Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1875-02-17
ABOUT CARING FOR THE IN
SANE.

Jones, Of Nashville, read very !
comprehensive paper before the Leg.
islative Committee on Public CHAR
ties, or the subject Of proper accom-.
modations for the insane of the
State, which paper we find published
in the Union ord .4mertcGH. After
lluding to some Of his own reports
while Superintendent of the Asylum
located in Davidson county, and also
TO recommendations OF the present
incumbent, DR.. Calender, he said !:
A few yesrs ago the over crowding of
the insane became theme for discussion
| in one Of the annual meetings of American
| Superintendent. My successor concurred
| with that eminent gentlemen, Or. Thos. ).
| Kirk bride, and held that the over-crowd-
| ing of the insane hospitals is grievous
evil He spoke from experience in the
matter He furthermore stated Eat Ten
nessee, with population Of million
and a quarter, has but one hospitsl and
can accommodate scarcely third Of her in.
sane"
| Nov, I desire 60 ask. :, il tie deliberate
purpose Of the Genera! Assembly TO have
no other hospital2 Are you determined
that more than two-thirds of the insane in
Tennessee shall not be provided for, and
that they shall suffer On ~ they suffer
now
| beg yos TO remember that the hospital
in this county, SO creditable 20 the State,
and so favorably regarded throughout
America was built by special tax levied
upon srd paid by all the people Of the
State that i, has been literally sustained
by the whole people; that it IS crowded
now to ex ress that IL would be cruel in
justice 70 admit n larger number that the
voice Of experts and resolutions Of Ameri-
can Superintendenis, IRE alik. opposed TO
larger institutions than ours, or to over
crowding the insane. And remember that
political economy-economy in dollars and
cents, 90 say nothing OF humanity, de-
mands thar you sdec uately provide, and in
proper localities, for the suffering insane.
The average insane life ia twenty years.
Few recover who are not kindly and judi
oiously treated, whereas something like 80
per cent when promptly submitted to
proper treatment are restored. Now will
you provide for the restoration Of 80 per
cent Of your afflicted fellow-citizens that
they in tam may become producers Or
do yoC prefer 20 see insanity confirmed and
support each patient in niggsrdly way
for q period o. twenty years II to facts
and arguments il should seem necessary to
sdd importantly, and IL, indeed, this were
more my business than yours, | would
with troublesome frequency approach each
member Of the Senate and House of Re
representatives., and with pertinscity press
the importance Of hospital aceOmmods-
ton for AL the insane of the State. But
we must and do see, that by liberal and be-
neyo.ent regard for others, We may posi-
bly, provide habitatiohs for ourselves. We
can not know what will be our condition
Tomorrow. We ordinarily pass along and
speak confidently OF the future, a. though
we had often travelled and were familiar
with the way; whereas, every moment eX.
tended, every step taken, is new and hith-
TO Untrled In the consciousness of menta
. power to-day, let We not strangely forget w
have this treasure in eartbern vessels anC
Z that these vessels, a. best. are transient
and dis-olub!e things.
Trusting that you may have the mora
courage 20 do right, and that the blessing
of God and those ready 10 perish may com'
upon you, l am, etc. ". P. JoNEs.
Every one must acknowledge tn,
force Of what DR.. Jones says. Oh
the question Of additional eXpens,
in the erection OF hospitals or any
other purpose, our people are natur
ally very sensitive. We have
heavy burden to bear in the shape 0
public debt, and we should be eN
ceedingly careful how it is increased
But there is another view Of thi
= case, which we, as enlightened Chri,
tian people, are not at liberty 70 ie
more. This unfortunate class are el
titled TO our profoundest sympathy
and demand our protection. Can W
! say that they shall be left 10 then
selves, and 90 without proper after
ton, and give as L reason that we ar
= hard pressed financially? 1t is a cas-
. Of urgent necessity; and the que
ton arises, if we can provide for onl
=. one.third Of these uniortunates, an
: thus acqUit our consciences, can "
. not refuse to provide for any of them
: We should look at the question frol
moral, charitable, Christian-lik
standpoint, as well as from fnal
le cial one.
s. But aside from the above views {
n. the case, it is not economical TO abal
ie don the Asylum already commence
d near this place. The appropriate
Il made by the last Legislature wa
4 $4,000. OF this amount the sum {
e Sl9,O2O.Ij, has already been expenc
e ed, and we have no hesitancy in say
,, ing judiciously expended. Under tn
u contracts q fair per cent. has bee
r withheld from the contractors for tn
h masonary, excavations, &C., which