The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-02-06
TIE NEW ORLEANS DEMOCRAT WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1878

THE NEW
been looked upon Is insane. To send them
to some o.ner asylum m or ,,a 20 s saell
but YOU will feel the necessity OF
taking it, if not at present, at least in tbs future
We suggest this because ii is our duty to watch
over the sacred interests OF the really insane,
who are alone entitled to our consideration In
this case, and to tighten tbs heavy load OF ex-
ponses the city has to bar. Their presence pre-
Guides The possibility Of room for those who are
really afflicted, aud they become obstacles to any
good svstem Of internal regulations or archltec.
ture required by me- hodcal and rational treat
ment of the insane. Finally, IS last reason,
because the condition OF internal poverty. inoum-
bra ce, ventilation. etc., of the asylum places
the inmates in state Injurious not only to their
prospects OF cure, but to the hope of bettering
their health or even keeping up their lives.
The second category is wholly composed OF
thirteen furious mauiacs, who also should not Do
in the asylum. The present accommodations
are not, as you know, suited to the requirements
of patients dangerous or Injurious to their COM
panions. It would be far better to send them to
the Jackson ASYLUM, where they could be prop.
erIy treated. We are given to un 1erstand that
they could not be received there; If such be the
case we ask OF you to request tine city members
OF the Legislature to obtain an appropriation to
support them until further developments.
It is customary (why we do not know to cal!
temporary insanity, have committed crime,
and are considered as irresponsible by the law.
These should never be admitted to the asylum,
for the reasons we have giyer0 Still less should
admission be granted who hoaga
aftel01egal condemnation. jackson is the only
place that suits them because there they are under
constant supervision, such IS 1t ls not possible
to bestow upon them at the Insane Asylum.
In order TO avoid in the future this crowdlng OK
no tiapta wa think thAt every ono should be
classified by the physician ten days after his ad-
mission, and it would then be determined II he ls
to remain ia the asylum. III you weigh we'll the
importance oChese measures you will reduce all
the more current expenses and will be better
| able to introduce improvements.
ADMISSION.
There are limits to public assistance and there
should therefore be restrictions to admission.
The first purpose of an institution devoted TO
the treatment of patients, is to cure them; 1t ls
then Indispensable to consider lmmedlateiy the
legal provisions which give the right OF admis-
sion but at the same time subject it to just but
| eevere restrictions. II proper care be not exer-
cised and alDoersons Of impaired intellect be re-
| ceivsd, the Yum will then rapidly become the
| home OF mendicants, and its destination beng
perverted IN it's original end, those who are really
| insane would be deprived OF their legitimate
place.
Already have confiding pity, want Of expert
euce and the Interpretation OF crude and hasti-
4 lg
| many inmates who are entitled to our sympathy,
| but nevertheless have no right to be there.
Intelligent and scientific classification could
alone place the right Of admission on Just and
| orderly footing; it would chiefly be intended to
establish the status: 1. or unatios who can be
| cured. q or those who are susceptible OF i'm
| provement. 8. OF those who are dangerous to
society and to themselves. Thanks to this class'
ioa,ion, You will put stop to the abuses we
present popuatior, the major portion OF which
| cannot be considered az insane.
Orders issued by recorders or the chief OF police
compel the admission of wretches who arrive
| here by boats and railroads from the neighboring
| parishes and States; left in abandonment on the
streets, they are picked up by the police and i'm
| mediately sent to the Insane Asylum, never
| again to leave it. This provision OF the law
| relatlve to admission should be re-examined,
and some qualification and restriction placed on
| the power granted recorders and the chief Of
| police.
II you deem it necessary to have still more con.
vnoing proof Of the state OF abuses, please to read
the superintendent letter giving US list Of
families in easy circumstances, who, to avoid the
fulhIlment Of their obligations do not hesitate TO
hand over their invalid children and relative to
| public charity. I'VE subjoin this letter to our
| report-see document No. IL Can the city take
charge OF lunatics from the parishes, the neigh
boring State, or such that have relatives who can
support them7 We ask the question without an
swering it. our province extending no farther.
We think that In whatever manner we consider
the destination of the Insane Asylum the law
should require upon every application for admis-
sion /. certificate proving that the family Ia
INDECENT. 9. A certificate OF Introduction by
competent court. Human dignity, order. justice
and public security would then have moral guar
to keep invlolate both for himself and his fellow
men.
ATTENDANCE.
Tho superintendent and keepers seem to un-
ferstand their duties properly and to discharge
their functions with zeal. On this score we re-
greet that there should be no written rules defin-
ing the duties and responsibilities of employees,
instead OF allowing them to depend on routine
| and private Interpretation. This is OF absolute
necessity in insane asylums, particularly because
OF the facility with WHICH abuses creep into them.
Internal order and the welfare Of the inmates
depend on it. To avoid them you cannot show
yourselves too severe in your choice OF Keepers and
their moral character, as they should bring to
the fulfllment OF their duty an inexhaustble
stock OF kindness and patience.
The keeping OF indigent lunatics viewed in it's
full import has always proved extremely e1-
pensive to the city and State; in this case 1t will
60 on necessarily more asing the number OF in
ment on account Of the facilities attending ad-
mission. Up to this time the city alone has kept
up the asylum. Charitable donations, though
made with the best intention, are so limited that
they can almost Dc passed over IN bilenC6 d6
resource In the formation Of q budget. [See
Document No. a.
The Asylum's budget consists Of two essentially
distinct elements: One inua,iable, the other cart
able. The invariable element consists Of the guam
titles which experience shows to be Indispensable
to the Legitimate satisfaction of sill the needs,
both individual and general. OF an Institution OF
this kind, and 1t consists OF certain number OF
objects appertaining to every branch Of the bud
get; for instance. the rations Of bread, meats,
groceries, given the inmates and employees; the
quantity Of goods and bedding articles respective
inmates and servants; the objects indispensable
to the preservation Of the furniture and utensils.
those necessary to the cleanliness Of the rooms,
to heating, lighting, washing, keeping up Of
buildings and fences and the purchase Of drugs,
and finally the expenses of the administration,