The Harrison times. (Harrison, Boone Co., Ark) 1876-1938, 1878-12-21
The Insane of Our State.

WE COPY the following article from
the Dardanelle ArkanSiaa, fully en-
dorsing all tho Doctor says on the
subject, and join HIM in hoping our
next Legislature will take steps in the
matter. All over the State these poor
unfortunates are suffering horrible
torture and humanity demands they
What provision will our incoming
Legislature make for these untortu-
nate beings, is question which has
different occasions.
Tho people of the State of Arkansas
certainly cannot longer remain lndlf-
ferent to the demands OF a class of her
citizens whose condition is pitiable IN
the extreme, and who by every prIn.
ciplo of right, justice, humanity and
Christianity appeal at least for the
protection, care and treatment this
great common wealth provides for the
meancst criminals.
Educated as n physician, and having
Witnessed much of the suffering, ne
glect and even barbara Imprisonment
of insane persons for want of an asy-
lum or hospital to place them in, 1t Is
but natural that our sympathy and
our aid should be extended toward
the amelioratlon of the present status
Of these people.
We are aware that there IS a super
stitious popular belief existing among
some well.intormed people that insan-
ity is an incurablo disease of the men,
tai faculties. This is not tho case.
Insanity is a structural disease where.
in lesion OF some character effects
the brain substance proper from
which follows the perverted Junction
al disturbance witnessed in their I'M
natural action, Statistics also inform
us that under proper restrictions and
careful treatment the percentage of
Irocovcrics present proportional av-
erage with the treatment OF other
structural diseases.
There can be little question that
Arkansas, out of Il population of six
hundred thousand inhabitants, has her
quota of insane people, as every read
er from personal observation knows
These people have never rccely ed
from the State any appropriation sut-
icient to meet the eXigcncy of their
necessities. VIII the present legisIa-
turc make an appropriation sufficient
to enable the trustees TO have con
structod a suitable building for an in
sane hospital, capacitated for one hun.
ired and fifty to two hundred inmates,
furnished as 1t should be, employ a
competent medical superintendent
and have all cases admitted treated
according to the very latest and most
improved method ? This our legisla
turo should do by all means an / with.
out delay. 1t is demanded of them
from the very necessity of the help.
less, forlorn, uncared for condition of
the insane. Every instinct Of human.
ity and Christianity demand it.
The saving of human life and the
restoration ofinsane people to health
would amply repay every cxpendj
turc, however large. In the consider.
atior Of liberal appropriation for
the relief of the insane of our State,
our financial condition should not be
placed rs II barrier against the consu.
nation Of so phiIanthropic aud essen.
tial purpose. They arc our citizens,
and no man can say that he is not LA.
bic, through natural or accidental eau.
ses, to become insane. Hence, in this
instance the necessity OF a suitable APP
preparation for tho insane is para.
mount over eyegy other question Of
State uUIfrv.