Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1882-03-30

our Insane DE partmeDf'
TO those who are permitted 10 60
through the wret3hed insane depart
meut of the county buildings it seems
incredible almost that there was nota
persistent move made twenty tive or
thirty wears ago TO have better build |
ings. Considering such miserable Ola
barracks the place is kept remarkably
clean and inmates made as comtortaOle
no circumstances will allow. There is |
no part of our people, tor these poor H.
sane are part, who are more entlued
to cara and comforts, and to insure this
there should be large, airy au" convent
emit rooms for their use. Some OF the
sleeninp APARTMENTS Of the insane in
our county buildings, are nothing put
miserable garnet clap traps, where the
inmates are in danger of freezing in
winter and melting in summer, 'How
do you keep them from freezing here"
said a gentleman yesterday to the at
tending physician, as he looked into a
miserable cell used as sleeping room,
where there was nothing but the bare
rafters and sbingled roof overhead. 20,
we crowd on the steam and provide
plenty of blankets was the reply'
No doubt this was done, for every thing
seemed to be done that could be to in
sure the comfort of the inmates, so tar
as those in charge had it in their
power.
The greatest objection to the manner
in which our insane are kept, is the
promiscuous mingling of all grades CT
the insane together, except those who
are violent and have to be chained and
locked up. In oar ramble through the
apartments yesterday, with Doctors
Springer and Ogle as our cicerones, we
found several who were yet but chill
dren and who were simply weak
minded, associating with the gibbering
maniac in the most hopeless stages OF
idiocy, except that they were not VIC
lent. The thought struck us that if any
thing would make man even of sound
mind insane, associating with these
homeless idiots would make the trans
formation complete.
If the State had place where these
Predetermined children for that is
what they are) could be sent, manv OF
them could be taught and trained tc
become useful in various associations O.
life, They are not violent nor vicious
but simply simple, scarcely past thu
grade of feeble mindedness. They an
swer and ask questions and converse II
a natural manner. What the Stat
wants is a school for these kind of sim
ple minded children, where they cal
be taught to read ard write, and iron
which they may be sent out to earn
livelihood in some light labor, whicl
does not r. quire much thought. Will
they remain with the hopelessly insane
they will become worse all the time
We are told that in the new count,
buildings there will be an apartment
for the exclusive benefit Of feeNl
minded persons, and our present Su
perintepdents are looking forward witt
pleasure to that time when they viii
have more and better facilities for TIN
comfort and care Of the County's un
fortunate wards. This, however, vii
not remedy the difficulty. The Stat
should take the matter in hand and tn
Legislature should establish depart
ments. where those for whom there i
any hope could become better This, i
is true, might be a little expensive, bu
what are few dollars compared viii
the great work Of humanity-of anne
loratlng the condition Of the untortu
nate ones, who through various cause:
and perhaps no agency Of their own be
came insane. All who are imbucC
with proper feelings Of Humanity anC
who by actual observation are aware o.
the condition Of the insane department
of our county, will be Cad to know
that new buildings will soon he erected
which necessarily must be great i'm
provemeut upon our present miserable
old barracks In all that We have said
we mean no reflection whatever upon
any person in charge Of the poor and in
sane department, 1t is wonder thai
with the poor facilities they have, they
make all around them a. comfortable
as they are. No more faithful servants
can be found than Mr. and Mrs, Bar
low and their family, Mrs. Emerson
and daughter, Doctors Og.e and Spring
er and indeed all in charge, who w
would name if we knew them.