The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1853-11-23
Report Of the Commissioner Of the Insane
To TIE Hon. FREDERICK +. WooD
BRIDGE, AUDITOR OF ACCOUNTS

- A+ aEA y 80 OOOD
BRIDGE, AUDITOR OF ACCOUNTS:
The undersigned, Commissioner ID
the Insane, respectfully reports that
he has attended to the duties prcs4
cribcd by the statute, by repeated
visits to the Asylum for the Insane ad|
Brattleboro, and made careful examin1
ations Of the condition of its patients,
its discipline, its financial affairs, agri.|
cultural, operations, &c.
From repeated personal examina-
tons of every department of the In-|
stitution, made with the utmost care,
at different hours (includins the seal
son Of meals) | have been led to the
following conclusions :
That all the necessary wants of the
patients are abundantly supplied {; the
lodging rooms are sufficiently large.
neat, well ventilated, and furnished
with comfortable beds and bedding /;
the tables arc literally supplied vi tn
a sufficient variety Of wholesome food;
strict attention is paid to the personal
cleanliness of all the inmates, and suit,
able a~muscments, r%ccreations and ex-
ercise, adapted to different individuals
according to circumstances, much at
t%cntion being paid to exercise in the
open air.
The sick have suitable medical
treatment, and s.re supplied with kind
nurses, and all the care that their cir.
cumstartes require.
1rS government aud discipline adj.
opted and successfully carried out, is
essentially Of a moral nature-very
few cases occur in which personal re.
straint becomes necessary, and then
they are male to understand, as far as
possible, that the restraint is for their
own and others safety and benefit.
Much effort is used by the supe rim
tendent to promote the sclfrespect Of
the patients, which is accomplished in
various ways ; Ii very efficient means
is, bringing them forward in their
classification as fast as their conditions
will allow, from which advancement
they are never reduced unless, after
thorough trial, they have shown con-
cluslvely that they cannot control
themselves SO as to retain their places.
When it is considered that insanity
is in all cases a corporal disease exist
Ing i'll that class Of organs of the brain
and nervous system, which are subser.
Went to the functions Of the mind, the
importance Of placing the patient ear
j. under %judicious treatment will he
, perfectly manifest.
All persons who are at all CONVEX
SAINT with insanity, and with the course
generally pursued with the insane by
their friends at home, cannot fail Of
seeing the great advantage which the
patient i n 4 well re -ula,t asylum has,
over those vino are kept at home IN.
rrovetncuts IN the medical profession
during the last century base done as
nue.. Tor the amcliorasion and cure o.
, insanity US Of amy other disease, and
1t requires no argument to lrove that
the facilities for the restoration to
health Of that unfortunate class Of per.
: sons, are much greater IN such All
institution, under the care and con.
, slant supervision Of 4 we'll educated
, and humane physician. who has devot
/ ed his whole life to the subject, than
E they can possibly be under other cir
cumstances.
t The agricultural and horticultural
operations Of the institution aye man.
aged in a very iudicious and system
attic manner, and afford Pleasant anC
. useful recreation and exercise for sucl
: patients as are i'll a condition to tax,
?, part in them.
With the current year an extensiv,
: wing has been added to the buildings
: which essentially increases tho facill
= ties for classifcations Of the patients
c The liberal and humane policy o.
! our state government, i'll it appropri,
ations to this institution, has resulted
unquestionably in the restoration of {
large number of the insane poor who
t have participated in its benefits, It
health, happiness aud usefulness t.
their friends and community, win
+ would otherwise have fingered oil
through life in hopeless insanity, ;
burden to themselves and their friends
and a terror to the community in which
they lived.
a comparison Of the results obtained
by the Asylum at Brattlcboro witt
a those of other institutions of the SAINT
l. kind in other states, is favorable /; it
prosperous condition is proof of the
excellence of its management.
1t gives me great pleasure to ex
: press my entire confidence in the judg.
: ment, humanity and skill manifested
> by the superintendent in his manage
ment of the institution ; and also the
care and uniform kindness and fidelity
F of those in subordinate offices associa
ted with him.
! MARCUS 0. PORTER,
y Commissioner of the Insane.
Cornwall, Sept. 1858.
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