Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-10-23
WESTERN LUNArIU ASYLUM.

SIXTY SECOND ANNUAL REPoRT-THE ASYLUM
IN EXCELLENT CoNDTrIoN-THE SESSION OF
THE BOARD OF D1REcToRs-THE REPORTS Elk
AHMED AND APPROVED.
} The sixty. second annual meeting ofthc Boart
=. of Directors OF the Western Lunatic Asylum
was held on the 10th instant. DIR. Moffett wal
unavoidably absent in the morning. but ar
, rived during the afternoon, completing full
: attendance of all the members.
The Superintendent, DR.. B. Blackford. and
the Slew ard, Captain Lewis Hartman. who en-
tered upon their official duties last April. sub
mitted their reports, respectively. for the fiscal
year ended sOth of September. They are very
full of statistics and details and furnish a clear
insight into all the affairs of the Asylum.
| sTATIsTIvs.
Compiling first from the report of the Super
lintendent there were admitted during the
year, 81 males and "a females. or those re adj
mtted, 8 were males, and females. The whole
number of patients under treatment during
the year was e77. The average monthly number
Gil, and the average daily sos.
The deaths during the year, were Is males
and q females and the discharges (recovered)
| were % males and l3 females of which males
| were improved and two females unimproyed.
The totals In the Asylum during the year
were $40 males and 1877 females. The capacity
| OF the Asylum for patients in beds is 592. Thus
1t appears that the number in attendance for
| treatment was in excess Of full accom- moda-
| ton.
Among the deaths was one patient. aged 81
years, who had been an inmate over 90 years.
Another. aged II, was there 60 years.
REPAIRS AND IMPROVEMENTS.
| The long-needed repairs to the interior walls
| tlol or pf h1i n n 90 n
the female ward was one Of the first matters to
engage the attention of the superin tendent and
Board of Directors and accordingly they were
ordered. They involved the entire removal of
| the old interior walls and the substitution of
new ones. The work was, of necessity. tedious
and at the same time temporary quarters had
| to be provided for the large number of patients
ALI this work has been accomplished in deslr-
able style, and the patients restored to their
old home. Many other improvements and re-
pairs have been completed and Others are in
progress. One of the completed Is an excellent
silo filled with an ample supply of succulent
food for the live stock belonging to the Insti
tuition. Several members OF the Board of Di-
rectors are farmers and have silos. In the
personal inspection of the property mad by
the Board, all the members who could speak
from observation and experience-having silos
themselves.-were complimentary to Captain
Hartman for the completeness of the structure,
and the methods he adopted In filling it with
food. In this connection, 1t is proper to say
that the enlargement Of the gas-works is in
contemplation.
SAFETY OF PROPERTY AND LIFE IN CASE OF
FIRE.
The Legislature makes no provision-it is
supposed because OF the very large sum 1t
would require-to effect fire insurance in the
buildings Not only that protection. but the
safety Of the lives of the patients, which would
be in jeopardy in the event of calamity by
IRE, have weighed with serious consideration
upon the minds of the Board and the officers of
the Asylum.
Recently negotiations were opened with the
city government with the view of obtaining an
ample supply of water under the pressure of
the reservoir in case of fire These negotiations
were successful-the Asylum tapping several
mains commencing at the corner of Frederick
and Coalter streets. The pressure will throw a
large stream over all the buildings. To render
available all the attendant features of this Sc
curity, the plugs of the city fire department
will be placed adjacent to the buildings and
the electric automatic fire alarm system placed |
within them.
LUNATICS NOT PROVIDED FOR.
d \
the applications made which cannot be grant i
ed, for the reception of the insane.-some of
whom are now in the iails of the Common
wealth, the only. but unsuitable accommoda- |
ton which can be afforded for their safety-Dr. |
Biackford, in his response to the requests of
Governor Lee, made upon all the Superintend |
ents, to again renew their efforts for the bene-
1T of these afflicted of our population, makes
some suggestions. which, II adopted would |
more effectualy aid the county authorities in
making temporary provision. till room at
the Asylums can be obtain ed for them.
THE FINANCES.
The superintendent. in submitting the report |
Of the Steward, approves OF the considerations |
introduced for securing to the Asylum it usual
annual appropriation of funds. This is the |
more appropriate because of the large balance, |
49, Ais 30 on hand at the close of the fiscal year.
This amount was subsequently, partially re-
duced in paying for the extraordinary repairs
to the female ward, and in meeting the expense
of other Improvements, to which will be added
another extraordinary expense of more than
50, 900 for the water-supply already adverted to.
Captain Hartman made his contract for the an
nual supply of coal providing for delivery be-
fore the end of the fiscal year In order that the
expense 81, 100. might be paid before that time
expired, but delays In its delivery contributed
to making the balance on hand then as large
as 1t was.
Capt. Hartman, In his itemized expense. &C.
count, referz in his comments to the lower
prices of many OF the subsistence supplies for
the food as compared with previous years,
which may not occur again, and, in that con-
nection, remarks
TT would be by means judlcous to make
this surplus basis for estimating the sum
that will be needed for the support of the Asy-
lum for the next two years, for 1t is easy to see
that the surplus Is an accidental one. The
largest item In 1t s. 100. for coal would have
been taken away II the coal we bought had
been delivered and paid for before the Both OF
September. as we desired and intended"
The reports were carefully examined by the
lily of the officers in the discharge of duties
commended. and the approval OF the COM
munacations entered upon the records.
In view OF the continued illness of Drs. Fish.
err and Weir, whoare consequently still absent,
the sympathies of the Board were rendered and
their leave of absence extended.
The medical staff at present is DR.. Geo. 8.
Walker, one of the regular physicians. in
charge OF the female ward; and DIR. S. De
Jarnette, of Spotsylvania, in charge of the male
ward; and DR.. ]. B. Rawlings, of Brunswick, at
the dispensary-the two latter supplying va
cancies for the present because of the absence
Of Drs. Fisher and Weir.
The Park-ArbOr. Day,
In order that every preparation may be COM
plete, the Arbor-day at Gipsey Hill Park has
been changed from the 18th of October to Fri.