Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1869-05-05


do do Central do.-.-..l,S62 ....--- 4l5
,O34 .-IO57
Or proportion of more than 3S per
cent. of unimproved. Now, if we
make no account of the numbers re-
ported as discharged iDlprOred but not
recovered, we can easily understand
that the number of the Insane outside
of our asvIums will constantly increae
so long as the laws of the State require
the chronic insane to be discharged
to make room for the recent and more
hopeful cases, and so long as the ae-
commodations are so limited in the
asylums.
In view of these facts, and while
the subject of rebuilding the Central
Asylum Is under consideration. it
would seem but the dictate of common
prudence that some definite and posi-
five plan should be adopted by the
/ State authorities for the care Of this
large and constantly increasing class
| of unfortunateS. The numbers which
are from year to year discharged as
I yRinlpTOUed, or iHlprorcd but not re-
cOUered, should (unteSs friends prefer
/ to care for them have some place of
retreat where their disease, physical
and mental, can receive proper treat
ment, and where their restless spirits
can find congenial and healthful occu-
patton.
A state so full of wealth and resour-
ces as Ohio, can well afford to expend
for these, her helpless wards, all that
an economical yet efficient plan re-
quires for this purpose. That ecOno-
my which compels each county to
eXpend as much per capita for its lu-
natics as would be required in a State
institution for their proper support
and care, while in the county mfr
maries and jails they are reeking in
filth and made hopelessly mad by
their misery, is but poor economy.
But it is partly from motives of eco
nomy and partly from lack of q full
comprehension of the necessities of
the case, that the evil has been per-
mitted thus TO grow.
The munifieeDt provisions made by
the State for the care and treatment
of the recent and hopeful cases of in
sanity, and the success which has fol-
lowed in restoring so many to sound
ness of mind, have tended to satisfy
the public and divert attention from
the great necessities of the chronic in
sane. Shall not that munificence be
extended 10 the latter class, and if so,
how shall it be directed?
How shall the wretched lunaties of
the jails and infirmaries of the State
be gathered into one safe and COM
Portable retreat, and to what place
shall the 1uai8lpFOUed and scattered
lunatics be consigned? ? Shall there be
some large central institution built in
plain but durable manner and capa-
BILE of indefinite expansion, and un-
der the control of some slperintend-
eRt who has no connection with the
other asylums; or shall it be con-
nected with one or all of the establish
ed asylums and under the same con-
troll, with facilities for extension by
cottage additions as the wants of the
incurable insane demand? The fu-
ture policy of the State on these i'm
portant questions should be decided
before the Central Asylum is located
and the various questions connected
Herewith settled.
The first mentioned plan of provid-
ing for the chronic insane, viz: the
one consigning all to one large estab-
lishment, built and furnished express
iy for that class, meets with favor in
many quarters, and on the ground of
cheapness, and possibly some other
grounds, is worthy of consideration;
but your committee are of opinion
that there areobjeetions tosueh plan
that would more than counterbalanee
its advantages. The first cost of such
an establishment might be less per
capita than the cost of the asylum
for acute cases, but all the money thus
saved would be at the expense Of the
convenience, durability or utility of
the structures erected, while the extra
cost of a superintendent, matron,
stewards, &C., would re-
quire constant additional outlay
The great danger, however, would be |
that sueh an Institution would, in |
time, become of little interest to the |
public, and degenerate to the level of |
a public alms-hOuse. DIR. Brigham, |
Superintendent of the Utica Lunatic |
Asylum. New York, says in this con-
necti0n: I'VE are constrained to |
oppose cheap asylums for the chronic |
insane, because establishments solely |
for the poor and incurable, would, we 4
believe, soon become objects of but lit
tie interest to any one, and in which, /
abuse and all kinds of misrule |
would exist and exist without detec-
ton. No good could arise from such |
distinct asylums except they might |
be conducted at less expense. But |
how so if they are to have proper off
GERS, physicians, &C., and if they are
- ,, =
houses. There are no facts in favor of
such establishments" 5-i4ri i
A large proportion of the inmates on
every insane asylum are of the class
called chTOaic insane, from !
which all of those discharged as uRiHl-
proUed and ine1Ta6le come, and the
best management of those sodischarg-
ed cannot be very different after leav-
ing, from that adopted while remain
ing there; or, in other words, the insti-
tuition that is fully competent to take
care of them for two or three years, is
equally competent 10 continue that
care. In fact, the attendants, the food,
the apartments. and the whole mode
of caring for the recent cases, are
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 in
terests of the chronic insane can be
best subserved By pushing JorIcdrd to
dtthe earliest possible date,
the Athens and Central 4AsytlIDls. They
are also of opinion that, looking to
the future benefit of the insane, the
Central Asylum should be located on
n far,,, haxoY,d tho aifv of Colup, bnc. /
and that the farm should contain a
sufficient amount of land to furnish
room for indefinite extension, as the
wants of the increasing numbersof
chronic insanem might demand, as well
as room for the more quiet and traeta-
BILE to labor on, according to their capa-
bilities and dispositions.
They would also recommend that it
be constructed of sufficient size to ac-
500 patients and thus obvi-
ate the necessity for further enlarge
ments for some years to come. 1t is
the generally received opinion among
those who have given attention to
such matters, that an institution large
enough to contain the above number,
could be conducted at a lower rate per
capita than asmaller institution. DIR.
Pliny Earle, of the Massachusetts Luz
natic Asylum at Northampton, saws:
''Under one roof and with one house
hold organization, 500 persons can be
at cheaper rate than 250.n
81 approve of large
hospitals. Those which aceommO-
date from 800 to 500 patients as the
best possible plan for the care of all
.