Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1899-10-20
THE WESTERN STATE HOSPITAL
Synopsis of the Annual ReDort Of the
Superintendent, DR.. BIackford.

The annual meeting IF the Board of
Directors of the Western State Hospi
tai was held last Friday, to close up the
work of the hospital for the fiscal year
ending September 80, 1889.
DR.. Blackboard, the superintendent,
read his annual report of the opera
tions of the hospital during the year,
which was received by tie board and
ordered to be sent to Governor Tyler
for consideration.
The report contains much infOrma
ton of interest to the people of Vii
ginia in regard to the insane.
There were admitted into the hospi-
tai during the year 214 patients, of
whom 112 were males, 1O2 females, and
the total number treated during the
year was 1,l15; daily average during
the year was 900; deaths 81; discharged
l13. There are now 940patients in the
hospital. which is very mach crowded.
There we're 2S6 applications for ad-
mission in the Western State Hospi-
tai during the year.
In the three State hospitals for the
white insane of The State, there were
1854 applications for admission during
the year, and 461 admissions. This Is
the largest number of applications ever
received in any previous year.
OF those admitted DIR. Blackford
says large per cent were hopelesslY
insane, while many were old and fee
BILE. The report treats on the increase
of insanity and urges the insane to be
sent to the hospital when first adjudg
ed. Additional accommodations for
this unfortunate class of our people is
requested, among which is new hos
pltal. The report in full is intensely
interesting and shows that DR.. Black
ford is the right man in the right place.
Regarding the financial condition OF
the hospital DIR. Blackboard says:
The per capita cost, including in
surance and transportation, is SIP So;
on support account proper $l08. 16-the
lowest in the history OF the institution.
There has been expended on the
support account proper the sum OF
1877 ,362.S8; on insurance. 81, $50, and on
transportation of patients, 81, 514.2l, a
total of $l01, 1900, leaving deficit of
$5, 1922.
This deficit would have been consid
erably larger but for the fact that, in
order to keep within the reduced ap-
preparation to the hospital, We have
practiced an economy which will
frankly say is, in my opinion, incom-
patible with the attainment of the best
results for the insane under our care.
We have been able to provide for them
little more than the bare necesSaries
of life.
The sum realized from sales of hos
nit &c
has averaged for the last four years,
SO, 600. This, added to the apprOpria-
tiOn of 49,, 500, makes total of $91. 500,
which is, in round numbers, 1000 less
than the expenditures, which are re-
quired by the most rigidly economical
management of our funds.
In order to take the middle course
between extravaganza and parsimony,
and to make provision for our insane
generous enough to commend itself to
the people of the State, would rec
ommend that your board ask for an ap
preparation, for each of the next two
fiscal years, of 100000.
Dividing the total expenditure, in
Guiding insurance and transportation.
of $10l, 127 90, by 900. the daily aver
age>Of patients in the hospital during
the year, gives the sum of $112.36 as
the per capita cost of maintenance.
II insurance and transportation be
deducted, the per capita for support
account proper is reduced to $10S.1S.
From mere financial point of view,
this result may seem very satisfactory;
but repeat that it has been obtained
only by stinting the patients of food
and clothing, and by depriving them
of such measure of comfort and ra
tiOnal enjoyment of life as more Ii
Deral appropriation would enable US
to give them.
The regular inspection was made by
the Board of Directors, who were much
pleased with the fine condition of ev-
cry department, and the excellent
management.