, 1865-07-04

sadly deficient In many conveniencles and a ..
pEsnccs which are requisite to any CON plrte
fnlalnent Of the modern idea Of such tnsu-
tutions. Whatever series to divert tue mird
flon its lalu:!na;ions, and evoke lis atten-
tlon f1om morbid introvc.ston, tends to re-
store It's healthy equilibrium. Heoc,.toe
value OF everything cheetfal. amusing and
attractive. D;yers1ocs Of various kinds, to
meet the tastes Of the patients, sh .u1d be
ahnr dantly provided. Dr.. Mcfarland Is Sc
cu.ing thes: things as laF:, perhaps, as
can consistently be done. Al wiling alley isin
ge1ia1 minister's 10 mind diseased will soon
find p1ace In the great sanitary work Of the
Institution. Another ehame ful defect Is the
lack Of any suitable room for the purpose Of
= chapel. Religious exercises are held
IN one It the halls where 6eass aye r,,dely ar
Iargtd ding Incomplete accommodation
or the whole number who should a attcnd such
services. and tie Sabbath, aHordIng NO at
ttaetiye antidote against tho Increased
resttnints apd Withdrawal Of usual oceu-
patton. becomes injurious rathef than ben
tacisl to the patients. An excellent room
tor chapel Is in an unfinished state. The
completion Of the eastern wing will render
taftY Or two hundred more inmates to the
establishment, but even then it Is thought
that the wants OF the State will not be sup
Piled. There will ere long be demanded sill
further buildings for the care and cure Of the
insane. ehou1a such be the case, archltec-
turll conformity to the advanced modern
faen Of these institutions is an Indispensable
prerequisite. a clear conception Of the de-
sign Of these establishments must be obtain
cd. Insane Hospitals must be considered as
haEirg two.fold purpose-to present the
means Of cure FOR disease. and to afford
those whem tho same disease renders unsafe
or improper to be at ID -ge. OF course there
are many cases where both motives equally
prevail n requiring commitment to such al
institution. The opinions Of scientific men,
Of statlsIclnns, and the conclusion of LeeIsla-
tive lttees, all concur that at least one
pesson to every twelve hundred Is properly
subject for restraint or treatment for insanity;
and that every State or community which does
rot afford that extent Of accommodations for
Ills class Is deficient in It's duty, and Is re.
sponsible for much OF the suffering and inhu-
napity which inevitably attends tho care Of
an Institution affords. The public is in error
In rcgard to the amount Of violence which Is
manifested In q community or the ipsapc.
when subjected to the influences OF we'll reg
plattd mode1n asylum, We are INSURED that
hardly onc-sixth require apartments of any
different construction from thoso Of an orii-
nary hotel, or need what NAV be reesrded M M a.
coercive means OF restraint. Yet, the pseva-
!ence OF IN error, even among quite we'll In
formed persone, has the effect 70 perpeluate
= style OF construction Of hospitals and nsy-
!nns for the }Esane essentially defective,
They arc1nada too much to answer the pur-
poses Of restraint merely. while only
about SIKH, as ne hare said. !
neca special custod:nl care, an entire |
Institution is built as II al were Of this ylo- |
lent and dangerous character. In other-l
words, the specially curative intents OF such
On establishment are pnt out Of t'ght By fea-
lures demanded only By the exceptional few.
In those institutions Of this nature which re-
mssn yet to be built, perfection viii bc
Fesched by retaining only so much Of their |
prsfentf alu1es Of strength as Is required by
this small proportion, and 1ctcrying for The
great mass Of cases all the provisions Of light,
ventilation, choelfnlness and amp'1 -ude which |
can1 OF be fully had while this false idea OF re-
qulred strength isindul.ed,
b In no respect is the enl' 'ghtened aud ad7ancs
lDe civilization Of. our ase aud country more
decidedly distinguished from the periods Of !
than in The union OF political econ
omy and philanthrop'c generosity, which |
Iounds and supports such institutions rs We
have ben considering. Let ev:rythlns har-
moniously combine to accomplish their noble
humanitarian designs. |