The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1891-01-01
Western Lunatic Asylum.

at Staunton, for the fiscal year ending
September so, $780, 1t is the sixty third
annual report of the asylum, and is
carefully prepared and interesting docu-
ment A brief synopsis of its contents
is published below:
On Oct /, 1889, there were 601 patients
in the asylum, 900 males and 500 females.
During the year 125 We're admitted, e.
males and 50 females and 1879 were re-
moved, 72 males and so females. of whom
together SO had recovered, 5 had improv
ed, 3 were unimproved, and SO died.
The total number of patients in the asy-
lum for any time during the year was
7a6 and the daily average number was
6O6 The total number remaining in
the asylum Sept. 80, 1890, was 6O4, of
whom 294 were males and $40 were fe-
males. OF the 12G in the asylum for any
time in the year. 237 were married, 1923
unmarried, 35 widows, IA widowers, and
1a of unknown social relation.
OF the G. males admitted, &c were far
mers, II laborers, clerks, 2 merchants,
and A persons of no occupation. Notwo
of the IA others belonged to any one oc
cupation.
In the table of supposed causes OF in
sanity for the 1875 males and females adj
mtted, 10 eases were assigned to heredi-
ty, 10 to i'll health, to la grippe, l to ex-
cessive reading, and to love.
OF the 7aG patients in the asylum, GA
were committed from Augusta county,
SO from Albemarle. 80 from Rockingham,
so from Richmond city, "a from Rock
bridge, 90 from Frederick, 81 from Fan
quier, and 10 from Staunton. The others
came in numbers less than 90 from the
various counties and cities of the State.
The lowest ratio of deaths to the total
number of cases, since the establishment
of the asylum in 1928, was 2O5 per cent,
in 1884, when the total number of patti
ents was 40. The highest ratios were
1888 per cent. in 1928, 1919 in 1910, II O1
in 1863, and 1905 in 1864 The ratio for
1890 was 4.a7. The greatest number of
patients in the asylum for any time in
any one year was 775, in 1886. The total
number for 1896 was reg.
The total number of garments of yari-
Gus kinds made by female patients DUR
ing the year was 4.316. The number of
pieces of clothing washed was 296, 1886.
OF the 4,24S patients admitted to the
asylum since its beginning in 1897, 1917
died and 2,427 were discharged, leaving
604 now in the asylum.
Among those who died in the year re-
cen ly ended were one who had been in
the asylum "A years, and another who
had been there 43 years.
The total capacity of the asylum Oct
l was 592 beds. The three asylums of
Virginia received during the year about
G24 applications for admission, but on ac-
count of lack of room only 1876 persons
were admitted. The new building now
to be ere cted next spring, will give the
Stanton asylum capacity for 200 addi-
tional persons.
The report of Captain Lewis Hartman,
steward up to Oct 1, 1890, shows the re-
ceipts OF the year to have been $4,000
from the state, $5,4lO from patients for
whom board is paid, and So. 1872 from sales
and exchanges. The chief items of ex-
pense were the following: Salaries, $780,
S91 wages of attendants and servants,
$15,s9l fresh meats, ST., 452 fuel for two
years, $10,243; ordinary repairs and i'm
provelnents, $5,416; farm and teams,
$3,977s; -four, $3.6G3; medical supplies,
$s,5lS: butter, So, 74S; sugar, 1880; cloth
ing. $3.4sS; coffee. $3.50.
A special appropriation of $4,000. not
counted above, was received last year for
the new building now being completed
for male patients About 5000 will be
required for furnishing this new building
and the other similar building to be
erec.ed next summer for females. For
supporting the 200 patients that they
will accommodate, an additional apprO-
priation of $4,000 will be necessary for
the fiscal year 1a90-91, and of $50, 900 for
1892 AT the board meeting held Oct
% the sum of $4,000, with the costs of
condemnation proceedings, was appro-
priated to pay Mrs. Catharine Brown for
a small piece of land containing two
springs needed to increase the asylum's
water supply for the 200 additional patti
ents soon to be admitted. Heretofore,
during periods of drought. it has fre>
quently been necessary to obtain water
from the city water works of Staunton at
q cost to the asylum of about $50 per
month.
The support of the asylum during the
year ending Oct. 80 cost SOL, 973. OK, an
average of $151.T for each patient for
the year, and of 40 cents per day for each
patient Among 40 of the leading insane
asylums of the United States whose
annual expenditure per patient in 1888
is published in the report. only three
surpass the Staunton asylum in regard
to low cost. Those three are the follow
ing Central of Kentucky, whose annual
expense per patient was $137.67; Willard,
New York, $145.9O Longview, Ohio.
$149.79. The highest was Utica, N. Y,
$262O6.
The sanitary condition of the asylum
and general health were excellent during
the year. In his report DIR. Blackford,
superintendent, suggests and gives good
reasons for changing the title of the
asylum to Western State Hospital
He recommends the erection of residences
on the grounds for the officers and ply
sicians, in order that they may be near
to their duties. Most other asylums in
the country have such residences. Crate
full Acknowledgements are extended by
DR.. Blackford to ministers of the various
denominations for their kindness in con-
Quoting the Sunday afternoon religious
services; and to friends of the asylum
for their kindness in giving entertain
ments for the patients. Among those
taking part in entertainments he mems
tions specially Mrs. w. L. Bumgardner
and Mrs. Myrick; Miss Clara Hunt, of
New Orleans; Misses Maggie Splitter and
Annie Cochran; Misses Haughwout,
Taylor, Slower, Wilson, May, Walker,
Young and Kinzley; Professors Nichols
and Myer; Messrs. Olivier, Byers, Har-
man, Blackfords, Walker, Hutlan, Camp
bell and Smith; and of the asylum EN-
plouoc Moccrc D,;oo uo,..