Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-05-17
AsyIRmS for the Insane.
ANNUAL MEETING or MEDICAL sUPERINTI


ANNUAL MEETING OF MEDICAL SUPERINTEN-
DENTS.
At last evenings session of the medical Sill
perintendents of asylums for the insane Dr..
Ray, of Philadelphia read an eulogy on the
late DR.. Tyler, of Boston. Drs. Nichols and
Hughes followed with short eulogistic re-
marks.
DR.. Macdonald read paper. detailing the
particulars OF two eases of homicide. in which
the defense plead insanity: and DR.. Camden
an essay on THE Intellectual Progress of the
Nineteenth Century,
The association met at Willard hall this
morning at 10 o'clock: After the reading of
yesterdays minutes, DIR. Strong, of Cleveland,
Ohio. reported a ease of aphasia in which is a
loss OF the power OF speech, or, more STRICTLY
the inability to express ideas which the subject
is able to conceive, The case presented was
that of a man. sailor. who had received a
blow on the head. He was at first evidently
able to think clearly. and would struggle to
express his ideas, but could after a strong
Gradually his face became a blank and his
look was idiotc. At his death. some six weeks
ago, ne ne; was hopeless idiot: The case
msn of the TO the
Strong was kept under running fire of ques-
Tons Tons, principally PRONOUNCED by, Drs. Burke
Smith, Clarke and Gray, The talk was going
remind the association that it had been agreed
to postpone the discussion of papers and cases
until late, later This kept the colloquy down TO
examination Dir. Strong was allowed to take
his seat.
DR.. Hughes, of St. Louis, Missouri, next read
a paper entitled "A case of Aphasia." The
history of this case also elected the livelest
attention.
DIR: Hughes moved, after he had finished
coed to discussion of the papers which have
been read during the session. Carried
After some discussion on motion of Dr.
Clarke, it was decided that the papers should
their rpUVlar pr Of
tation and discussed, the remarks of each
speaker to be limited to three minutes.
,; Accordingly d. Dr. Ciarkes IAN Animated
Experts" were briefly and COMPLIMENTARY
referred to. DR.. Wallace's THE Cost of
Buildings for the Insane was discussed more
thor upon his attack on the unnecessary eX-
pendlture and characterization Of such build
lngs, as good buildings could he built for less
Dr.. Gray said the keystone of DR.. Wallace's
paper seemed to lie a paper read by him at St
Louis; DR.; Wallace had evidently miscOn-
s1rued that paper: He did not intend to let
up style of architecture not to be departed
from, nor did he recommend unnecessary eX-
penditures in building asylums: Such amount
OF money should be economically spent as
would give the best hospital.
pr. klrkbrlde thought all the cutlery about
palaces for pauperS was for effect. If one state
wanted to build hospital that would be a
credit to it, it was no business of any other
state. If DR.. Wallace could house his patients
very cheaply and suit the people OF Texas it
was all right: but experience showed that the
cheaper the building 1T first. the dearer it
would prove in the long run. The charge that
thlS ASSOCIATION recommended unnecessary
expense in buildings was unfOunded The
records of its proceedings show that. Another
thlng to be taken into consideration was. that
while charging extravaganza in building such
and such an asylum, it should be remembered
that large number of them were built by
government contract.
The discussion was in progress when our
report closed. ~