Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-10-13
from their standpoints that science and
humanity must regard their disease, if sue
cess is expected in its treatment.
RECOMMENDATIONS.


In view of all these facts and considera.
tions, and of my conscientious duty to the
State and Its insane. my opinion Is that the
remedy for these great evils. to be effectual
must be radical one. | therefore recon-
mend to the Legislature, that it dissolve
the unnatural relationship of the State to
- The Vermont Asylum for the Insane
ard erect, as soon as may be, a Hospital for
tbs Insane. which shall be under its own
control and management.
The legislation of this State has been so
greatly influenced by it's connection with
this Asylum and its corporation, that, in
my opinion, all the statutes of the State.
relating to the care and custody OF the in
sane. and the duties Of the Commissioner,
| should be revised and consolidated.
Stronger and better safeguards should be
enacted in the PROVISIONS made for the COM
initial of persons into custody, who are
! charged with insanity, to prevent inten-
tiOnal wrong and mistakes, and to Cores
pond to the best and most advanced legis-
lation IN other States. Instances have oc-
Cured where sane persons have been COM
mitted to institutions for the insane, rare.
doubtless, in this country. but if there had
been only one such, it would warrant the
enactment of stringent law to prevent
more. since 1t cannot work any injury TO
an institution conducted with honest iuten-
tions, and ls obviously g.e1t harm to the
individual. Mistakes are not unireeuent of
committing improper cases to such institu-
tions for instance, mistaking the delirium
of acute disease for insanity. This mistake
has been made In cases Of cerebro-spinal
meningitis and delirium trenens, in several
instances. The mistake has also been made
nf sanding fn
when the disease was near fatal termina-
tion, thus Fastening the result, and incur
ring expense, to no good purpose. The only
proper time and place to prevent these
wrongs and correct the mistakes is at the
home OF the individual. and before any de-
clslye action Is taken towards removal. As
the law OF this State now Is the necessary
examination can only be male by the medl-
cal examiner at BrattleborO, appointed BY
the Court OF Windham County, who can
not know the previous history of the cases
personally unknown 10 him, except upon
such evidence as would not be received in a
court CT law, and many Of them must nee
essarily be OF doubtful character. and the
decision should not admit doubt. In NV
opinion, therefore, the examination should
be made at or near the residence of the in
dIylddal by medical men who have previous
knowledge of the case, if possible, and are
men OF undoubttd skill and integrity.
The duties and powers of the Commits
sl0ner OF the Insane should be enlarged
and extended over all the insane OF the
State whether in hospitals, poor-houses or
private houses and his visits to, and ex-
amlnatlons into institutions of public
character, should be unrestricted and by
authority. In my visits to the Asylum at
kraf afflgharn have
cOus stesy from the SuperInteudent but the
fact that it has been considered on the part
OF the officers of the Asylum as mere cour-
tesy, could not but occasion some embarrass-
ment TO both parties. when there should be
none. The Commissioner shDuld have au-
thoriIy to gather statistics, and granted
opportunities to enlighten tie public upon
the subject OF insanity, to prevent Its in |
crease. and treat It IN the best manner, for |
this would serve the Interests OF economy, !
as well rs true civilization.
The law should not regard insanity as a
'rfnie. and should pI event the committal of |
insane persons into the common jail with |
criminals, with a penalty at ached. Such |
a law has recently been enacted in the State I
Of New York, and Is found upon correct |
principles.
The question Of the sanity or insanity Of |
a person charged with crime should be de-
c.d.d by competent modica. experts and |
courts. rather than by jurIes
BY reference to my Repor of last year, |
in the Appendix. It will be seen that the |
State paid the As1 lum So S5l 81 for the |
support OF the transient Iniane and State /
Tor the year ending July 3lst, /
lo7j
The State has pad for the year ending
July 3lst, lo76. for the TRANSIENT Insane. |
5 l6 1885 Tor the State Beretciaries. 81
897 - making total OF 81 1873 l. and |
or the last biennial period. a total OF Si7,-
lG7.l3. Yours respectfully.
II. ii, ATwATER.
Commissioner ef the lrslne