Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1842-02-15


unable TO render such services and devote his time and at
entou such cases the exclusion of other business,
without reward compensation.
The consequence Is that the unfortunate insane are
shut up in cut house suffered 10 run at large
for the remainder OF their wretched cX stence.
But even in cases where the circumstances and
feelings of the friends and reauves of the patient
are such TO afford every facty, every thing ne
cessary, So far as such things can be furnished M
private family stll Il must be admitted aud that too.
without in, the least detracting from the high and
honorable character Of the med cal profession in the
State. that physicians generally are not so well
qualified 20 treat such cases, they are the prevail
ing diseases Of the country, or as those who have
been accustomed To treat cases OF INSANITY eTcla-
surety.
The science Of medicine is orc Of almost infinite
expansion. and compartments the treatment Of all
the malldeS 10 which mankind Is subject, and has
been cassed divided INTO a number oi depart
ments, OF branches. man may be well informed
on one Of those land quite gHoraut Of another
phySic Inay know how to treat n lever and be a
very unskul surgeon. He may be a very expert
and successful operator, and not know io" 10 treat
a case Of unacy or insanity.
Efycrience in the treatment Of all discusses fur
ni-hes ihc greatest advantages and notwithstand-
iug all theoretical alta lnmcnts mo- m1n can be con-
sderpd an bic and good physician. Nao mas not had
a cons dcrable share of practice, and Who has not
pro6ttcd by observation aud experience. In the
common practice of the country, cases of unacy are
20
tentlou 10 such eases Ia - commonly called upon
To cure or reir,c. tevctes hns CT almost entirely
the study of the prevailing disease l. case Of
mental arrangement occur 10 the round Of ms prac-
tcc. be treats u on general prime pies. u is new
case OF novel character. winch he aaS seldom met
wth, and instead of Jeng guided ty the ght of fr-
yer'cHre- lie - bonud 10 depend on Hte-'y Gtotr-
Who would not prefer, i att cted UitI any q se4se
requiring medical aid, 70 cal on phy-lcIan vino. n
addition 10 "A SQUAD unnd KIND heart. and thor
ouch knowledge Of his profession. possessed also,
the advantage OF long t.2trtetcc Ia the treatment
If such clsc.!
J The greatest advantage to those. then, who are
afflicted with mental diseases. 50 FAR physicians
are concerned, rs that they may be placed under
the care Of enc who is erypieaced n the treatment
of such cases. and where tie advantage It that cx
pcr.eucc can be coas'aWy directed to tie rcstorl-
ton Of reason.
In the treatment Of mental diseases. rnuch de-
ponds upon the persons Who have charge OF the N
insane, well upon tle proper medical treat
mcut. But very few persons arc fitted by nature 20
take care Of an individual iaboring under M Of III
sanity. and even they my profit much by o'serva-
ton and experience. and by dcvOting themselves 10
/ the care OF insane persons business
+ From the foregoing observations, your committee
have concluded tb1t. there Is already within the
State of Indiana q considerable number OF indiy-
dual- lahor.na un1o- rtrn'ol diro@eo- winch m"tn-
Der viii BE- enlarged the population 81 the state
ncr.aScS-as tic condition of the insane is such as
30 excite the strongest sympathy Of which We are
notwithstanding not only deprived %! feGS09, hnt
every other comfort. and constantly torment, ~th
leg'o Of evil spr.ts-hs own life and that Of all
others within his reach being IN danger during his
i;s Of frantic rageas N most cases suitable apart
meus cannot be furnished by the friends relatives
OF tie unfortunate and WTetched sui rer-as the
expense of procuring a-cacr uaiir-i -it.i,:r: e,.a
careful nurses Is great, that few are dbie, ami
fewer tciiing To incur it. account Of the great
duration of surh discascs-and As the treatment,
wiin ll,e veo at restoring reason to the ravng ma
. mac Is much more likely 20 be successful when en-
trusted 10 the skI.ful management OF those Who
have devoted themselves exclusively 10 that class
of diseases, it matter Of serious INQUIRY whether
the cause of humanity, the interest aud happiness
of the most miserable of orr follow beings, and the
honor Of the state, DO not impcriously demand the
establishment Of a I.unatic Asylum
Your committee. through rhc politenoss Of the
Hon l.. \ Brown have been favored with the Pc
rusa OF the annual report OF the Superintendent Of
the Ohio Lunatic Asylum. by that report, It APP
pears that that institution has been IN operation
three wears during which time there have been ad
r,ittod 343 individuals into the ASYLUM, and 2ol
have been discharged from it. OF The 20l dlscharg
ed. I2l were recovered, aud ii others were mproN
ed 70 were incurabie and idintic. ami 3i died.
"Thc per cent. Of recOrcres on all dis
on all the old cases discharged. ~ ~
on all the re-cut cases dls'gel IS IL"
Here is n most cheering result. or 3i3 received
into the institution. Yto all prohah hty must have
dragged out n most m.ser3bc existence, had Il not
been for the humane and seienti; efforts OF the IA
neriu,endout and mlnag rs oi the Asylum l2l have
been entirely cured aud put IN possession # their
'.ri~hf ld. restored To tIem~eIV Ives, t1er mies
and friends and returned To Their country. To thi,
may bc added / / others uaprorfL ., the whole
number. more tl7u o1e-thrd have been actually
c1rod Until recently, OAo. Tx, lniana, had NJ
A-v,afn for th. insane. except the "Conmc7ciel
a. tfr,arf . .l "a 10