New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-12-26
TIE CARE or The INSINE.

/
A LETTER FROM DIR. ALLAN MIANE HAMILTON
HE RECENT MEETING AT COOPER UNIoN-UN-
PROVED ASSERTIONS AND ASSERTIONS THAT
ARE FALSE.
| To the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: In your issue Of this morning appears
an account OF meeting held last evening for the osen-
sbc purpose OF changing the unacy laws OF this State
and questioning the administration Of various State
and city asylums. This meeting was addressed by two
or three gentlemen well known TO tbs community rs
yigiant and active reformcrs; bur / am on this
occasion their better judgment did not assert ITSELF On
the contrary their efforts pledged to the support
OF an advised and attack upon the com
potency ef several universally respected public officials
such attack being inspired by certain hotheaded and
Jealous men, and regret to say OF the profession TO
which have the honor 10 belong.
| do not desire to appear Ut this time in the light
either OF an apoogst champion, for there appear to
he no charges worthy OF notice 10 explain away
and / feel quite sure that DIS. Gray. Macdonald
and other supern cndcnts capable OF taking care
OF themselves. Tacrc were, however, certain state
ments made at the meeting at Cooper Institute which
founded upon superficial observations,
aud undoubtedly from the false reasoning certain
laymen arc apt indulge in when they attempt 10 eX
pertinent to their satisfaction with medical or other
sciences of which they know little nothing, that feel
constrained direct attention TO many discrepancies in
statistical and other Information advanced by some OF
the speakers whose motives were welEmeaning
but iuiudcious. The Rev. DR.. Storrs. for instance,
presented statistics in regard to the curabil-
ity of insanity. and stated that the percentage
OF cures was great IL years ago. wrongly
insnuating that this falling OF was due TO Improper
and imperfect asylum treatment. Any one familiar
with the subject and study OF mental disease (and re-
fer to physlcans) will realize that the importation of
new elements Of society, foreign vice. as we'll as great
and alarming changes in American life and morals I'm
TEMPERANCE incude nervous diseases OF incurabe
type of which little known nfteen or twenty years
ago, are becoming exceedingly rife and on the
increase. IL must also be remembered that the
advances in neurological science OF late years such
as TO enable supeniendents OF asylnms TO distinguish
and deny admission OF durable functional ner-
vous disease hysteria and acute Affections presenting
mental symptOms thus making the percentage OF cures
appear be greater Other persons than those inter-
ested in this movement who should visit any OF our
asylums would find that n large proportion OF
cases those presenting symptoms Of organic ner-
VOWS disease chronic insanity. which In but few In
stances curaOle conditions
Equally Unfair is the comparison drawn between
bic general diseases and disorders OF the BRAIN for any
person limited education will realize the serious
character OF all affections Of the nervous system.
The Of the medical spe tKer upon the occa
sion are so and unjust to the superndents lie at
tacs their denial Is hardly necessary. 1t Is only
proper rcfuie them, however, In toto, by general
dental and any nqurDg person may satisfy himself as
TO their nsncec character by visit 10 any Of The asy
Iums where there has been shown the least
secrecy coDcealment. have personally visited the
asyums complained Of and find that there Is herd
Ing" together OF acute and chronic case such as has
been spoken OF that there hospital wards; thai all
the chronic male patients who may be safely trusted are
daily occupied in outdoor manual work. such as las
been advocated by he best alIenss In this country and
Europe.
AS to the charge of professional meOmpetency upon
the part of supern there is proof that such
exists other than the unsupported statements OF dis
apponted asuirents for Office and discharged officials
and nurses The medical journals OF Great Britain and
the Continent fully attest as TO the valuable scientific
work of OF the American superntendents and as
to the suggestions in regard 10 debarring physicians
who have assistants for years asylums from the
privilege OF promotion 10 the post OF superintendent
It strikes the writer that persons who have derived
tensve practical experience naturally better quail
fled for The Office than n medical man from outside who
Possesses at best but theoretical requirements. The
latter person. however is the speakers ideal OF the pro-
per nan for the place.
As one of the orators stated at the meeting agitation
of this KIND productive OF the worst results far
the reengs Of the public at large and the
sensational articles that have recently appeared In the
papers have already had their evil Effects for am told
BY very distinguished physician and doubtless others
could give the experience that one OF his patients
has been made insane by these published sensational
In conclusion, it might be stated that the efforts
q
poyed keeping people out VI the asylums Dr. luke,
In Of his attractive essays upon insanity shows us
not only the statistics In regard 10 the or
insanity OF less erroneous hut that fair COM
pans0n by figures of the amount extent, durability and
mortality modern insanity nj that If fifty years
impossible that data indicating increase have much
to present treatment and the longevity OF the
insane lie also proves, az do Others that certain
causes OF insanity In Great Britain which also have
much do with its continuance. exist To teD-fod
tcn this country and 10 IL surprising that the
propOrto ION ~ cures Is perhaps less tnan elsewhere.
What really need are more extensive accOtumOda-
viii eh are hem nd
salaried assistants who III find 10 object TO
al asy lnms in which they may be interested.
Speaking generally, Il may be said also that need
intelligent discussion Of the best methods Of treatment
OF the Insane. aud he3rtier sympathy with those wno
are professionally charged with tner The task OF
such nembersof the medical profession Is no one,
their responsibilities not light But they Will
not be helped 10 discharge those responsibilities by
sweeping criticism which implies II has the cour
age directly charge widespread inefieiency and
ect and which rewards the efforts OF who have do
voted lifetime the OF the insane, with obquy
or suspicion. ALLAN McLASE HAMILTON, M. ID.
Aelc- York, December TO- 1879.