The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1891-04-02
The Insane.

/ times tilar increasing attention is beng
! given to the treatment of the insane
and to discovering methods for the cure
and relief Of those that are durable
! The improvements which have been
made at the Western Lunatic Asylum,
and those in contemplation will be an
important step in the direction Of sepa.
rating the durable from the chronic in
durable, and thus furnish facilities foi
speedily many who otherwise might re-
main in the Asylum for a long time.
/ We noticed in the Philadelphia Press,
Of the 18th, a statement from DR.. Henry
NJ Wether!l, jr., Secretary of the Lu-
macy Committee of the State Board Of
Charities, relative to the proposed legis.
/ tation III Pennsylvania for the separa-
ton of chronic and criminal insane from
/ the curably deranged in the asylums and
! hospitals Of that Commonwealth. He
] said that it was we'll known fact that
/ the hospitals and asylnms were crowded
| in excess Of their capacity and ability to
successfully treat insanity from a cura-
tive standpoint. During the past year,
he continued, it appears that less than
5 per cent. of absolute recoveries are re
allied upon the total number OF insane
| treated, Notwithstanding large expendi-
lures of money. He thus sums up the
case as follows:
l. On account of the miscellaneous crowtling
together of all classes of the insane, making a
proper classification of patients impossible, the
/ thorough individual. medical and other treat
ment of the curahle and relevaile insane is
prevented, to the material increase Of chronic
insanity.
2. For the same reason, it is Impossible to pro-
vide and supervise suitable employment and oc :
cupation for the insane.
g. The chronic and incurabe insane now
maintained i'll State hospitals, to the great det-
r.ment of the durable and relievabie cases, are
costing the State annually upward of Ss0o,oCn in
excess of the proper cost OF maintenance.
A. 1t is impossible, under existing methods,
for any of the medical STATS of these hospitals
to attend and treat properly the number of in
sane now in these institutions, with the view to
their cure and relief.
s. No separation is effected of the criminal in
sane from those who are most unfortunate, but
not OF the criminal class. OF the former, 226
reported as detained in the state hospitals.
The Committee ON I,unacy OF the Board of
Public Charities have recommended the follow
ing measures for the relief of these conditions
l. The establishment OF State asylum tnot
hospital for the chronic insane, totally dissev-
cred from any of the existing State hospitals to
maintain that class in humane and suitable
manner, and to provide them with proper en-
poyment, at saving to the Commonwealth of
upward of 100000 annually, thereby making
room in the present hospitals fer all durable
and relievable insane, restoring these hospitals
to their true functions Hospitals and in so
doing, there would then be no necessity for in
I creased hospital accommodation, nor for erect
ing any new hospital for the next twenty
years more
3 The founding of State hospital for the
criminal insane which shall remove all that
class from the various state hospitals ts
houses. penitentiaries and 1als Of the State ARA
provide for their humane care, treatment eiR.
.l5iey-nlcnt and safe tietentiofi upon truly
+ nomieal basis.
Upon this question, however, Do,
differ DR.. Blackboard, in his last an IA
report, referring to the suggestfoN et
T separate asylums for different classes vi
/ the insane, and especially favoring diff
4 ferent buildings and superintendent for
/ those classed above as incurabe from
/ those believed to be durable, he says: II
wish to place myself, with my observa>
/ tions and experience in the care of the
insane, on record as utterly opposed to
] any such scheme as unwise. impolitic
I and extravaganza, with the present condi-
I ton of the finances OF the State. He
/ argues eloqnently against such !, policy
I saying ''let all have the same kind of
/ care and let all indulge the same hope,
| even if delusive to many, Of ultimate
recovery, but do not drive any to des-
pair, and destroy the little mind they
/ still possess, by consigning them to a
house over the entrance to which Dan
| te's lines on the gates of hell might well
/ be inscribed
Leave hope behind all who enter here.
There is no subject that more strongly
appeals to the charitable and liberal con
sideration of the Legislature, and we
/ hope it will be taken up, and through
the information to be gotten from the
tary laws will be enacted and such pros
vision made as will aid in the successful
treatment of the insane of the Cons
monwealth.
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Roll of Honor
In New Hope Graded School for month
ending March Goth, 1885,
Pupils receiving 100 on department
Homer B. CARRIER, Crawford Bell, G. M
Driver, Homer w. Shumake, Frank A
Kerr, J. Newton Kerr, Frank A. Cox