Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-05-16
Asylums for the Insane.

Annual MEETING OF SUPERISTESDESTS.
After our report OF the proceedings of the
Association OF Medical Superintendent OF
Asylums for the Insane closed yesterday, Dr..
Nichols, at the request of DR.. Kirkbridge. gave
history and description Of the Government
Asylum for the Insane in which they were
holding the session. The party then returned
Willard Hall. DIR. Godding, from the bust
ness committee, stated that the steamer Ar
row could not be procured for trip to Mount
lieu thereof a visit to the Soldiers Home and
Barnes Hospital, the Mount Vernon eXcur-
sion to take place tomorrow afternoon. This
programme was agreed to. A resolution by
DIR. Morse that hereafter members who desire
to read papers at meetings of the association,
give notice to the secretary at least one month
prior TO the time of meeting, and one by DR..
Eyarts that committee of three be appointed
to draft memorial to the Congress of the
United States, which shall embOdy the present
condition and urgent requirements of the Gov
eminent Hospital for the Insane were adopted :;
and the president appointed Drs. Kirk bride,
pennsylvania: Evarts, of Indiana, and Girls
sem, of North Carolina, as the committee. The
reports of the representatives Of the various
aSylumS were then made.
At the evening session DR.. Curwen, secre
tary, read an invitation from Gen. Myer, chief
signal oh1cer, for the members of the aSSOcia-
ton to witness the workings of his bureau and
one from the WOmen'S Hospital also extending
an 70 the vs ae
DR.. GrisSOm of North Carolina, read a paper
on True and False Experts" He denounced
fass of who Though
opinions to the highest bidder. The meeting
adjourned at ten p. IN.
TO-DAY'S SESSION.
DIR. Nichols called the association to order
IN Willard Hall at 10 o'clock this morning.
DE- smith, from the committee on time and
place. OF me next meeting made report re-
commencing that the next meeting be held at
providence, X: |. beginning the second Tues
daV In June, 1879. The report was adopted.
Or. Smith also moved that the business com
mlttee for the next meeting be appointed now,
IN Ordefto facilitate the proceedings, and tina;
Dr. Sawyer be made chairman of that commit
zee, ana Dr. CurWen one of its members
adopted. The chair stated that he would an
hereafter.
DIR. Curwen referred to the report of the Eng
hsh commissioner of lunacy, copies of which
memDers OF The association had received. and
requested that they in return send him copies
or the reports OF their institutions.
he chair announced the order of business
to be the reading of paper by DR.. Wallace, OF
Texas, which proved to be short but compre-
hensiVe essay on
BUILDINGS FOR THE INSANE"
i ne reader OF the paper said he had no doubt
that ne would place himself i'll direct conflict
WIN the views OF many members of the asSO-
clation; me paper was directed mainly
agalnSt the lavish expenditure of money in the
building OF hospitals for the insane. t re-
Ierred TO paper read by DR.. Ray at st. Louis
last year Ill which certain Style of architec-
ed as not to be departed from. The present
paper TOOK issue with that recommendations
Inc style OF such buildings should and could
De changed to advantage in the interest of
economy: statistics showed that the per capita
i0f housing the pauper insane was several
tilnes larger than that of housing sane citizens.
ing question OF the day, and this association
should use its influence in preventing that in
g gulTIy oe'ng made WEAPON against insane
asyluils. A palatal structure was not more
aud palmer buildings The association should
a eiftpoT lavish expenditure for the hos
the state and national governments which
tends to undermine public morals and debauch
me public honor. 1t would be better to rem
cay an extreme evil than to allow a reac-
tlon III the opposite direction to the detrimnnt
the lunatic.
GOOD MEN LIVE LONGEST.
DR.. Buckle, of London, Ontario. Canada.
read paper Oh The Moral Nature and the
treat Sympathetic." The essay was a detailed
dissection and definition of the variOus human
leellhgS and emotions. their action and effect
upon character, intellect and life. Practical
ILLUSTRATIONS served TO eucidate the theories
ana IDEAS advanced. The paper'contains very
interesting statistics. gathered by the author.
concerning longevity, the relative length OF
NE OF man and woman, married and I'M
married. Ia people, men of different classes, the
Jews and the Saxon and Celt. The average
ne oil woman IS greater by five years than that
OIL man. Married people live ON an average two
or three years longer than those who remain
single. Great men live longer than ordinary
ones, some six or eight years. From these
ana other points, clearly explaining his way as
ne went along. he deduced the conclusion that
longevity was cO-relatiye to the elevation OF
me moral nature. The jew drank less. took
better care OF himself, his children, his poor.
ana his aged than the Saxon or Celt which
explained his longer life. The paper was
long one, but attentively listened to and
warmly appiauded.
VISIT TO THE WHITE HOUSE.
had irI,.N
on motion of DR.. Curwen, adjourned. rhe
members proceeded IN a body to the Waite
House and paid their respects to the Presi-
uent, being warmly received. At half-past
TWO they met again, at Willard hall, and taking
c0nVeyances proceeded to the Barnes hospital
on visit of inspection.