The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1871-04-15
The State Insane Asylum at jackson.

Inc Legislature, ny It's
ment, designed a home where the
most unfortunate class of human
beings might receive the care their
helpless condition demanded.
Appearances, however, justify us
in asserting that the benevolent pur-
pose of the founders has been lost
sight Of by the individuals who have
charge of the institution. For any
benefit this section Of the State has
derived from the Asylum, it might
as well not have been in existence.
Several patients have been sent
from this Parish since the war.
About two years ago, d poor old
widow, insane and in INDECENT cir
eupstanees, was sent from st. Ian
dry to the Asylum, in charge Of an
officer, with the necessary orders
and certificates. She was refused
admission on the ground that there
was no DOM. Shortly after her re-
turn home, she escaped into the
woods. Search for her was unavail-
ing, until after the lapse of several
months her remains were discovered.
At the time application was made
for the admittance. of this unfortu-
nate woman into the Asylum, it con-
tanned many pay patients. They at
least are never turned away from
the doors of the charitable home for
the poor and unfortunate.
After All interval of two years, in
view of the improved finances of the
State and the large appropriations
made by the Legislature for charita-
bic institutions, another attempt was
made to obtain admission into the
Asylum for a lunatic from this Par
ish. The friends Of the patient and
the local authorities could not in
reason and justice apprehend any
difficulty in securing his admission
as a charity patient. The precau-
ton, however, was taken of commu-
nieating directly with the Superin-
tendent to know whether a charity
patient would be admitted. The
followingeswas his reply:
INSANE ASYLUM OF LA,
Jackson, March Is, 1871.
DIR, A. DONALD.
Dear Sir:-Yours of 9th inst. re-
ceived to-day, and in reply have to
inform you that pay patients are
charged $50 90 per month, payment
to be made six months in advance,
and a bond with good security given
for the remaining six. State OF pau
per patients are charged nothing,
provided a certificate of indulgence
accompanies the patient, which is
sworn to and duly authenticated.
As a matter of course, all patients
admitted receive such medical and
moral treatment as their cases may
require.
/ am, respectfully,
T.. A. BURGESS, M. D.,
Superintendent.
*. ~-S@EEo ~
The form of bond required will be
forwarded if you desire it.
Upon receipt Of this letter, the
necessary judicial proceedings were
had, the order of the District Judge
together with the certificate
Of the Clerk of Court, and with these
an officer carried the lunatic to
Jackson. He was refused admit
and brought back with this
document |
INSANE ASYLUM OF LOUISIANA,
Jackson, March Gath, 1871.
Admission is refused Edward Du-
puy, a 1unatic from ST. Landry Par
ordered confined here by decree
of Court, &c., for want Of room to
accommodate him.
L.. A. BURGESS, Supt.
If the State Insane Asylum is pri-
vate property, and if L. A. Burgess
and his associates have the right to
carry on the institution for their pri-
vate gain, the people who pay the
taxes to support it should know the
fact. U1less the above letter was
written purposely to deceive, it
meant the patient would be received
{ sent as a charity patient. If, how
ever, there was no room for benef-
patients, how does it happen
hat there was room for pay pa
as is intimated
(. The people pay heavy taxes to
support this institution, and If h
Individuals III chargetof it are max
ne q speculation Of it, the proper
authorities should look into the mat
'er, and unmask the evi1-doers, if
,uch they be.
This Parish alone has paid several
hundred dollars expenses for forward
ng patients to this institution who
rave been refused admittance. WEI
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