Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1847-12-02
To the People OC Rhode Island.

The number OF persons ~ thiS SUITE
maintained at the public charge, who are
proper objects for Lunatlc Asylum DO not
probably exceed one hundred aud there Is
no doubt that this number has greatly accum
nla,ed. owing to the subjects not having
been placed at proper HOSPITAL at the com
mcnccmcnt of their disease. But few per-
sons comparatively are aware OF the suiier.
iDgs that have been endured by This afflicted
class Of people. That many have died ~
this State (Somc recently IN consequence
OF improper treatment Is well known-Oth'rs
remain 10 our Town Asylums, where they
seem doomed hopelessy to PERISH, without
an effort being made for their restoration ny
their fellow men. Some of our Town houses
for the poor are occupied mostly by weakly.
decripId and diseased persons who above all
others require quiet place OF resi--whiIst
their only home is turCcd into bedlan',
where the rawlings ~ the shouts oi the manlnc
resounds at all hours OF the day ana night.
There are cases now existing which u placed
IN their naked truth before the public would
cause many of Us TO shudder at The needless
misery we are conserving to. Were irne
and faithful account of many cases of insanity
that have existed within the borders oi our
State for the last 90 years be narra'ed, the
tales nf horror revealed would melt hearts ot
stone and make The cheeks of all who read
turn pale.
w hat is past cannot be recalled-bul we
may apply remedy To the future. with
some exceptions the mlserles hitherto endured
have, in great measure arisen .rom tho want
OF necessary accOmmoda tlUns beyond the
ability Of small communities to provide. We
can no longer avail ourselves Of this excuse.
Through individual benevolence, Home IN.
cxcep,onable IN all its departments ~ provi.
ded, ample to accommodate all the insane IN
the S'ate Whilst equal if not superior 10
any ulher Asylum of the klnd-thc PRICE oi
adrniance is less than at most ohcrs-lar
less than at some and certainly not more
than should be expended on luna,lcs-lct
them be maintained where they Will. II will
be seen by advertisement that the institution
Is 20 be open for the reception Of patients
after the l.. Of this month. To promote
The cure OF The insane it Is Indispensable that
the subjects of II should be classified, aud
the same cost of Attendance will be reGa'rcd
for each class whether 1t be greater or small
er. Therefore the arrangements cannot
be econoncaly made with a less number
than I00 70 maintain 100 patients at the
Hospital will cost TO- 400 dollars per year at
two dollars per week, TIN, being the price OF
admission. The taxable property OF the
State amounts to abon, 10000 600 of dollars
-reGulrInp n tax of about ID cents on n
thousand dollars. Thus farmer worth 5000
dollars would pay - cents annually to rad
his town OF Lunntlcs--proyldc for them The
most comfortable home praclicabIe-lusnte
their chances of cure at least four .old. and
add to the comfort of the sane inmates ol
their town asylums IN an ncalcnable degree
Is there person Of sane mind among us
who will deny the poor maniac the dement's
Of such home, from The mistaken idea 'hai
it may save him a few paluy cents? u
there is let him pause and consider that he
himself may yet be maniac.
BY an act Of the Legislature at It's las,
session, the Commissioners ot the alIns house
Of the city Of Providence, the towns OF New
port and Bristol, and the Town Councils of
other towns in the State were authorized
to place all the insane paupcrs within their
respective limits at the Butler Hospital.
The board os aldermen of the city of Provi
dcncc have already instructed their commls'
sioncrs to perform that duty-wlll not the
other TOW ms OF the state promptly follow the
example Of the city Of Providence
II one person in each town can be iound
who will take the trouble Of calling on his
fellow townsmen for their signatures to aI
written instrument of a few lines authorizing
their respective, Town Councils to comply
with the act OF ;he Legislature, there can be
but little doubt, that most if not all OF the
insane in the State at the public charge,
will be very shortly sent to the comfortable
home provided especially for them. Winter
is fast approac hing, the expenses of our
Town Asyums will necessarily increase
with The inclemency of the weather. The
season for removal is far more favorable now
than it will probably be some weeks hence.
Let US then act at once and act together
NARRAGANSErT