Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1897-12-09
WESTERN STATE HOSPITAL.

Tho SEVENTEEN annual report Of the West
eIn State Hospitali is published. There have
been in the hospital during the year 1905 pa
tients of whom 537 have been males and 46!
females. There have been discharged dur
ing the year 81 males, g. females and Al
have died.
The superintendent calls attention to the
fact that in the price of provisions recently
an increase of S2.7Os, was caused by the in
creased price in meat and in flour 81 1921
over the last fiscal year, but he had been
able to reduce the fuel expenditure by ST.,
sS9.
He estimates that the usual appropriation
of 500 900 will be necessary for the next
two years.
He also calls attention to the fact that
there are now in the hospital over 100 cpl
leptics and that this class of patients is con-
stantiy on the increase. and that they will
soon SO tax the capacity of the institution as
to call for additional buildings.
He says:
In this connection it may be proper to
say that the public stands appalled, at the
enormous provision being made for the &C.
commodati0n of the insane, and without un-
Outstanding the true reason. concludes that
insanity must be tremendously on the in,
crease. The experience which superin-
tendent gains, amid the mental wreckage of
large insane hospital. gives him wide OPP
p0rtunitieS of studying some of the causes
which lead to such a lamentable dethrOne-
ment Of reason"
He again forcibly calls attention to the
needed change in the lunacy laws.
There is 70 reason. says DR.. Blackboard,
why the present law of magisterial courts
should not be done away with, as far as the
examination of insane persons is concerned.
It is relic of ante bellum times. when we
had no county or corporation judges. I'm
der the examination of judge aud two
physicians, and such other witnesses as may
be necessary, greater care and better judg-
ment can be exercised, and fewer persons
adjudged insane and sent to the hospitals
than under the present law. l am decidedly
OF the opinion that the present cumbersome
provision of the lunacy laws would be great
ly simpliied and improved by such a
CHANGE
Three new tubular boilers were put in and
a number Of Improvements including cold
storage plant were made during the year.
The financial statement enters largely in
to the report and is very complimentary to
the MANAGEMENT, and must prove very salts
factory to the State.
About Sl22, 600 have been handled which
has been made up from the State appropria.
ton, receipts from pay patients, sales Of
articles. &c. The Steward. Mr.. Z. Miller
makes up this report and whilst it is i'm
possible for US to 60 into any detail of its
contents it exhibits remarkable frugality in
expenditures and care in the management of
farm, garden, dairy. &c. This great charity
is the most important in the State. All 9th
er charities might be neglected or allowed
to languish and die Of neglect, and yet the
State would move on after fashion at
least. But the care of the insane cannot be
abandoned neglected, or be placed in the
hands of any but competent persons. The
public must be freed from individual. care of
these people, they must be removed from
opportunities to injure themselves and 9TH
er, they must be cared for at public expense,
because nine-tenths of them have no means
and no friends who will, or whom the law
compels to look after their wants. 1t is,
therefore, gratifying to see that the thou
sand and more unfortunates here are SO we'll
cared for and yet at so little cost to the
State. 1t is a fact that the per capita ex-
penses of the inmates has not exceeded 1925
per annum which is only little over 81
cents per day. which includes every posi-
BILE expenditure.