The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-11-21
Asylum for the Insane.

The humane than the preceding ones The
Trustees and Superintendent have sue
ceeded in reducing the expense to 81 ;
week, or $50 year, if the patent remain
so long; rendering it, 10 regard to self
support, superior to any similar institution
In The country. And this is done in way
beneficial to the inmates, by habits OF or
der, economy, and industry, that operate
beautifully upon both body and mind
The sanalive results are equally satlstac
tory. Of all the recent cases discharged
during the year, SO per cent. are reported
as having recovered. Some. have recov
cred, whose cases at the time Of their ad
mission appeared entirely hopeless
The Superintendent mentions the follow
ing case:
Sin September, 1910, lady who had
been insane seven years, and had apparent
~ passed into demented state, was
brou ght to this asylum. Her friends did
not expect her resloI alton. but supposed
she would be much more comfortable in
an asylu than in any olher place. Du~
ring the first two years after her admiss-
ion, our efforts seemed unavIiling. The
third year her improvement was slow but
gradual, and at The end of the third year,
there were decided proofs Of her conva-
lescence.
"She remained with US until February,
1914, a term Of three years and five
months. and then returned 10 her family
perfectly restored. She continues well,
and her mind has now all the energy and
vigor which it possessed before she was
insane. Had she been removed from The
asylum, as is TOO frequently the case, at
the end of three, six, or Twelve months,
she would undoubtedly have remained in
sane for life"
Such facts should encourage The friends
of the insane; and justify, Of themselves,
the provision made by our Legislature for
the insane poor. But as it must always
require more lime for restoration in case
of long standing, and as the prospect OF
cure rapidly decreases with every months
continuance of the disease under The ordi,
nary unskIful treatment, economy and hu.
maniy alike demand the earliest possible
resort to the Asylum.
But il is not for those who are durable
only, that the Asylum isl blessing. Such
as are no, restored, may be made comforts
able and even happy there, although under
private treatment they would be wreiched
themselves aud source OF constant anx'
iety and suffering to their friends. Just
reflect on q case like this -
1--WE hare in the Asylum an incurab!e
case of young man about thirty years OF
age, who had been insane Tor len years,
He had been under the care Of different
persons, who had made him as coynforla.
bic as could be expected out OF public
Asylum. The last year bis mother took
hm home and had him chained 10 the
floor. being the on y situation in which II
was safe for her 10 take care of him; ard
manifested for HIM all that sympathy
which none but mother feels, & bestow-
Ell on him all that kind assiduIty which
Zone but mother would perform. But
all her kindness, attention aud sympathy
was misconstrued by her unhappy son,
and his condition was made more misera-
Bile Than when taken care of by strangers.
After remaining in this situation one year,
he was unclaimed and brousht TO this asy-
Ium, about four months ago. From the
line of his admission, he has worn no ar.
icls of restraint, has DESTROYED no property,
has been a, large in our halls, has assist
ed on the farm, has associated with he rest,
and is now comfortable and happy"
Or this -
g Oae case was brought to US four and a
half years ago, OF man who had been
Insane more than twelve years. During
he years previous to his admission he
had not worn any article Of clothing and
had been Gagged up in cellar without feel
ing the influence of any fire. A nest Of
straw was his only bed and covering. tIe
was SO violent that his keepers thought il
necessary AID applied an iron ring around
his neck, which was yveled on, SO that
hey could hold him when they chang
I'd his bed of straw. In this miserable
condition he was taken from the cellar,
and dressed, and brought to The Vermont
Asylum. The ring was Immediately re-
moved from his neck. He has worn
has been furnished With com.
Portable bed, and has come 10 The table and
has used knife and fork ever since he
was first admitted. He has no, destroyed
three dollars worth OF clothing, btG aud
bedding since he came to the asylum -
He has been most OF the time pleasantly
and usefully employed about the inslitu-
ton"
Many similar cases are mentioned in
this and other Reports; and ii Is in view
OF such facts that legislative provision has
been made 10 secure, so far as the legisla-
ture Can properly do it, the advantages Of
the Asylum to all the insane.
The buildings al BIaltleboro' have been
much enlarged during the las, year, so as
In iS far 81 Il