Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-02-08
The Lunatic Asvlum.

the following txtr'fct from an article. .siSneQ
z" HowAnD," on tbe subject Of the Lunatic
Asylum 1t ItoriginalIy appeared in the South
Carolinion, from which paper. you did me
the favor in your last number TO copy some
remarks ly the same writer.
would not again tresPass. upon you!
columns, did not:beleve that the impor.
tance of the subject required it. Little is
known about the Lunatic Asylum beyond
! Columbia, and MS at this time it is attracting
some attention, Ibelieve that the article
subioined will be found TO embrace much in
formation which may he o, of,importance to a
portion at least oflthe community.
The first meeting Of the Regency was on
the 9Th of January, 1928, and at that very
meeting committee WAS appointed for the
purpose of obtaining information in relation
to the management Of the Institution and
the committee was required to report at the
next monthly meeting the necessary regula-
tions, rules and bylaws for carrying it into
operation. The report was made, and |
beg leave to- give the following extract in
reference to the duties Of the superintendent !:
4" 1t shall I've his duty to act at all times
towards the patients with the utmos, gentle
ness, kindness, and benevolence of manner,
even when the exercise of force is necessa.
ry, and to see that the same conduct be
strictly observed aby the keepers and ser.
wants. 1t shall be:hs duty to be personally
present whenever fforcible restraint is put
upon patient. he shall, as far as practi.
cable, furnish regular employment to each
patient-especialIy such as is accompanied
with exercise And he shall establish such
modes of sedent,iry or active amuscments,
as may suit tue various circumstances of the
patient"
In this report The physician is required to
visit the Asylum at least once day, the
Executive Committee once week, and the
Board of Regent; to assemble monthly
With this explanation | call attention to the
following section% .
"No punishment shall be inflicted unless
by order Of the Regents. beyond solitary
confinement; nor shall this punishment he
extended by the superintendent beyond the
next visit Of the physician, without his order;
nor by the physician beyond the next meet
ing of the Executive Committee; nor by
them beyond the meeting Of the Regents"
These extracts are given to show that at
the very beginning the mos, humane AMI en-.
lishtened principles were adopted for the
management Of the insane, and that the Re-
gents are entitled to all praise for having so
cordially embraced the moral plan OF treat
ment, when, at that very time, many of the
institutions Of the most civilized countries OF
the world were not free from the shackles OF
the old system of force. In tracing the his.
tory of our Asylum, it will be seen that the
great principles thus enforced at its founda-
ton have never been lost sight Of; that every
effort has hcen made by each successive
Board to give them still greater efficiency {;
and that where thew have failed, it has been
because the obstacles were insurmountable.
Time and space will not allow me to mark
the history OF the Board step by step; and
contenting myself with the assertion that
nothing can he fouud in the records of the
intervening period upon which to build a
charge of inconsistency, | proceed to the
wear 1912, when the Board adopted unani.
mously certain resolutions, of which bricf
abstract only can be given. These in sub.
stance are, that the clergy of the town be
requested to conduct religious services in
the institution-that arrangements be made
for as perfect classification Of the patients
as is practicable that the conductors OF the
press be requested to send copies Of their
papers, with such exchange papers as they
can spare, for tho use Of the lnnatics; and
that an effort be mad, to establish a library
that a committee be appointed to memorial,
ize the Legislature at its next session for an
appropriation in relation to snch alterations
and improvements as may be necessary in
the institution, &c.
The report of the Regents of that year is
full of detail, gives all desirable information
in relation to the institution, discusses freely
its defects, and suggests many improvements
We have first presented The fact that the
moral plan of trealmeht is heartily adopted,
aud then we have presented in succession
the following subjects ; the character of the
keepers, classification, religious instruction,
the employment of both mind and body, the
Importance of an early admission to an Asy.
lum, premature removals, a library, an orna.
mental garden, &c. Particular attention is
called to the defects Of the building, and the
Importance of architectural arrangements is
insisted on. The Board has not omitted to
mike its report for si"gle year, and III
each it has made statement of facts, and
called the special attention of the Legisla.
ture. These several reports, with those ol
the physician and superintendent together
with the reports of the Committees of the
Legislature, are before me, and as they
breathe substantially the same spirit, | will
refer to few Of them only. The report oI
the Board for ls47 is full Of the most i'm
portant suggestions. That which stands out
most prominently is employment; "employ'
ment in the open air,-aarmin", gardening
fishing and the like and next the carriage;'
the vast Importance Of instruction, not only
by books, engravingH and models, but also
by lectures; and we have presented also the
subject of music, periodicals, newspaper;
and literary papers, green house, &C.
The report exhibits list Of the particular
amusements and employments which have
been found most beneficial for the insane.
Turning to the report Of 1852, we per
ceve that the Regents again appeal mos
earnestly to the Legislature, mainly on thu
ground of " the defects of the building ant
the small area of ground around It." Ir