The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-12-19

Of the ON the face OF the globe the
OF cure in 1876 was less than eleven cent. while
In the hospital which treated every disease from
measles to cancer. the average of seventy
per cent. the increase insanity is not checked
We must in time build a Bedam as big as the CONT
nent At the present day. to be sent a insane
asylum Is only second IN disgrace TO being sent TO
jail for criminal offence. IL is aiso terrible
fact that the proportion of suicides the asyluns
OF this State 1875 thousand per cent
beyond the number of suicides in the English hos
pitfalls for the preceding year. In England u lunacy
commission in existence thirty years. has wrought
many benefits. There the medical superintend nts
approved by the commission. and u record is
mitted to correspond with the commission and make
complaints. There Is = court of appeals for every
lunatic in an asylum in Great Britain aud that As
what ought 10 have here. (Applause.) There
should not be more than two hundred and nifty per-
generates. AS it were. an atmosphere of insanity.
ExTRAvAGANT AND ISADEQuArE BUILDINGS.
Dr. l. Z. ssguin sad that the American asylum
calmly and that the latter were extrayagantly expe
sive and inadequate to the wants OF patients. 1t
were Gtea thsrs were
6aD0 patients Willard 1900. in the Kings
County Asylum. 700; on Blackwells Island. over
1900 and on Wards island 1000. II maintain that
can, alone look alter the interests of
such large number are placed under each super
intendent. Then there is a communicating of acute
with chronic in che asylulns while the needs
of these two classes are very diverse. In the
asylums of this State there Ia little or no
opportunity for patients TO work. They are per-
United to sit aud brood over their troubles by tho
hour, even their promenade being restricted by
want Of room. The asylums OF this city especially
arc entirely behind tue times. They have the most
remarkable crowdng tosether Of durable and
ipcuraLle patients. The food, have reason to
believe. is sufficient in quality. and I'm not
30 sure Of its quantity the c,st OF maintenance
has been reduced to twenty-six cents day per
patient less. Assistant physicians appointed
from among under graduates in medicine. From
1876 to 1873 inclusive. nine gentlemen served
Backwels aud Wards islands assistant physi-
clans before graduation. would ask you notice,
however that such illegal appointments have
been made since the Neurological Society began
to agitate the matter last autumn. We should de-
mand the creation OF hospital for acute OF
insanity and distinct asylum for the incur
able Insane. The assistant physicians are
ut present appointed merely on recon-
ton. After entering the asylums they are
almost Immediately put in charge OF wards. aud have
each the OF from 100 to $50 patients Then these
assistants receive little or instruction from their
chiefs But u more serious matter Is that superin-
tendents in time chosen from among their num-
ber The following resolutions were then adopted
Resolved That Is seriously defective system OF tho
control OF the officials Of asylums und should be
doned in this country wherever IL exists it has beon
the plan Of the lunacy commis
long in successful in Great Britain aud
mission should be personally supervise insane Hsyums
both public and private; attend to complaints and
scientific study and treatment OF the insane
That committee be appointed by the chairman Of this
meeting devise plan for the organization such
ianscy commission to present to the next Legislatures
bill its creation and to advise with the Governor and
State Board OF Charities In the selection of the members
OF said committee.
Resolved That this meeting also earnestly the
of the and that the mmttec here spponted
steps for the formation Of snGh aasocistion
6SENiSs = / E WT@SSur.n
Z. q. sEGUIN.