The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-08-20
Many improvements in Hunt
ington Institution, Says
Superintendent in Report.

CHARLESTON, Aug. 19-One hun
drcd patients, ffy-four voluntary and
forty-six regularly committed, were
treated for morphine and other drug
additions at the Huntington state
hospital during the year ending June
80, 1916. This statement is based on
tho biennial report Of the superinten-
dent, DR.. l.. V. Guthrie, recently sub
mittCd to the Hon. James S. lakin'
president of the state board OF con-
troll In his report DR.. Guthrie says;
at is gratifying to report that dur
Ing the biennial period just ending we
have had no suicides, epidemic OF dis
ease or serious injury among the pa
ticnts. The new insanity laws as
passed by the last legislature are
working out satisfactorily and are an
advantage to the people of the state.
They certainly create harmonious CO.
operation in the administration OF
the three hospitals for the class OF
patients concerned,
"The portion Of the law authOriz-
Ing the admission OF voluntary pa
tiens has been life saver, coming
as It did just in time to relieve the
scores of drug victims driven to deS-
neraion by an enactment by Congress
OF the Harrison anti-narcotic law.
During the last year we have re-
ceIycd Rfty-four voluntary patients,
nlus forty-six regularly committed
cases for the treatment Of morphine
and other drug addictions, and in the
closing month Of the biennial period
NO received for the treatment of these
natIcnts $4,000 This amount, In my
Judgment, could have been easily dou-
bIcl il we had room and suitable
accommodation for more patients be-
longing to the voluntary class.
a am informed by competent OBJ
servers that the use Of morphia IN
Ms mart of the United States has de-
creased fully sixty-five per cent and
that the conditions are constantly I'M
nroytng. Alcoholic insanity in its
ynrious forms have undoubtedly de-
creased in this part Of West virginia
since the prohibition law became Ell
Ieciye.
Glasses Are Varied.
IN the opening paragraphs OF MS
repOrt, which is extensive in detail,
Dr. Guthrie touches on the fact that
tho various classes of patients cared
for ot the Huntington state hospital
makes it impossible to compare ia
, ,n""t with other state hospitals,
where from a pathological and elm
ical standpoint, better class OF pa
tcnts is received.
"Onr population" he says, being
largely made up Of persons suffering
with idiocy, imbecility, epilepsy and
chronic insanity, many Of whom are
transferred from other institutions, can
show only a small percentage OF pat
tents who are durable by any treatment
,notbod or management. And, in the
obsrnce of suitable buildings, this con-
Jition also makes an ideal classiica-
tion difficult. The class OF patients
rorovcring in hospitals for the insane
is largely made up Of the maniac de-
nrcssIve and toxic psychosis types
and the percentage Of recoveries'
treatment and surroundings being
ronnl will depend upon the number
received for treatment belonging 10
these classes"
Change In Name.
The superintendent comments Ia,
vorably on the change Of the name OF
Ibc institution, first from the West
Virginia asylum for incurables 10 the
West Virginia asylum and hnaIIy 10
tbo huntington state hospital. The
later change. he says, was OF decid-
Cd assistance in bringing about bet
for understanding Of the purpose OF
tho institution and also more Calcu-
lated to encourage and give hope 1or
cun TO those who are received.
Hp calls attention to the fact that
nrocticallv all of the fourteen wards
have been painted and overhauled, ola
mattresses have been renovated and
in many cases replaced by new ones
and new bod coverings ana sheets
have been purchased.
Vpadds that drinking fountains nave
.,,ad tho common drinking cup IN
Tcpasgu ~, . a.Js W. also comments on
several ms ..,,,,o,,t ~, tho General nbysi-
inc Ulp 5,,;en - +bo hniIdings, the oy-
cal conul''o oe ~ tbo 'T healing system the
ern H,,I y. Eve ero mroof vauit covered
Dnol" bot y, y, tho bniIdings a $4,000
rallon concrete water tank for the COL
IoctIon Of waste water, and the i'm
pro''"e"' u ''l'