Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1857-02-26
Indiana Hospital for Insane.


sioners and Superintendent" of this Insti-
tuition. for 1886, possesses muck interest.
We CLEAN from the Superintendent's Re-
port. the following interesting facts:
GENrLEMEN-To-day closes the eighth
fiscal year Of this Institution. But eight
years have elapsed since the first patient
entered its wards, and although it may
still be said to be In transition state, re
quiring means, time and labor, TO bring
into full view its proportions. and display
its utility and capacity for aneliorating
the piliable and forlorn condition of the
insane. still. in this incomplete state. the
good and benevolent everywhere have rea-
son to be proud that its benefits have al
ready been extended 20 and felt in every
county. and almost every neighborhood in
the State. Hundreds of the insane, as well
as their relations and friends, have been
made to rejoice that the liberality of the
people established the "Indiana Hospital
for the Insane" and willed it to be main
tanned upon the most enlightened and hu-
name principles.
The patients and household generally.
have enjoyed unusually good health during
the past year. The maladies which have
proven fatal in seventeen patients this
year, were in majority Of instances, con.
tracted before admission, indeed we may
say with truth, before insanity developed
ITSELF Upon examining the tables extend
ing over the history of the Institution,
you will perceive that one thousand and
eighty patients have been admitted and
treated, of which the round number OF
one hundred have died. This small per
centage is certainly very gratifying, if not
highly creditable as well as remarkable,
when we consider that nine -tenths of the
admissions are afflicted with bodily d.
sease, to aggravate and precipitate fatal
terminus.
The number discharged during the eight
years is eight hundred and forty Eve, sub
ject to the following division, namely: FIVE
hundred and ninety -four cured; improv
ed ninety-ihree; unimproved, ffiy-ei5ht;
died, one hundred. These numbers taken
from the whole number admitted, leave
two hundred and thirty five in the house
to-day. There were one hundred and nine
ty applications during the year, being a
fraction over two patients to each county.
The number admitted for the same period
is one hundred and seventy -one. Add
the number remaining in the Hospital Al
the end of the fcaal year, namely: one
hundred and nineiy-fve. and you have
three hundred and sixty-six patents who
we've subject to medical treatment since
our last annual report to your Board. o.
this number, there have been discharged
one hundred and thirty zone. Accounted
for as follows, namely: one hundred and
nine cured: FIVE improved. and seventeen
died.
While the Gospel affords, in its correct
applications "a balm forevery wounds refuge
for the weary and disappointed in every con
di.ion OF life, there, is Notwithstanding a ten
dency in this aye to engage in polemics -tc
run after the incOmprehensible, the non
essentials. and thus the excilable and won
der-seeking part of mankind mire in the
slough OF fancy, the mere offshCos of al
overstretched and too irritable ina gination
1t is not the Gospel thatproduces insanity
ism breaking over the boundaries of the
prophecies of decency in its eniorc ement
and thus hurting reason from her throne
that too confidently boasts Of It's number
of insane. So with the arts and sciences
while pursued in theis legitimate ways
and by individuals who have been accus
toned to much thought, there is no dan
ger; but whenever the brilliancy of a new
discovery falls upon the mind unaccustom
ed to reading and systematic thinking, the
imagination takes wings and scars into re-
gions created by its own omnipotent pow
er, there too often to remain unapproacha
BILE by reason or any other appliances o
man. The Improvements Of the age have
added greatly to the number of insane
and while money and luxury are the para
mount objects 10 be gained, the mind vii
be overtaxed and overexcited, the body
will be overworked by alcohol, tobacco and
other stimulants; and, as finale, insanit,
comes in and takes possession of the
wreck, and delivers it over to trightful de-
lusions. and not unfrequently to death.
The overwrought religious, political and
other kindred subjects, which are enter
tanned and propogated by the ignorant. ar
den. and fanatical. has surely done much
aye, too much, to. increase the number o
insane.
Insani'yis increasing. and it is real'y &c
be lamented that its increasement is aboul
in exact proportion to the advancement in
Improvements. and the increased facilities
for procuring the luxuries of life. The
{ impetus given in the last score of Years to
the general business of life, seems to have
haa a wonderful effect in causing insanity
in our rural districts
!, Assuming the basis upon which support
was calculated for patients for the two pre-
ceding years, and with strict reference to
the advancement in prices of provisions,
fuel and labor, and with the addition of a
new item of cost in the way of toll, OF
ninety-six dollars. (for the privilege OF
passing over the road between the Hospi-
cal and city, we shall require thirty four
thousand dollars from the first of April,
1857. to the thirty. first Of March. 1858,