Wilmington journal., 1872-01-19

1872, ON his Amendment to the Rev
enue BAH 20 levy q Special Tax of
Feur Cents on the SIOO for additional
Accommodations for the insane.
MIR. PRESIDENT: Occupying the posi-
ton of chairman Of the joint committee on
the Insane Asylum: also, as one Of the
Board of Directors, i consider it my duty
to express before the Senate the views l
entertain with regard to this proposition
providing additional buildings for the ac-
cOmmodation and cure Of the unfortunate
idiot;c and insane Of our State.
The duty of fpresenting in this way some
of the conclusions Of the Board, in addition
to their written reports to the General AS
sembly, was imposed upon mo by their re-
quest. And before entering upon the dis
cussion of this question | beg permission to
say word or two somewhat personal TO
myself
Soon after MY entrance into the Senate,
several years ago, not by my own request
or desire, l was placed upon the Senate
branch of the joint committee and have
been continued in that position up 10 this .
time.
As @ member OF the Committee, and
more recently as one of the directory, it has
been my constant aim in every instance, as
far as my province extended to do equal
/ and impartial justice between the State and
! the management of this class Of her un-
fortunate children.
Mr.. Pi eSident, you and this Senate will
bear me out in this assertion that | have
not hitherto taxed its time, in long and
prolific IS harangues upon any subject. !
have in a great measure left the discussion
Of political and legal questions to those to
whom, in my Judgment, they more proper
IL belonged, and while not unfrequently
have thrown out a few desultOry remarks
upon matters before us, have never made
lengthy speech, and even now, upon this
question in which feel the deepest interest
and am somewhat more familiar, would
willingly and gladly take my seat and would
greatly prefer to listen TO other members of
this Senate, much more able and far more
eloquent than / Can hope to be to discuss
tbs subject and to unfold TO the satisfaction
aud demonstration of every one its great
importance.
But, Mr.. President, if sincere and hon
est convictions and willing mind could
Subserve the purposes Of an eloquent
tongue, then would my most sanguine cX-
, pectatioES be more than realized. The
> Senate has received the annual report of the
Board Of Directors, Superintendent and
I Physician, setting forth the general facts
l connected with the asylum and its inmates.
The last session Of this General Assembly
passed Law changing the general manage
= ment and control of the institution. Men
e were SclcCtSu Uy you dS uTcCIOTS, whom
O you all knew-many of them we'll known
throughout the State as men pre-eminent
in their respective professions and avOca-
n tions. They have held special meetings,
and have discussed freely and fully the sub
iect Of providing additional room for the
reception end treatment of the hundreds OF
i applicants for admission now On file, and
). through their chairman they have special
. report. Your legislative committee have
hair o1x-iCi 1,ox- N
in o the administration and management OF
:. The asylum for the past year, and submit.
: ted their annual report with such recon-
~ mendatiOnS and estimates as they deemed
necessary, and all these unanimously con
cur in the conviction most profoundly i'm
II pressed upon them Of the absolute. anC
overwhelming necessity OF providing addi
+, tional accommodations for the insane o
our State.
And now, Mr.. President, rs our last Off
cial expression, we desire to speak 10 yol
to-day, and when we shall have done, to
gether with whatever my colleagues Of tn
;, Senate branch of the committee NAV here
B. after have to say, we will have made on
z. last appeal for this great interest il
, this end Of the capitol during our prcsan
- session.
s; 1t will be seen by reference to these va
rious reports that the present building
filed to TppletiOn, with two hundred an
. fifty applications for admission on tlle.-
I Many of these ale recent cases and might
by timely treatment, be cured, and quite
rs number are confined in jail and dundge n
some in chains. Many more in pool
{" houses, and perhaps, as many others cor
re fined in small, rudely constructed tene
We ments at places called their homes, bu
,r- alas not their legitimate home, for we sui
= init there is no real home for these unfOrtI
10 mates, but in well arranged hospitals fC
ms their cure and kee ping,
IL / wish l had the time to say few word
:, with regard to this disease called insanity
s. There are perhaps few persons that apprt
SI hend fully the nature of this malady. Eve
Of among the medical profession, there ha
,1r been hitherto a lamcntable want of correC
,. information on this subject: but we ar
:! glad to know that it is being more studio
In and better understood by them. and tn
Sc few of our medical men who have bestowe
,el special attention to this branch, also thos
:, whose duty il has been as suDerintendent
~ and physicians to inform themselves MOI
zee fully upon it. have made great progress an
lie improvement in this specially within th
last few years. Many persons outside
the medical profession, seem to regard theS
cases with kind Of superstition. ming!e
with feelings of sorrow and pity, that by
peculiar curse of God upon them, they hav
passed beyond the pale of successful tr"a
These erroneous notions prevail to som
he extent l say even now. Many years ag
% equally erroneous ideas existed anon
n9 medical men, even TOO among the medic,
superiLtendents Of such institutions.
h. was thought IL a. the first thing to be don
70 when patient was admitted into the hos
~ pital " as to break his will, it fair NEAR
cb would not do. then other means should
If strong words or curses would not answc
:. resort was had 10 the knOck-dOwn argl
1t It ment. This was thought 10 be IN" prope
~ ~ way; 10 secret was made OF il.
Of Among other methods Of treatment
England, and perhaps elsewhere, we III
J.. told, Was the process Of subn ersion: til
l.e ,,a idea was that if the patient was nearl
nc nc drowned and then Tcsuscitated he Woul
"a y, be restored Ite was put into oofti l-lill
~ n | box, pierced with holes, and lowered int
- some well or tank and Kept under wate
Vi until the bubbles ceased TO rise. II he va
no. drowned by this process, his will wa
b. fully broken, and he was regarded .
III properly prepared for further tIcatr Ell
nd This and many other modes of treatIner
ed in the same direction was the practice lon
nd ago.
But. Mr.. President, rs in every othC
~ branch Of medical science 50 in this, cres
and important discoveries have been mad,
lie until at present as you have been told b
ne the various reports read before YOU. at lea,
a eighty per cent of the acute cases if time!
v. treated are restored; this / submit is
'r- glorious triumph Cf; medical science an
ID sk1ii, II nothing more had been acc omplisl