$(document).ready(function() {
   //toggle the componenet with class msg_body
   $(".vertical_toggle_status").click(function() {
      var slidepanel = $(this).next(".vertical_slide")
      slidepanel.slideToggle(250, updateStatus($(this), slidepanel));
   });
});
function updateStatus(vertical_toggle_status, vertical_slide) {
   var status = '+ READ MORE';
   if (vertical_slide.css("display") == "none") {
      status = '- READ LESS';
   }
   vertical_toggle_status.text(status);
}