New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-05-17
INSANITY IN THIS STATE.


HOW TO PROVIDE FOR TIE INsANE-INsANITY
NOT DURABLE PUBLIC ASYLUMS-O OTHER
MEANS NEEDED-ENGLAND AND FRANCE.
TO the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: The editorial in your issue of the 31st
ut on "The Insane IN the State OF New-fork,' fur
nishes believe the true key for the solution OF the
problem OF proper provision for the insane not only IN
this State but in every American State. Permit me to
suppement it with some observations suggested by
personal and professional knowledge of the subject
Your estimate of the probable number of the insane in
this state so nearly agrees with one which have made
from entirely different data that 1t cannot be iar IRON
correct. In round numbers, our insane population
amounts to 1000 PERSONS for more than twotrds oi
whom no proper humane provision has beeh mace
The abuse and neglect Of these objects OF state
charity under the present lack OF asylum accommoda
fon and of any system responsible direction In their
care can hardly overstaed Sir James Clark In MS
memoir Of the late Connolly declares that their treat
ment in this State sis only to be compared with thcr
treatment In Europe at the end OF the last ana beginning
of the present century, and one who has read the
report by Dr. willard in 1864 can deny the truth OF
this statement.
What them the duties OF the State to its insane ana
what should be the character of further provision for
this cassl The answer Of most Of the superintendent
of American asylums to these questions Is substantially
that given in the Report OF the State Asylum al Uuea o
1863 1t is in brief that the State should furnish sum-
Gent asyums for all the insane within the limits OF the
State"
In Great Britain oneth and in France one-sixth Of all
the insane treated in private asyuns at private COST
and the of public patients committed to private
asylums is steadily increasing In Great Britain, also
more than one-third Of the pauper insane are decenty
provided for in the poorhOuses The fact II, tat the
i% Sny ot say nothing Of the private cass-
adopted by single European state and has scarcely an
The mainly urged by those who
favor the building Of hosptalasylums for all the insane
are as laid down in the Utica Asylum Report that IN
sanity bodily disease very easy OF cure IN ts cary
stage and therefore demanding the, most prompt
and thorough treatment Now to define insanity an
the hest writers upon this subject In all the formal
reatises upon mental disorder the mental manifesto
tons alone embraced in the definition one physca
symptom, fever is sometimes referred to IN denng IN
sanity but only to require that shall not be present
resinnger the latest authority defines II concisey as
chronic delirium And what warrant nave we lor say
Technicai insanity or chronic derum unattended with
bodily disorder Is essentially chronic affection as n
casns heredary and hence almost OF necessity incur
able The reach back through one or many gen.
craton and insanity an original element of the pa
tents being Another class is made up Of the numerous
and abuses scanty and improper food animal and ge
table aara drugs her of impaired
and perverted nutrition something can ne uone lor
positive and negative ygene but too little Of
this good is permanent especially IN the large uher vi
full s Of lasting recovery Is another class IN whom hys-
terra, hypochondria and other nervous disorders nave
finally lased into insanity. There also OF or
ganc disease of the brain, such as chronic Inflammation
abscess and softenings, epilepsy apopexyi ana pafay
sis. OF these numerous cases IL Is needless 10 say 'c
Issue is necessarily fatal in almo, every Instance As
we look closely the origin and development OF insan
ity the doctrine Of its great durability appears most LII
probable. ... 49,, 49,. ........,,uo. n,
was be- un and has been mainly carried on by medical
men, the great honor Of their profession and them
selves But is there not To believe that the I'M
partial extension of this reform mas been huefci ny
the importance given TO the purely medical ldea OF M
santyl At any rate, IL cannot he denied that in this
country and at thepresent time, the INSANITY
distractions to complete reform. In forwarding
plans for the erection OF palatia asyms, with al the
modern improv enens, and to be differed and admin
isercd the most liberal scale they are not inactive
the wreched class confined in poor houses and Ja they
almost unanimously opposed AZ least ohe-h we
insane from the pauper class what sense IN placing
them in splendid buildings with luxurious appointments
aud surrounding them with works OF arf There should
be some sOunder than have yet been given tn
justify the pursuit OF an exclusive cxPehsi.e ana I'M
possible scheme. The main argument for IL Is based
upon the doctrine Of the great durability OF insanity
II is maintained that by providing hospalasyums for
all the insane, 80 many will thereby be cured as To
greatly reduce their number and the public burden of
their support. II should appear then that TINS burden
these institutions. Facts declare however, that mas
everywhere heavier, instead OF lighter This Is
each year has increased with great rapidly We are all
familiar with this note OF alarm, Is 1t Is echoed from
considering very complex and remote the causes OF
insanity are it is almost impossible for one accustomed
be any marked increase in the number who become in
sane from year year. Moreover thorough anay OF
many years. have shown beyond question that 1t
is not true Of these countries and facts point TO
from the conclusion that the burden OF chronic insanity
is steadily augmenng simply because mental asorers
two very able papers published within the past year IN
The Journal Of Mental Science and in The NORTH British
Rpri.,r Ruf he IN
population remains. How shall 1t he nett There
Is but line of State policy and duty urge the Amer
can specialists Double treble the size OF the present
ylums and build Others like them as fast az they shall
be needed But quite otherwise say the French ana En-
few friends, among the specialists in mental dis
and the verdict of social economists
England the policy of building mammoth asylums for
all Of the insane has been carried to twice the
failed check the accumulation Of the incurabe class
Wa sse 6s1yy Ser pa en the
ers in Lunacy. offer any hope, even of re-
but variety of means are henceforth to be adopted.
Farm asyluns are recommended for patients who can
labor, private families for those who safely and
properly be taken of in this way and poor houses
FOR another class The chief aim OF the Commissioners
stantIy tend to accumulate in their wards similar
whom shall we look TO initiate and direct ti
In France and Germany the charge Of pauper-
insane has always belonged to one Of the execnye de-
quarter of century since the Board OF Commissioners
in Lunacy created to systematize and control this
branch Of affairs. But In this country the interests of
nearly all the insane have been from the first substan
TALLY left In the hands OF the superintendent Of
state Asylums That many Of these gentlemen emf
nenty able and worthy vi all confidence there Is
doubt but II Is clear that the direction OF important
part or State policy by Interested and practically
sponsiblc officials ought not To he continued.
, The recent opening of the willard Asylum at Ovid for
The chronic insane, clearly marks final departure, in
this state, from the narrow and cruel policy OF the
specialists The Commissioners will now have DIM
Guilty IN maintaining that for them, insanity Is not
medical or pseudoscientihc question, but practical
problem or public charity. Let them not commit them
selves 10 any single exclusive plan of provision for
broad class OF which hardly any Individual requires the
same care ana Treatment other. They will