Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-11-17

Iu our columns to-day will be found the
reply Of the officers OF the Vermont Asy-
lum for the Insane 10 the late biennial re-
port 10 the Legislature OF the Stale Com
missioner Of the Insane. The reply of the
officers is given 10 full with the exception
of series of statistical tables which form
an appendix 10 the document, and whose
contents are sufficiently indicated, for all
practical purposes, by the text Of the re-
view. If, however, any persons should be
SO much interested as TO wish TO consult the
tables, copies of the review may be OBTAIN
ed on application to the superintendent or
board of trustees. The review also indi-
Gates the character Of the charges made by
the Commissioner Ia his report.
As this matter Of the management OF the
Brattleboro Asylum is one in which every
individual in the Slate is more or less init
mately concerned, We hope that this review
will receive a careful perusal. We wish 1t
could be placed in the hands OF every intel
ligent person in Vermont. From it the
reader will readily see that tho charges of
the Commissioner are, in the main, upon
three points, viz. (: The financial manage
ment of the institution, the rate per cent.
of recoyeries and deaths, and the methods
OF treatment. Upon all these points the
language of the officers is so plain aud I'M
equivocal that comment is unnecessary. If
the history of the founding of this institu-
ton, or the facts in regard TO its financial
management are not familiar 10 any Of our
readers, they will find all needed informa-
ton on these points in this document. The
charges in regard 10 a low rate of recover
les and an enormous death rate are COM
pletely refuted by comparison of tie sta
tistics of the Vermont Asylum with those
OF other like institutions throughout the
country. We only need to add that, TO per-
sons in this vicinity who have in any de-
gree interested themselves In the workings
of the institution, statements or explana-
tlons from its officers were unnecessary to
convince them that the most approved
methods are in use IN the treatment of pa
tients, and that the whole asylum manage
ment is above board and beyond suspicion.
Now that the Legislature has the matter
once more in hand we hope that their ac-
ton may be so thorough and searching as
TO set this asylum question definitely at rest.
If, with the dying out of the old idea of
dark and hidden horrors lurking about the
institution, there cannot in its place be es-
tabllshed general feeling of confidence in
its management, the only alternative will
be The erection of a StaiO hospital which
shall satisfy and silence our friends of the
Northern and middle sections. The only
stipulation which Brattleboro will inter-
pose relative TO the founding of such an in
stitution will be that 1t shall not be built
on the ruins of the Vermont Asylum.
In this connection we desire TO suggest
that If people from all parts of the State,
who arc in any way interested in the care
or treatment Of the insane, would embrace
every opportunity which may present to
visit the Brattleboro asylum, they will all
ways be sure of a courteous reception and
will be cheerfully shown through the whole
establishment. We are satisfied from our
own experience and observation that the
more familiar the people of the State at
large become with the workings of the in
stitution the more general and complete
will be the public confidence in lis man
agement.
While it would he very far from our
thought 10 attribute TO DIR. Atwater any I'M
worthy motive in making what seem 10 us
unfair and ill-judged structures against the
asylum, we cannot repress the feeling that
the fact that at comparatively recent Pc
| riod he was for some months under treat