The Daily News Leader from Staunton, Virginia • Page A6

A6 THE NEWS LEADER SATURDAY, AUGUST 31, 2013 HISTORY A PLACE IN HISTORY A WEEKLY PHOTO FEATURE ABOUT LOCAL LANDMARKS PAST AND PRESENT An engraving of Western Lunatic Asylum as it appeared in the 1850s. courtesy of CHARLES CULBERTSON Lunatic asylum rules in 1850s demanded enlightened treatment By Charles Culbertson mailstauntonhistory.com "Never lay violent hands on a patient, except in self defense, or to prevent his injuring himself or others." FROM WESTERN STATE LUNATIC ASYLUM RULES, C. 1850 1940 photograph of the Planters Bank and Trust Company, which was situated across Augusta Street from the Augusta County Courthouse. The bank's main branch would remain in this location although not in this structure, which was demolished into the 21st century when it was acquired by StellarOne. At the time this photo was taken.

Planters also had a branch in Mount Solon, courtesy of charles culbertson THIS WEEK IN HISTORY Life for most 19th century mental patients was not pleasant. Few, of any, effective treatments for diseases of the mind existed and the historical record abounds with instances of barbaric "medical" applications that included frigid baths, isolation and restraint. There were, however, exceptions to the rule of barbarity, one of them being the Western Lunatic Asylum in Staunton. When the asylum opened its doors in 1828, it did so with a view toward providing an enlightened approach toward mental illness and its treatment, even though some of the "enlightened" approaches practiced then would horrify modern observers. One unique treatment tool the hospital used was its visually appealing architecture, terraced gardens and serene, manicured areas architecture and landscaping that a new class of mental health professionals believed would help calm the troubled mind.

That Western Lunatic Asylum was not, in its early days, like most mental institutions of the day can be found in a copy of its rules and regulations from 1855. These bylaws regulated the actions of everyone who worked at the asylum, from the board of directors down to the lowliest servant, and demanded gentle, humane treatment of the patients. The greatest number of rules pertained, of course, to the attendants the people who managed patient care and fulfilled the doctor's orders around the clock. Attendants were expected to present themselves as good examples for the patients and to "be cautious in nothing to set a bad one." Their dress was to be neat and clean, profanity and obscenities were forbidden and attendants were admonished to treat each other respectfully and civilly again, as a way to be good examples for the patients. "Under all circumstances, the patients must be treated kindly and affectionately, must be spoken to in a mild and gentle tone of voice, soothed and calmed when irritated, encouraged and cheered when melancholy or depressed," said the bylaws.

If the patient was insulting and abusive, the attendant was required to "keep cool, forbear to recriminate, to scold, or dictate in language of authority unless absolutely necessary." "Never lay violent hands on a patient, except in self defense, or to prevent his injuring himself or others," the rules read. "(The attendant) must maintain his authority by dignity of deportment." Restraints referred to as muffs, sleeves or wristbands were never to be used unless by order of the physician. "The attendants must never ridi- cule the patients, nor mock, nor imitate them to wound their feelings," said the bylaws. "If the patients engage in any improper topic of discourse or any controversy, they must, in the gentlest manner, check it." Prevention was also a key to success for the attendant. The rules also noted that attendants "must never place in the hands of the patients any razor, knife or other dangerous and he must see that no weapon whatever gets into the possession of the patients." Attendants, it should be noted, actually lived on the hospital grounds.

If they were off duty and left the grounds, they had to be back by 9 p.m. unless given permission to do otherwise. The welfare of the patients was paramount in all areas of hospital life. One of the best examples of this was a rule regulating the actions of the hospital barber. The barber, before administering the patients' twice-weekly shave, was to randomly select a razor and use it on himself before shaving a patient with it.

This was to ensure that only a sharp, comfortable razor was used to shave patients. Servants the lowliest of the low in the antebellum south were responsible for scouring floors, scalding bedsteads, carrying slop and water buckets, emptying and cleaning chamber pots, serving food, washing dishes and myriad other hard menial tasks. Consisting of both slave and freed blacks, the servant class had absolutely no control over patients and were to address them "in a very respectful manner," always using the terms "master" or "sir" when addressing them. One of the final rules for servants applied mostly to their white masters. "When it is necessary to correct servants, no means of restraint used for patients must be applied to them." The "moral therapy" used at Western Lunatic Asylum was instituted, in large part, by Dr.

Francis T. Stribling, who was appointed superintendent in 1838. Stribling's revolutionary methods, which included giving patients a library and a chapel, and outlets such as a 10-pin bowling alley, helped save patients who otherwise might have lived and died in chains. Other methods of treatment, such as lobotomies performed with steel stakes inserted into the brain through the eye socket, would take many more years to disappear. a close today after morning discussions of trust institutions, loans, credits and crop liens.

Aug. 28, 1938: Richmond had it's first "deathless day" in 32 years, on Sunday, Aug. 21. According the city's health bureau, there were no deaths in the 24-hour period. 100 Years Ago Aug.

30, 1913: The Shenandoah Fair was one of the most anticipated events in Staunton this time of year. Aug. 30, 1913: The Kalorama Hotel and its grounds was sold this day in history for $18,500. Source: The News Leader Archives 25 Years Ago Aug. 29, 1988: Former Gov.

Charles S. Robb attended ocean-front parties in Virginia where cocaine was used, and 10 of his friends or acquaintances were subjects of a federal drug probe. Aug. 29, 1988: The Virginia Mining Co. filed applications to strip mine two pieces of property along the scenic New River Gorge, upsetting environmentalists who said all mining should be banned inside national parks.

50 Years Ago Aug. 29. 1963: During the Labor Day of 1962, Virginians saw 15 fatal crashes which killed 18 people and produced 18 violations. Col. C.W.

Woodson Jr. with the state police department asked drivers and pedestrians to use caution over the dangerous holiday period in 1963. Aug. 29, 1963: Camp Powhatan, the Boy Scout Camp of the Blue Ridge Council, was the scene of an international course in advanced scoutmaster training where 27 scouters from various parts of the state assembled for the 219th course in International Wood Badge Training under the direction of Jacques S. Janeveld.

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