The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-05-30
COST OF ASYLUMS FOR THE IN
SANE.

DR.. D. r. Wallace, in attendance at
a convention of superintendents of in
sane asylums at Washington City, read
an elaborate paper, which We find in
the Post, upon the useless cost of asy-
lums for lunatics. After reviewing at
length the vast expenditures in the
United States upon asylums, amount
ing in New York to $3317 per patient,
and approximating this sum in many
other States, he refers to our State asy-
lum and its management as follows:
''It has been asserted in this paper
that such expenditure Is not necessary
to insure the largest per centsge of
cures. This is question on which,
though some light may be thrown by
argument, must have its final solution
in the facts. 30 far as the former is
concerned, 1t may be asked: What is
there in insanity which we all regard
as purely physical malady that makes
it necessary, in order to its successful
treatment, that the patient should
have the surroundings or appliances of
the ideal hospital structure of the
United States? In the absence of any
proof whatever, deny it, and appeal
to the facts, and challenge those of an
opposite way of thinking to show by
statistics that any better results are OBJ
tanned than in less expensive struct-
ures. give my own limited expert
ence for what it is worth, attaching
little Importance to 1t myself, and ex-
pecting others to attacn less. Since
my connection with the State Lunatic
Asylum of Texas, provision has
been made for the accommo-
dation of about 125 patients, at
the cest of not more than $500 per
cot. The inmates in the State Lunatic
Asylum of Texas seem to me to be
comfortable, to have all that such pee
pie require; and in regard to the pro
rata OF cure l refer TO the reports for
the last five years. The mortality this
fiscal year will not reach over three per
cent. With accommodations last year
for only 225 PATIENTS, the admissions
were 137.
II know nothing of the workings of
other hospitals, except what learn
from their reports, and judging by
these have no particular case to fear
a comparison between results obtained
in the institution with which am con-
nected and others. No superiority of
course is claimed. 1t is only contended
that the results justify the assertion
that our inmates do just as well
as those housed IN structures
costing four or fve--nay, even ten
times as much. If so, then this addi-
tlonal outlay is unnecessary, and tax
payers have right, as they are doing,
to complain. Will it not be better, if
a reaction is inevitable, to guide, tenn
per and prevent it going to the oppo-
site direction than to set ourselves OBJ.
stinately to resist it, and incur the
danger-imminent, in my opinion-of
being crushed by itl
''For myself, I have no sort of diff
Guilty in finding my proper place, as in
dicated alike by my best judgment and
what l conceive to be the requirements
of public opinion. While sustain the
relation to this unfortunate class do
at present, l shall not cease my Efforts
to induce our legislators to make pro-
vision for the accommodation of every
insane person within the limits of the
State; nor will there be less remission
in my determination to secure this
great object at the least cost to the tax
payers, compatible with the comfort
End restoratIon of these unfortunates."