Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-12-31
THE WESTERN LUNATIC ASYLUM.
REPORTS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
AND OF THE SUPERINTENDENT.


REPORTS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
AND OF THE SUPERINTENDENT.
We have received copy of the reports of the
Board of Directors and of the Superintendent |
of the Western Lunatic Asylum OF virginia,
located in this city, for the fiscal wear lSs9~9o.
That this institution is wei co lducted and
that all the officers, attendan and employees
faithfully perform their respective duties is
satisfa ,torily shown by the report of the Board
OF Directors which We publish in full as fol-
lows:
To His Exceuency. P. w. Mckinney, Governor OF
Virginia:
The Board of Directors of the Western Luna
tic Asyl um herewith respectfully submits the
report OF the superintendent of the Asylum
for the fiscal year ending September 3Oth, 1890.
This report which is elaborate and full, shows
in detail the condition of the Asylum.
The financial exhibit made by the Steward,
which accompanies col 70 the report shows ea,-
1t is proper 10 state that OF this balance the
sum of 81 100. with the costs OF certain condem-
nation proceedings. was appropriated by the
meeting held this day, october q, 1880, to pay
Mrs. Catharine Brown the amount allowed
her by the commissioners appointed ny the
county court OF Augusta county TO condemn
small parcel OF land, upon which were situated
two springs which were needed by the Asylum
for It's purposes. For a number of years the
fact has confronted this Beard that the water
supply of the Asylum was totally inadequate
during periods of drought. 1t was requently
necessary to supplement the supply from the
water works OF the city OF Staunton, at cost
| to the Asy lum of about $50 per month. The
additions being made to the Asylum, which
will increase It's capacity from six hundred,
| its present capacity, to about eight hundred
patients, rendered it absolutely necessary that
we should proceed at once to increase the wa
| ter supply, 40 secure In our own reservoir a
sufficiency for all the purposes of the Asylum.
In securing the two springs mentioned above
| VIC this object
plished.
The addition to the male department of the
FAsylum, for the building OF which the General
| Assembly at its last session appropriated the
sum of Sl0,0 900, Is nearly completed, and will be
ready for occupation in the early spring, CIV
| are being taken by the Board to begin work on
a similar addition to the female department,
The capacity of the two buildings will be about
An appropriation of about $4,000 will be ne
cessary to properly furnish the two buildings,
and an additional appropriation of $4,000 for
the fiscal year 1890 '9l. and of $1,000 for the
| year 1891 '92, Will be necessary for the support
of the increased number ofpatlents to be re-
ceiyed into the Asylum when these two addi-
lions shall have been completed.
| We call your Excellency's special attention
| to the accommodations of the Super1ntend-
emit with reference to the change in the corpor-
| ate name of the Asylum; and also that the
General Assembly be requested to appropri-
ate the necessary amount to build upon the
grounds of the Asylum, and convenient there
| 10. the necessary dwelling houses for the Su-
|
| the latter recommendation as absolutely es
| sentiai to the welfare of the Asylum.
| The Bolrd testifies with pleasure to the ef-
| ficient and faithful performance OF duty on the
| part of the Superintendent, Assistant Physi-
| clans, the Steward, the Secretary, the Matron.
and also of the attendants and employees. NO
Institution of the kind was ever provided wi h
| a corps of officials more devoted to the welfare
| of the unfortunates committed To their charge.
Respectfully submitted,
| SAMUEL F. COLEMAN,
| President of the Board of Directors.
The report of the Superintendent being elab-
crate. is necessarily long. and it contains many
wise suggestions and recommendations which
have received the commentator of the Dr.
rectors. In his summary of movement OF the
population the Superintendent. in his report.
says that on October l. 1889. there remained IN
the Asylum 2s9 male and 3o2 female patients.
making total of SOL.
During the twelve months past, 1889 go, there
have been admitted into the Asylum 125 OF
whom 81 were males and IS females. OF these
~ males and females were rc-admitted-total
Is.
The total number of patients udder treat
ment during the year was 726, of whom 1856
were males and So. females.
| The total number removed during the year
was ~ males and so females. making 122
The number remaining, 2S4 males and BIC
females-total 604.
The average monthly number was 605 and
the daily average 6C6.
The total number discharged was 80, of whom
80 were males and 40 females.
The total number discharged cured was 50
of whom IS were males and So females. Total
number discharged improved was 5-3 males
and 2 females; unimprcved, 81 male and
females; died during the year, 32-22 males and
10 females.
The highest number in the Asylum during
the year was on July 81. lS90-623. The leas,
number on November 80, 1sS9-59S.
Percentage Of recoveries to admissions, .72i
Percentage of deaths to daily average. IS.
The number ofpatients admitted from 1872
to 1890 has been 4,24S of whom ,2l7 died and
2427 were discharg cd, leaving now in the Asy.
lum 604
The total capacity of the Asylum is 5s2 beds
II will be seen from the above that there ha:
been month during the year in which the
number of patients uuder treatment did moi
exceed the capacity of the institution.
From the date of this report, October l, 1890
its capacity will be increased by 10 beds, mak'
ing SOP. by theinprovements and repairs made
In Tho main or centre building.
Is
The sanitary condition OF the Asylum dur.
ing the past year has been excellent, and, as