Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-05-14
The Insane AsyIums Of America.

ANNUAL MELTING OF MEDICAL sUPERINTESD-
ENTS OF SUCH INSTITUTIONS.
The American Association of the Medical
superintendent or Hospitals for the Insane,
began at w Hard Hall this morning its SD an
nuaI session The society was formed in 1S4
and has for its object the interchange Of Opin-
ions between members, and a recital and dis
cuSS on OF the experiences and Improvements
Of the past year; also general discussion of
the duties and methods of its members i'm the
treatment Of patients. There are one hundred
and twenty mem berS in the association, hail
ing from nearly every state in the Union, the
Canadas, and three or four from Europe.
About Is members We're present at the open
ing meeting this morning. Among them were
John III. Calender, Tenn. j. p. Gray, y. Y;
Z. II. Nichols, New York city, Gate OF the Gov
Donald, n. Y. A. Reynolds, Iowa; A. E. Mac
Donald. New York city; W. $: Chipley, Ohio ;
a. T. Barnes, nj Il Black, Va; Walter
Strong, Ohio: VIM. w. Strew, New York city !;
John W. sawyer, R: L.; D. Il. BurrelI, y. Y;
John Kirby, N j.; W. H. Stokes. Md. w: W,
GOdding, d. c., tprescnt superintendent Of the
Government asylum for the insane in this
DiStrict) ID, F. Boughton, Wis. Daniel Clark,
Toronto Toronto Canada; walter R tangdon; Cal
NJ. b. Mckee, London. Canada &C. W. Stevens
Mo. B. ID. Eastman, Miss: T. r. H. Smith
Mo Isaac Ray, Pa. and R. c. Chenault. Ky.
Dr. Nichols, president OF the association
called the meeting to order, and DR.. John
C1irwen, OF Harrisburg, Pa, secretary, read
letters from 4 number of absent members ex
planning and regreeting their absence also al
Invitation to hold the next meeting at Provi
dence, Rhode Island. The invitation was re
ferred TO the committee on business when ap
pointed. The chair appointed the following
Calfesider, Tenn, and DR.. Curwen, Pa
On motion of Dr.. kirkbTi invitations to
attend the meetings of the associations
wege extended to the medical profession OF
gI a. 81 a M
and navy, and to the visitors to the govern
Pient asylum for the insane.
4 motion by DR.. GOddiRg that recess fol
fifteen inmates TO aliew the business commit
tee to confer was ad0nted.
After The recess DR.. Curwen, frcm The com
mittee on business, reported the following
PROGRAMME FOR THIS SESSION
OF the association and recommended its adOp
ton adjourn this afternoon at p. m, meet
at ; F. III :adlourn ut ); meet again at 5 and
9;3U; visit the government hospital for the i'll
sane, and hold meeting there. Return and
hold Il session at p. m. On Thursday meet
spects to President Hayes at y; visit Mount
Vernon in the afternoon. On Friday meet at
IL Tor reading OF papers; adjourn to p. IN:
Visit the Barnes hospital at the Soldiers
Home, and hold d session al Sp IN. On Sat
urday meet at 10 a. H. for business visit the
C0rcoran Art Gallery. The programme was
adopted. subject 10 changes.
Dr. Gray moved that a committee, consist
ing of DrS Kingston, Black and Stephens, be
appointed to take into consideration the EN-.
plOyment OF an additional StenOgraphic re
porter, in order TO facilitate the report of the
associations meeting. The motion was
adopted after being So amended as TO give the
jurisdiction OF the whole matter of procuring
reports of the proceedings to the committee.
The chair said it had been suggested that
The usual custom of written reports from the
different states as to the condition of aSylumS
be discontinued.
Dr.. Calender embodied the suggestion in a
resolution to that effect.
DIR. Reynolds offered an amendment that the
reports be made as usual, the speakers to be
limited to five minutes each.
InlS motion and amendment gave rise to q
little debate. Some members held that, in
view OF the recent agitation concerning the
management OF aSylumS and the charges of
abuses therein, it would appear if the aS50
clatlOn ignored the usual annual reports that
the members were afraid to meet the issue
Others thought not. 1t was only question of
convenience to the association, and a diScon-
tlnuance OF custom which was thought to be
unnecessary.
erdebate, the amendment was rejected
and Dr. CailenderS motion adopted.
The chair stated that the reading OF papers
was in order.
DIR. Eastman. of Massachusetts, read the his
tory OF George Fairbanks, a patient under his
charge. The history was q very intereStin O
one OF the development of kleptomana in the
patient.
After DR.. Eastman had finished the meeting
adjourned until O'Clock this evening.