Weekly Trinity journal., 1877-10-13
THE STATE INSANE.


The report of the Directors and Resi-
dent Physician Of the Nspa Insane Asy-
lum, presents some alarming figures. The
Branch Asylum at Napa was built under
an act passed in 1871, six years ago, and
it was believed that when completed it,
in conjunction with the Asylum at Stock
ton, would present ample accommodations
mates who are sent TO these institutions /
each year. But this hope was not well /
founded. Already the Asylum is nearly !
Glled to the extent Of its accommodations |
and at the present ratio Of increase Of this
unfortunate class, it will not be long be-
fore other arrangements will have to be
made.
That there should be such great dis
proportion between this State and older
Commonweaths IN the ratio of insane to
the total population is a matter to regret.
But there is one thing here which is not
the case in oder.communities, which con-
tributes greatly to swell the list of com
initials, and that is the fact that there are
many sent to the State Asylum about
! whose cases there is reasonable doubt if
/ such should be their proper destination.
In the language of the Resident Physi-
cian, "the law of the State is violated In
the interests of humanity" Some are
sent to the Asylums because there is no
other place TO send them, and Their con-
dtion of mind is such as to render them
unfit to be at largo. In older commune
ties this class OF insane or weak minded
are not deemed proper subject for the care
Of the State in regular asylums, but find
treatment in tho almshouses or at the
hands of relatives. This State is filled up
with different class ofpeople. Thousands
of the old or middle aged men have no
relatives here, no family ties, and i t sick
ness or suffering oVertake them they
must find relief and assistance at the
hands Of strangers. The kind OF poverty
for which the Eastern people and the peo-
pie of Europe have TO provide, is "A thing
MS yet almost wholly unknown to Caliior-
MIA. Il ack there every county has TO be
provided with its 'poor house" or "poor
farm" to which the dependent poor Of the
county are taken when they become n
charge upon the public. Oflate years the
more poppous counties have felt themsel-
YES compelled to take some measures OF
! ,.,lt i. g. 4 La
disabled by sickness from earning live
lihoOd, are yet unable to provide for
themselves, but the manner in which il
IL done is generally by means Of outside
p relief. In II minority of the counties, es.
} pecally those in which the mines are sit
uateG, there is no place suitable for the
e the reception Of that class Of dcrangcd
f patients who are harmless yet require
! some sort of restraint. We know us yet
; nothing OF the workings Of that kind o
paupelism which requires special nstitu.
tions for rcertuiu classes. And when these
cases Of dcmcnta are brought to the at
J teution of the examining commissioners
- there is really put one course open I,
e them, and this course is the one adopted
! II they had friends who could be proper
? erly charged with their case, the case
S would be different, but when one reflect,
! on the character Of the imm grafton whicl
o wendcd lis way hither twenty and twen
. ty-hye years ago, young, or middlr ageC
D men, who came here with little thought
r of remaining, who had formed no famil,
o ties Mt that time, and who, in the ycissi
!, tudcs Of mining life have gradually los
/, left behind, it will at once be seen that n,
IS such resource is left us in this State. !
!. is this situation Of affairs which swclls th
roll of committals TO the Insane Asylum
u out Of all proportion to the population o
IT the State, though we will not attempt t
3 conceal the fact that actual insanity j
e more common here than in almost an
other community Of equal mum bers. An
there is reason for it too. The greater
le mans capacity for enjoyment, the great
N er also is his capacity for suffering. Th
= population ofthis State is made up in til
.- main ofinteligent, energetic, enterprsn
n men. They were men of mind, just th
Sc hind which insanity chooses for its vic
e. Tins. Soured by the accumulated dis
IS appointments OF years, living often alon,
n with no companionship. save their ow
l. gloomy thoughts, it is not to be wonder
at ed at if some strange vagary takes posses
t. sion Of their minds. And thus our char
Il table asylums are filed until the.disprC
20 portion Is 50 great that Californians al
IL spoken Of as "the craziest people in Ii
% world"
re DIR. Wilkins recommends the erectio
SO OF a State Aims House, with nccommodi
is tions or six or eight hundred person,
i'll for the reception OF the harmless insan
III Such AN institution would. he thinks, +,
n lieye the Asyiums OF ~ great proportic
IA Of their inmates. The suggestion of Il
Doctor is one worthy Of consideration
aud it is TO be hoped that the incOmin
IN Legislature will give it the attention
10 deserves.
y, The INDIAN WAR.-Reports from Il
til scene Of the Indian war in the Ncz Per-
ct country show that Colonel Miles surpri
.ct ed and defeated the hosties on the 9Th in.