The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-11-17
Our Insane.


10 ing home for our insane with tbs goo
20 Sisters of the Louisiana Retreat. It bs
been objected that the cost will be five c
~ ten cents a day greater for each patieu
than under the present system -Te whie
IL may be replied that there is a system still
cheaper than the present one, that is, t,
y discontinue the charge altogether. L
u economy Is the grand COZ nsideration, dis
parse the poor creatures at once, turn the m
out on the street and let them die.
1t would seem, however, that the public
OF New Orleans are controlled by the in.
huences of civilization materially differ
ent from that of certain heather nations.
They do not publicly put their babes in the
highways to perish, nor their aged ar d
decrepit on the banks of rivers to be carrie
away by the rising waters. They have
regard for helplessness and pity for suffer
ing Therefore public sentiment here
would be checked by the sight of human
beings deprived of their reason, incapable
OF self control and eelf-support, yet exhib-
ltlng their misery on the public streets and
dying there of want and exposure.
1t ls idle to argue about the matter and
say that there is no law authorizing the
support of these Unfortunates by the city
authorities. If insane persons have 10 one to
care fer them, public decency, at least. |
Wonld not tolerate the exhibition of
their eccertricities on the streets,
Their insanity would be construed
as an ofense and the police would
lock them up for having violated some
ordinance, 80 that the city would have to
support them after all. Why not as well
do 80 in an asylum as in prison7
The question is simply, then, one of
support What is their proper support 2
If prisoner is sick muet not the law
furnish him with medicine and medical
atenaarce4 No one doubts it. Yet in !
sanity is itself sickness, and one which {
can be treated, alIeviated, perhaps cured. i
The proper support of the insane includes, '
therefore, not only food and clothing but 8
skilled medical attendance as well. It is t
not sufficient to shelter them from the
weather ard prevent them, from starving
to death, an attempt must also be made to
cure them. Snch an undertaking is called
for not only by the voice of umanity, bnt 7
even by the dictates of economy, for every
one cured is discharged and ceases to be a
burther. t
And it is well known that many patients t
are discharged from the Louisiana Retreat, C
permanently cured. This is very natural, {
because great many cases of insanity are
rot lncurable, They yield to treatment 9
Which ecierce and experience have dis. =
covered to be applicable to them, if faith
tully, patiently and peraeveringly used.
And where in this section of the country can
.hese conditions be realized if not at the in .
'titution just selected by the city author
ties. 1t has been established many years, b
It has all the means and appliances of t
modern science in this regard, and it is o
conducted by ladies whose every action is t
controlled by conscience and whose skill h
8 the fruit of most comprehensive expert. &
,rce. 1t is with great regret, then, that =
ne have heard of legal proceedings iusti- L L
ated to hamper this arrangement and -
impede its mplishment. The compar-
tive comfort of hundreds of unfortuGates +
g at stake. These poor people are irratior- p
81, sometimes, indeed, not wholly so, yet Il
hey are our fcilow-meE. They are sensi- V
~
# their general condition. T
We believe that the City Insane Asylum il
8 well and considerably managed. The Il
emale inmates are in charge of respectable y
emale attendants, go that scandals at least n
're avoided, but no one can doubt that at T.
be splendid establishment of the Sisters II
wen the physical comfort of these poor .
people would be greatly enhanced, inde- !,
ofthe consideration of prospect NJ
We cures. A person has only to ask him L
elf at which place he would prefer to see e
lie own brother or sister, in order to know d
n what direction his judgment incliues. 81
When such grave considerations are in n
'olved let US not be discouraged by the o
'urGen of an additional five or ten cents II
er day. And let us hope that the parties " o