Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-11-25
THE WESTERN LUNATlc ASYLUM.
Figures and Suggestions Contained In Its
Annual Report.

The annual report Of the Western Luna.
tic Asylum. AZ stanton. for the fiscal
year ending September Both. gives the fol.
lowing statistics:
Number OF patients remaining in the
asylum October /. 1892, was $50 males
S23 females. Total. CO..
Admitted during the year ending Sep.
TENDER 30 1895. 80 males. 81 females. To
tai 49,
The total number in the asylum during
the year was as males. 34 females. Total
40. Daily average, $40 males, 325 females
Discharged during the year ending Sep
tcmber ~, 1885.
AZ recovered. % males, "a females
Total. rs. by order Of court. / female
As improved, ~ males. females. Total
z. AS unimpTOVed J male, | female. To-
tai 2 Died. 25 males. Is females. Total
n. Total removed, 81 males, IS females
Total. 40.
Total remaining September 80 1898. 80
males. S26 females. Total. $50
THE CAPACITY.
Superintendent Blackford SAYS: "Slnce
the completion OF the new buildings the
total capacity Of this asylum is now &(
beds. There are always a number OF
patients on furlOugh. upon the applica-
ton Of relatives and friends, but whose
entire recovery Is not certain enough "a
justify their final discharge from the
jurisdiction Of the institution Thsse pa
TENTS are liable to be returned al any
time on account OF a relapse. which
causes the number on furlough 10 vary
continually.
Permit me to renew my suggestion in
former reports that the word lunatc
he eliminated from the title Of this msti-
tuition ana that its legal title be made
The Western State Hospital Stauntcn,
Va. instead OF Western Luna ic Asylum
The word lunatc Is distastetul not only
20 patients. but TO relatives AMI friends
g 81 -
with In all institutions for the care and
treatment Of the unfortunate insane
In the female department we nave e.
tablished a large Sewing-roOm within the
last year under the charge cf a capable
seOmStress. 70 which number OF fe-
male patients are daily taken from. the
wards and are instructed In the usual
occupation Of sewing and knit.inL, fancy
needle-work etc. Some Of them have
never been known TO do any work OF tnis
character while on the wards. but after
being taken to the sewing room and
trained would DO their share OF work
without giving any trouble, and seemed
In fact 10 take pride in IT. In this way
a large number of garments are made
for use in the asylum.
FINANCIAL.
The amount of the appropriation 20 he
asked for for the support OF The asylum
during the next two fiscal years Innst
ha based upon the number Of patients
This cannot be foretold with entire &C
curacy. OF course. but II we take the IN
crease during the last year as a basis
Of calculation. we may expect To have
AZ least 100 more inmates TO prOVi1a for
than were In the institution on september
90 1893 This will make the daily average
number 765. which. at the very moderate
per capita cost OF $3.50 viii require for
maintenance the sum Of $4,000 in round
numbers OF this amount We may safely
calculate that $1,000 Will be ecsiy 4 foI
the board OF pay patients and for sundrie'
sold The balance Of 100000 VIII be- the
sum to be appropriated by the Common
wealth for each OF the two years Of The
n xt biennial period-that Is. a total ap-
Precipitation OF S2i2GD.
1t should be borne In mind that in
suggesting this as the amount OF the ap-
preparation it is assumed that the mum
Der Of patients will not reach the tOta
capacity of the asylum by So