Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1896-10-21
SIXTY-N1NTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
WESTERN STATE HOSPITAL.

SIxTY-N1NTH ANNUAL REPORT OF TIL
! WESTERN TATE HOSPITAL.
The Board of Directors of the Western Stat
Hospital, consisting of J. T. Beckham, pres
dent, J.. L. Treadway, G. G. Conway, P. q
Trout, II. J. Williams, A. F. Withrow, F. 3
Berkeley, E.E. Stickley and J. W. Larrick
held their annual meeting at the institution
on Thursday last, and after careful inspee
ton, found the affairs of every department i,
the most satisfactory condition
! The following is a condensed account of tn
conduct of the institution during the fisca
year ending September 3d. 1896.
DR.. BLAcKFoRD's REPORT.
DIR. Blackford submitted the 69th annua
report OF condition. operation and manage
ment of the Western State Hospital for th
fiscal year ending September 3d. 1895.
SYNOPSIS OF POPULATION.
The following table shows the population
ETC., during the year:
Patients on hand Oct. 1, 1896, 70
OF which, there were, males. ......... 80
- females, ........ "a
Total admission, 26
hosai na,es turing year.. %
Total number of patients during year. SO
Daily average. males. ................ 40
females, ............... 50
Total average during year, ............ rs
Males discharged, recovered, 4
EcmdAco
Total discharged during year, 6
| Improved males. 9 females. .... 1
Not insane males, 2 females, $500.
| Died-29 males 81 females ...... 5
! DiSoh q rood IN hopd y,oJo
| Males removed during year..
Total discharged during year,......... 10
Remaining September 80, 1892
| males 1915 females, ................ 10
Proportion of recoveries to admis-
sions, ................. "a to To-
Proportion of deaths to daily aver
age, ................... 1890. 81 to 1O
Re admitted during the year-21 males,
q females; total, 4
Highest number under treatment on
any one day was August 80, 1885,. 89l
Lowest on Oct. l, 1896, ~
A large per cent. of the admissions were
hopelessly insane and incurable from the out
Set the old and infirm had their insanity
complicated with physical infirmities. OF the
fifty Deaths two were 80 years old; five owe,
20; seven over 60, and six over so years.
There are three who have been residents in
the hospital over fifty years; four between
forty.five and fifty; nineteen between thirty
and thirty-ive.
The number of patients admitted from 1924
to September 30, 1885, was 5,272, of whom
l. 87 died. and 1886 discharged, leaving as re-
ported 799 in the hospital.
NO EPIDEMIC OF ANY KIND.
The hospital has been free from epidemic
of any kind; the sanitary arrangements are
excellent; and, where exercising economy, it
is not done at the expense of the comfort and
enjoyments of the inmates.
There was one death from suicide and one
death as the result of an accident.
OCCUPATION AND AMusEMENTs.
By occupations and amusementse everything
is done to relieve the condition or divert the
minds of the patients, substituting healthy
mental processes for morbid ones. Among
these may be mentioned, as chief, 1.-THE Hos
pital Band" which has well earned reputa-
ton through the state and has been a most
important foctor in entertaining our patients.
During the winter months the band and
orchestra provided excellent music for con-
certs and the weekly dances, besides playing
in the court yard, so those patients who can
not be present In the amusement hall are
entertained. In the spring, summer and fall
months open air concerts are given on the
lawn and are greatly enjoyed by the patients
and also by visitors to the hospital grounds.
It has been said that pebble may divert the
course of the river at its fountain head, so
may something that seems to be as insigniti-
cant turn the mental stream into healthy
channel We desire in this connection to ex-
press our appreciation and sincere thanks for
the efficient service rendered the institution
by the attendants composing the band.
REPAIRS AND IMPROVEMENTS.
Announcement is made of the completion
of the new laundry, which has been equipped
with the most modern machinery with q ca
pacity of from TO- 900 to Is, pieces per week.
By the completion of the new laundry the
management was enabled to utilize portion
of the old laundry for the accommodations
of employees which had been greatly needed.
The whole front portion of this building,
which was in a very d1lapidated and unsafe
condition, had first to be torn down and re-
built. A large amount of painting, white
washing and minor repairs were made. The
have been overhauled, repaired and reprinted,
adding to the preservation of the property.
MEDICAL AND SCIENTIFIC.
The medical treatment of our patients,
which is always the most important duty of
the medical officers has received conscien-
tious attention. Tue patients are considered
individually, and their mental and physical
ailments receive sklllful and studious atten-
ton. No MEANS mental, surgical or hygienic,
are spared which might aid in the restoration
or relieve the suffering of the unfortunate
patients under our care. The physicians are
earnest in their devotion to the interests of
their patients, and in addition to their regular
visits to their respective wards, make frequent
calls to their patients who are acutely excited
or ill 1t has been the endeavor of all the
officers to impress upon attendants and en-
ployees the doctrine of universal kindness,
intelligent consideration, and respectful at
tentlon to the needs of the patient.
FINANCES OF THE HOSPITAL.
The Stewards report shows that the sum of
s99, 1853 80 was expended on expense account.
Dividing this amount by the daily average of
patients in the hospital, 1852, the average per
capita cost for maintenance has been $130.27.
The Stewards report shows most satisfacto-
~ and economical condition of finances.
which should be commended. The per capita
cost for the year is the lowest in the history of
the institution.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
Acknowledgements are made to newspapers
and their editors for papers, to the Beverley
Club and other friends for books, magazines
and papers, to the ministers of the city for
conducting religious services, and to the wise
and valuable advice and CO. operation of the
Board of Directors and Executive Committee,
individually and officially, in the manage
ment of the institution.
James Ker, ST.,
At called meeting of the Vestry of Trinity