Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1869-05-08

reached. '' 80 i'" l'Hl'.' o.. '.".'
' The subject Of providing for the chronic
and incurable insane seems TO have attracted
the attention of the Legislature of this State,
and committee OF five, of which Dr. EAMEs,
nom this place, was a member, was appointed,
and their report, prepared by the Doctor, has
been printed, and copy is before u.s. 1t is an
able document, and the views it takes are
such as, the claims of humanity naturally sug-
gest. From this document we learn that there
are in the different jails and infrmaries in the
State about $50 insane persons, some of them
in most deplorabe condition, chained in
damp cells and shut up in filthy, abominable
cages, where the last spark of humanity is ex-
tinguished, and driveling idiocy or furious
madness become confirmed. The condition of
this class, and that of many who are scattered
around in private families, is standing dis
grace to the State and reproach TO our civil
ization. .H. .f..fif.1f r.,H.Y .t|t..H..i ..f
State so full of wealth and resources as
Ohio can well afford to cxpend for these, her
helpless wards, all that an economical yet eff
cicnt plan requires for this purpose. That
economy which compeIs each county to ex-
pend as much per capita for Its lunatics as
would be required in a State institution for
their proper support and care, while in county
nbrmaries and jaiis they are reeking in filth
and made hopelessly mad by their misery, is
but poor economy b, ".
This Is partly from motives of economy and
partly from lack of full comprehension of
the necessities of the case, that the evil has
been permitted thus to grow.
The munifccnt provisions made by the State
for the care and treatment of the recent and
hopeless cases of insanity, and the success
which has followed in restoring SO many to
soundness Of mind have tended to satisfy the
public and divert attention from the great
necessities of the chronic insane. Shall not
that munifcenee be extended to the latter class,
and if SO, how shall ii be directed2
How shall the wretched lunatics of the ials
and intirmaries of the State be gathered into
one safe and comfortable retreat, and to what
place shall the unimproyed aud scattered luna.
tics be censigDedy Shall there be some large
central institution built, In plain and durable
manner, and capable of indefinite expansion,
and under the control of some superintendent
who hus no connection with the other asylun,s
or shall II be connected with one or all of the
established asylums and under the same con-
troll, with facilities for extension by cottage
additions as the wants of the incurable insane
demandG The future policy of the State ON
these important questions should be decided
before the Central Asylum is located and the
various questions connected Herewith settled
The aforementioned plan of providing for
the chronic insane, viz: The one consigning
all to one large establishment, built and fur
nished expressly for that class, meets with
favor in many quarters, and on the ground of
cheapncss, and possibly some other grounds, Is
worthy of consideration but your committee
arc of opinion that there are objections to such
plan that would more than counterbalance
the advantages.
A large proportion of the inmates OF every
insane asylum are of the class usually called
chronic insane from which all of those dis
charged as untmprOred and incUra6ie come and
the best management of those so discharged
can not be different after leaving, from that
adopted while remaining there; or, in other
words, the institution that is fully competent
to take care OF them for two or three years, Is
equally competent TO continue that care. In
fact, the attendants, the food. the apartments,
and the whole mode of caring for the recent
cases, is equally adapted to the chronic cases.
Your committee are of opinion that such an
institution is not needed at the present time.
and that the interests OF the chronic insane can
he best subserved By pushing tor,cd,d to compile
ton at tho earliest possible date the Athens and
Central Asylums.
In conclusion, the committee offer for adop. |
tion the following resolutions:
Resolrsd, That, In order to provide for the
wants of that class of insaue persons com. |
monty considered incurable, IL is absolutely
necessary that the Central Asylum should be |
rebuilt Immediately, and that the one in pro. |
cess at Athens, Ohio, should be completed al |
the earliest practicable period.
ifesOired, That In the selection of location
Tor the Central Asylum, il Is essential that a |
larger tract OF iand be secured than is con, |
tanned within the limits of the present site:
that in Its selection due regard Should be had !
10 Its healthfulness, as well rs 10 Its isolation
from the confusion and excitement of the city.
Ifeaotptd, That IN order TO secure TO all classes
OF insane persons the benefits and advantages
TO he derived from these Institutions, such atl-
ulltons should he made, from time to time as
tAe wants oi the community may demand,
such Improvements 10 be of the ordinary kind. |
or after the more modern style of cottage adj,
ditious, as may seem most likely to answer the
purpose, due regard being had 10 convenience,
and economy. .l.l.. 5..l-'T'