATIONS-THE SUBJECTS OF THEIR
INsANITY-DEATHs OF VERY OLD PA
TIENTs.
| &C, &C., &C.
| We are indebted to the courtesy of DIR.
Benz. Blackford, Superintendent Of the
W. L. Asylum, for a copy of his report
and that of the Board of Directors for the
year 1889.
REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS.
The report of the Board of Directors,
DR.. S. III. Moffett, President, says that
''the decline in the price of provisions, I'M
expected collections on board account of
pay patients, and some unusually large sales
of Asylum property enabled us to support
the institution fol- a sum within the appro-
priation." A rickety building has been
repaired and made one of the safest and
best appointed in the group, at cost of
S., 100. A contract has been let to connect
plugs on the ground in sufficient number
to bring from four to six streams to bear
on the buildings in case Of fire. This will
cost So 900. The Board notes the crowded
condition Of the wards, and urges that the
State erect buildings where the chronic
insane can be kept, and more room for
durable cases thus be given. They ask
from the State all appropriation of 100000
a year for the next two years.
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT.
The report of Dr. Blackboard covers the
whole of the fiscal year, though his admins
tration only commenced on April 10th, last.
The number of patients under treatment
during the year was 677, the daily average
being COS. The number of deaths during
the year was SO. The patients discharged
were-recovered, So; improved, 4; unim-
proved, 2. At the close Of the fiscal year
there were 800 patients in the Asylum.
During the year the per centage of recove-
ries to admissions was 81; the per centage
of deaths to the daily average was SO.
IN sIXTY-ONE YEARS.
In sixty-one years, since its opening in
1928, the number of patients admitted has
been 4,122, of whom ,1S5 have died and
2,373 been discharged, leaving 800 now in
the Asylum. The average number admit
ted every year of the Asylum's existence
has been 66; the average yearly deaths have
been 10, and the average yearly discharges
have been So.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
The Superintendent refers to the crowded
state Of the W. L. Asylum and that of the
other white Asylums of the State, and esti-
mates that there are yet from two hundred
to three hundred insane persons throughout
tie State in the custody of their friends OF
incaTcerated in jails, who can't get medical
treatment in Asylums which might effect
THEN cure. He urges the building of an
other Asylum or charging the present
ones.
REPAIRS AND IMPROV EMENTS.
A detailed statement Of the repairs and
improvements at the Asylum is given, and
recommendation is made that the gas
works be renovated at an estimated cost of
$1,000.
THE OFFICIAL STAFF.
DR.. Blackford's report contains the fol
lowing tribute to the official staff:
To the assistant physicians, Drs. E. G.
Fisher, A. II. Weir and e. S. Walker, and to
the acting assistants, Drs. Dejarnette and
acknowledgment for the fidelity ability land
earnestness with which the varied and i'm
pOrtant duties of their respective departments
have been performed.
| To Captain Lewis Hartman, Steward, who
| performs the responsible duties of his office
with special regard to the best interests OF the
Asylum, desire to express my high appreci-
alton of the cheerful cooperation he has ex
| tended to me in the discharge of our respective
duties. | am also indebted for much valua-
BILE information and assistance to MI. g. J.
| Armistead, the clerk of the Asylum, and to
Mrs. Virginia L. Thompson, the matron, fol-
her intelligent and efficient cooperation in
the discharge of the duties of her position
And | must add that. by their almost uni.
formly good conduct and fidelity, those in
subordinate positions, the employees and at
tendantS of the Asylum, have contributed a
most important share in securing the harmo
of the institution.
i PERSONAL.
In speaking of the amusements of. the
patients the Superintendent says:
i In this connection beg to express my ap
probation and thanks to the following ladies
and gentlemen who have entertained the pa
tientS with delightful vocal and instrumental
concerts Mrs. b.. Myrick, Misses Kate
Slower, Fannie Tannehill, Lucy and Annie
Walker, Dr.. R. A. ,McChesney, MI. George
Rusmisell, Mr.. ID. S. Price, Mr.. Willard Fix
and the Middlebrook Band. These concerts
have been source of pleasant evening recre
alton for the patients, and have been greatly
enjoyed
WHERE THE PATIENTS ARE FROM.
Of the patients, now in the Asylum
Augusta county furnishes the larges
number of any single county, send
ing "a; Albemarle comes next, will
~; Rockingham comes next with SO
Rockbridge with 26; Loudoun, 10; Shenan
doah, IS; Highland -; Fauquier, 20; Fred
erick, IS; Bedford, q. The other counties
have numbers ranging from II down to l
Of the cities, Richmond sends 81, Norfoll
4, Lynchburg 10, Petersburg 4, and Dan
vile L.
OCCUPATIONS OF THOSE ADMITTED
DURING THE YEAR.
e Of the males admitted during the yea
: there were-1 telegraph operator, laborers
clerks, 2 merchants, IA farmers, railwa
t. employee, l tailor, l jeweler, l student,
carpenter, l doctor, l lawyer, 1 miller,
shoemaker, l teacher, and 2 without an
j.. avocation. Of the females admitted, ther
:. were 10 housewives, 2 farmers wives,
s farmer S widow, ! seamstress, housewor