The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-03-30

As the maximum number of scholars has been
reached, the expenses for their support will, of
course, diminish In ratio corresponding with
their decrease In number.
COUNTY ALMsHoUsEs.
The General Agent has visited almost all the
almshouses in the State; and has, in many in
Stances been accompanied by one of the COM
missioners. His report will give his impression
of them individually; and will expose to some
extent, their deficiencies. He has reserved a
more full and comprehensive exposition until
all have been visited for which the law allows
two years.
The board desire to call attention to some of
their obvious defects frequently involving not
only deprivation of health and comfort but con-
taminaton of the morals of the inmates.
More especially do we wish to denouuce the
cruel wrongs which the insane suffer who are
inmates Of almshouses. These institutions are
generally wholly unsuitable for their care or
even detention; or, if suitable, are presided
over by persons who are entirely ignorant of
the needs of this class of the sick and infrm,
and whose administration Is based upon the
crudest ideas of mental disease: it is limited to
the discovery of the most available methods of
preventing them from harming anything or any
person but themselves. We could instance the
most glazing abuses; not, as we believe, inten-
tionaly inflicted, but the results of incapacity
and ignorance. The time has gone by when
disturbed Imagination or a disordered intellect
should be held to have converted its human VIC
tim into distempered brute; whose home
bbONu Uc 8hlu w tue SLY or Gn6 SJaH6t
and whose lightest restraint should be perpetual
incarceration within the limits of q cell. These
wrongs demand prompt redress. No hospital
for the insane should remain without the con-
slant Supervision of medical superintendent;
The stewards OIL almshouses are never selected
from any consideration of the needs of the
insane.
We would recoEamend that no recen. case of
insanity be received into an almshouee; that
all durable cases be provided for in
State hospitals for the insane, and that these
institutions be adequately extended. With re-
epect to the township poor, we need to'make
forther investigation. We know that the sys-
TEN is not approved by many excellent men in
the districts where st prevails; and VIC have
Observed instances of insufficient provision for
this class We do not doubt that their conafort,
adoption by these districts OF the county poor
house.
ooUNTT FAILS.
These institutions have been but partially
visited, and we DO not propose to remark upon
them at length. AS there are well-plannedi and
well-eonducted poor-houses, 80 are there ,nils,
creditable in construction and administration.
But many of them are deficient in the same par
ticulars which we-have noticed in amshouses-
in ventilation, light, heat, water, conveniences
for comfort and cleanliness.
There is also in many of them, q great de-
fcieney of work for the prisoners In some
there Is an entire absence of employment in
which cases we have observed o prOmieeuous
the untried with the convicted, no keeper re-
naming within the precincts of the JAIL. We
believe that the cultivation of industrious
habits. the certainty of steady continuous. self
supporting labor, Gre essential to a true reform
1t is cTayed by the prisoner who desires amend
ment, and should be- boon to all, as it would
surely prove a blessing. Ias this connection
also, we would recommend more attention to
the secular and religious instruction of the pri-
soners. We need hardly suggest thaslit is a
gross abuse to subject the untried prisoner to
intercourse with the feloD, or to regard him or
treat him as convict uati4 he Us pronounced
guilty by court of ,justias
Some better provision should be made for the
discharged convict He ia often turned out into
the world destitute of clething, repalsiye and
sci seItsSpdhsgpR4ssab @ hg ol
THE IessANE.
Besides the fuH descriptions of thaState hos
pitals for the insane which appear in the appen-
dix, We give those Of three private, establish
msnts, which comprise all asylums for the
insane within the Stale, exclusive Of those
connected with alHshOuses. By refereace to
the proper tables it will be found that the ratio
of the insane to the whole pop, p,ilation of the
State is estimssedat one in eight hundred.
This calculation dxcS tho whole number at. .4375
or these there are. IN Hospitals. ..,.,......1l12
Almsnonsos. 2S4
Irlsons.''s
-24O4
Leaving unrroWides for in all ths instiSatons 1871
The hospital now building at pnnville will
hardly, when completed and occupied, find this
number Aessened. The peculiar Affections OF
this class of the States wards have elected sub
stantal expressions of sympathy from past
Legislatures, and the giants made in their
behalf are as Just and honorable as they have
been liberal. They are also wise and states
maDlike. We do not hesitate to recommend
| further provision of the same character. When
| we contrast the condition OF the patients o.
| these hospitals, cared for by expert alienists
| and provided with every appliance for comfort
classification and scientific treatment, with tha
| of the inmates of almshoases, for the mos
part Gagged in cells, indisegiminately associated
| or wholly neglected, humanity and econom,
combine to determine ouT conclusions on thi
| subject.
| The policy which the State has pursued O
establishing insane hospitals of moderate capa
| city upon fertile farms with attractive surround
| iDgs, central as to population, and convenien
as to railroad travel and supplies for mainte
| nance, meets with general approval.
We recommended last year to the Legislator
the propriety OF establishing an additional hos
| pital for the Insane for the accommodation O
the northwestern portion of the State, and, afte
The lapse of year we perceive stronger reason
for expressing the same opinion.
GENERAL REMARKS.
1t has been our endeavor in this the first yea
OF our existence as board, to acquire accurat
Information concerning the Institutions In thi
State which have come legitimately under ou
purview, and, to some extent, concernin
kindred establishments elsewhere. The Secre
tary aud General Agent has, on his OflciG
errand, travelled over IL 600 miles within tn
bounds of this Commonwealth, and has, Ia tn
ardor of his pursuit and in his fidelity to tn
behests of the law, almost forgotten that he ha
a family and home.
A member of the board has travelled nearl
5000 miles on the same errand; has devoted I
the work siXty-siX whole days, taken frol
private pursuits of an absorbing nature, aud hs
made 10 visits to institutions or meeting
aF fha Ind IL &haf N