Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1898-10-20
WESTERN STATE HOSPITAL.
Annual Meeting Of the Board
of Visitors.

through with ard the annual report O
the Superintendent read, and approved
and ordered to be filed. The genera
excellent condition of the hospital was
tcommented on and matters of minor de-
tail discussed, and suitable action taken
Regret at the death of Captain Berkeley
was Individually and as body express
ed and the remarks of DR.. Blackf0rd in
his report were adopted as expressing
the sentiments of the body and were
ordered engrOssed and to be spread Or
the minutes of the body. AT half past
lone o'clock the body adjourned and
REPAIRED to the dining hall where an ex-
celTent dinner was served. After din
ner most of the members left for their
homes. Col Stickley could not get away
until this morning.
DR.. Ben. Blackford, superintendent
of the Western State Hospital,
submitted to the Board of Visit
ors at its annual meeting at the close of
the fiscal year, his report. The report
is not long but contains many matters
of interest and displays that business
finish and clearness and conciseness for
which he is noted.
| He shows that in October 1st, 1897
there were in the hospital S57 patients
of whom 450 were male and 407 female.
The admissions during the year were
1874. of whom SO, were males and 81 fe-
males, whilst the total number in the
hospital during the year was LOAF. The
daily average was 1863, and there were
discharged Y males and 6S females. In
the hospital on October 1st of the pres
ent year there were the grand total of
901 patients. The deaths during the
year were 6 $40 per cent. The total
number of patients since 1927, we find,
has been 1868. He notices that a large
per cent of admissions during the year
were hopelessly insane and he calls at
tention to the fact that too many use the
hospital as means of Kidding them
selves of relatives who are mentally en-
feebled by old age and thus foisting on
the State a burden, and croWding out
persons, who are justly entitled to the
benefits of the institution. Senile de-
cayssays DR.. Blackford is not insanity.
and the hospital is becoming an ''old
folks home" Five persons have been
residents of the hospital from 45 to so
years Of those who have died during
the year, two were IS years of age, one
SO, one 80, two 10, one IS, and number
between go and 10 years o. age.
The report of the steward shows
deficit of $26 SO and but for the fact that
the sales Of hospital property and board
received from patients was larger this
year than for the past three years there
would have been deficit of So, 1926, and
this Notwithstanding the fact that the
year began with balance on hand of
$4,000.
The average annual cost for the sup
port of the hospital for the last four
years has been $1O1, 1000. The next year
| he thinks, will be equal to this and to
this sum must be added the insurance
required by the Legislature which is
$2,500. Therefore he says "as by put
ting the receipts from pay patients and
from sales at their average amount for
three years past, and adding them to
the annuity SS5,000, we shall have an
income of only $4,000. We may ex
pect deficit at the end of the year 1898
% of $10,5O0. This may be increased by
a rise in the prices of supplies and will
certainly be increased by an addition
to the daily average of the patients in
the hospital" The per capita cost OF
the patients for the year has been Sill
the lowest in the history of the hospital
The health has been remarkably good
and free from epidemics.
Owing to the scarcity of water valua
| BILE improvements have been made ir
the supply, an account of the apparatus
pumps and sofortb, having already ap
lpeared in these columns. The supply il
now ample, and excellent. Every effort
has been made as heretofore to interes
and amuse tie patients, and in and our
of door exercise is resorted to.
The report mentions the death O
Captain f. B. Berkeley, one of tn
members of the Board of Visitors, ant
the superintendent pays the followin!
e appropriate and beautiful tribute t,
him as an officer and man:
e with feelings of deep sorrow, it be
j comes my painful official duty to an
nounce the death of Captain Frank B
i Berkeley. a member of the Board O
Directors of this hospital, which occur
l red at his home in Stannton on the 5tl
S day Of October, 1898:
Captain Berkeley became a membe
of the Board of Directors in 1894. H
. was faithful and conscientious in til
discharge OF his duties for the best inter
est and welfare of the unfortunate ir
Isane under the care and treatment G
this hospital, never failing to attend tn
Z regular meetings of the Board, and c
the executive committee, and Ofte
visiting the hospital at other times
:. manifesting the deepest interest in th
y affairs, of the institution, until hi
: health broke down.
o Captain Berkeley exemplifed th
n highest noblest traits of character. I
4 all the walks of life he embodied th
4 elements characteristic Of. the Christia
. gentleman His character was pun
q and unblemished, and his faith in &C
u was steadfast. He was faithful to ever
: trust, his honesty, his sincerity, h
strong good sense, his simple mode
life and temperance, his loving, tendt
and affectiOnate home life, attracted t
him hosts of friends who loved him ft
his worth and honorable manly trait