Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-10-16
CARE OF THE INSANE
ANNUAL MEETING or THE DIREC-
TORS OF WESTERN HOSPITAL.
The Iu.tttutiou Iospccted-The ne
mort OF superintendent Dinc"t"r"-
rutcmpcraucc and the Cigarette
Habft--Overwork.
uabft--Overwork.

STANTON. VA, october l5-tspe-
c,o,, The regular meeting of the Board
OF Directors Of the Western STATE HOS
initial took place here to-day the iol-
lowing members OF the board were pre-
sent: James r. Beckham, Alexandra;
a. G. Conway, Rapidan. j. L. T!edway,
Pnisylvania: l.. a. Krise. l.ynchburS
G. H. Iarrick. Frederick; L. T.. Stick
ley. Shenandoah. and IL. J. Williams.
Frank b. Berkeley. and =. II. Trout,
Augusta. An examination OF the insti-
tuition was made and Superintendent Ben
jamin Blackford and his four associates
were complimented on their administra-
ton.
SUPERINTENDENTS REPORT.
The annuai report Of Superintendent
Blackford, read to the board. Is
quite lengthy paper, covering
some twenty-six pages. and dea',
ing with the affairs Of the hospitai
In an able way II appears that in TINS
the sixty-eighth. year Of the hospl'ai
existence. the admissions during the
syear were llj males and o. females
total OF 207 up to October LIST. 1hese'
together with those previously ADMIT
make up 737 inmates on october ISL. Inc
recoveries noted are 10 CAS- males anu
~ females. with total OF Il lhproEou'
The deaths were 2S males and = iemales,
while the number Of patients dlscharstu
was 1s9-males. 81. and 9S females hoie
number treated during the year. va.
The Superintondcnt T,iterates his views
EXPRESSED in former report as 10
the matter Of separate asyIuihs ,oi
.danrerous lunatics harmless imoc-
Giles" ana idiots" as suggested by e%-
Governor Mckinney, arguing that such
separation IS impractcable ana uhW'se'
The great necessity existing Ia virginia
for a training school for foeble-minded
children is spoken Of. ana the establish
rncnt Of such schools is strongly sug-
gested. r.
Under the title. 'Intempcrance and
the Cigarette Habit" DIR. Blackiord says:
"AIcoholic insanity IS now wen-recos-
nized form Of mental alienation Alco-
bol has a peculiar affinity for the brain
and nervous system. No man can drink
alcohol habtualy to excess without SUI
fering mental impairment; II matters
not how strongly ne may be endowed
mentally. The brightest mind becomes
clouded and daZed ard the moral sense
blunted: ne loses that keenness of porcep-
ton and power of sustained efort so
necessary to success in life. and, If per
sisted in. the degenerative process goes
on until 1t ends in moral ana mch'di
jmbeciIity While II is quite true that
the direct evil effects Of the alcohol hahit
can be overcstimatcd, II IS just as GER
tain that 1t is easy to underestimate the
indirect evils that are the outcome OF
intcmperance.
TO the same extent the same could
be said Of the pernicious 'cieare,te-smok-
ing habit row so prevalent among anu
undermining the moral. physical. and
mental health Of the youth Of our coun-
Try. during the period Of youth ana &C.
yelopment. when the brain Is tender ana
plastic. and easily al ected by the noX-
ious limitations passing through ana
around the nerve centres. The YOUTHS
nervous organization is apt to become
more shattered by the cigarette habit
than II he were addicted to alchohc
stlmulants during that period and VIII
surely be the first TO give way, ana OF
course. the first to suffer with its
strain on the nervous system. The youth
at college who burns the midnight oil
is 10 be commended for his industry, bat
too often he burns out his brains at the
same time. with the accompanying ciga-
rette the process OF waste and injury
10 the nervous system may be greater
than the repair. and mental bankruptcy
is the result"
OVERWORK.
The fierce struggle for social adj
Vaucement and hasty requirement Of
riches. and oVcrstudy in schools and
colleges are noted by DR. Blackford as
prominent factors IN producing mental
troubles. 1t is disclosed that there are
in this institution 1c) cpileptics. a class
generally regarded as the bette noir Of
insane hospitals, on account OF homi-
cidal impulses. II is noted as melan-
choly fact that this class Is increasing
I'm Virginia There are 1000 In the
United states Or Blackford suggests
that for the present the better plan for
this State is to erect separate buildings
Of a cheap character for this class OF
afflicted persons.
The Superintendent from this report
evidently is not a believer In woman :
rights, which means mems wrongs, FOR
he SAYS: The cornerstone upon when
all true ana national life is built is the
home. There man gives her undisputed
sway in that realm; she has no compeu-
ton. man ungrudgingly recognizes her
superiority: but when she descends from
that lofty position to compete with men,
and demands her rights. then she must
abandon her prerogative of privilege
willingly accorded to her. and must be
content with her rights.
James Weir. Jr.. is quoted srOm Sep
TENDER American Naturalist in his ar
tlcle on Effects Of Female Suffrage on
Postcrlty," as saying that "a majority
of female susfraeists are degcnerateS; tha.
they are Viragints, or women who have
masculine traits, and that moral
and physical degeneration Of the race
will inevitably follow the success OF
the movement: that while tho effects
Of degeneration are slow in making their
appearance. yet they are exceedingly Ger
tain"
The permanent improvements OF the
past fiscal year Were the building Of a
new laundry and a new steam plant.
costing $l6ST. the former to be opened
in few days.
The total per capita cost per patient
for every expense and charge is $l57
this year. as opposed TO $li5 the year be-
fore.
MANASSAS.