The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1883-01-09
,ALIA WEEKLY BAZOO, TUESDAY, JANUARY 9. 1883.

fancy in directing the attention of the Leg
istature to this Manual School rs one of
eur educational ornaments, worthy OF our
sons and the respect Of our citizens.
AsYLUNs FOR THE INSANE.
Insane Asylum No. /, located al Fulton.
has 800 patients in charge. OF these ga
are males and 90 females. There are al
least one hundred patients in this asylum
above its capacity for proper treatment.
In consequence of this the Superintendent
has been compelled 10 reject large num-
Der of applications for the admission Of
chronic cases, or cases of over twelve
months duration. Within the last two
years 364 patients have beer admitted, 203
males and l6l females. OF these LIS have
recovered and been discharged, or . frac-
ton over As per cent. of the number admit
ted. OF the 364 admissions, only 2O5 were
insane Ter a period of less than twelve
months and the recoveries were, therefore,
about IS per cent. OF the recently admitted
cases. One hundred and forty-fve of the
recoveries were treated less than twelve
months; ninety-nine less than six months,
and only ten for more than two years.
These facts show the importance of early
treatment. Ample provisions should be
made for this, SO that cases, as they occur,
may be treated in the incipiency Of the dis
ease. Delay in such treatment is inhu-
man, dangerous and in the END costly. Ex-
perience and observation teach that
after insanity continues for a
longer period than one or two
years not one case in FIVE RECEIVERS. The
average cost of each of the It's recoveries
above referred to did not exceed 500. In
view of this appeal to the Legislature to
make ample provision for the unfortunate
in our State who are suffering from this
most fearful of all maladies. Dr. Smith,
the superintendent of the Fulton Asylum,
writes me that "the number fOf insanel
now unprovided for i'm Missouri will more
than fill another asylum, larger than the
one at Fulton" He recommends the en-
largement Of each of the ssylums. SO that
they would each accommodate 600 patients.
The Fulton Asylum is managed with econ
omy and sound judgment The general
condition of the building is good and the
health of the patients excellent. Many
valuable Improvements have been made
within the last two years. At the close Of
the year there will be deficiency in the
salary account of S2.58588, caused by the
election of DR.. Henry, who was placed in
charge of the hospital for insane criminals,
and by the increase of the salaries of sever.
Superintendent. Smith will place before the
Legislature detailed account of the con-
dition and wants Of this asylum.
INSANE AsYLUM-sT. LOUIS
The last General Assembly appropriated
$4,000 for the support Of the INDECENT In
sane in this asylum, 70 be paid upon the
requisitivn of the Treasurer, endorsed Nv
the Mayor of st. Louis This is not,
properly speaking, Q State institution. 1t
belongs to the city; but as the city of ST.
Louis pays such large proportion Of the
taxes Of the State, and il is said so many
INDECENT persons are wrongrully sent, or
wander into that city to be cared for, the
legislature, in its wisdom, thought il right
TO make this appropriation. After dill
gent effort, / have wholly failed to ascer-
tain from the managers Of this asylum the
number of patients cared for, who come
from the state outside of the city of St.
Louis.
INSANE CRIMINALS.
The General Assembly should consider
the feasibility of repeating the act of the
Legislature, approved March Doth, 1881,
entitled: IAN act TO provide for the med-
ical treatment Of insane criminals" and
providing for the return to this place of SO
many OF the criminal insane rs are now
confined at Fulton. think that expert
ence will demonstrate that building for
their accommodation and treatment
should be erected within the walls of the
penitentiary. 1t is said that the proximi-
~ OF the insane criminals to the patients
i'm the regular asylum has an injurious
effect upon both classes. The building
erected for the accommodation of the in
sane criminals at Fulton can be utilized
for the accommodation of the excess of
the insane crowded into the other
buildings.
MISSOURI SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND.
This school is located i'm the city of St.
Louis The last legislature appropriated
81, 1000 TO this institution, 5000 Of which
was for repairs and refurnishing. 81 900 fer
replenishing the library and $4,000 addi-
tional for salaries. Ninety-one pupils
have enrolled since September IL, 1882.
With one single exception, the health of
the pupils has been excellent. The build
ings are in fair condition, but will require
some repairs which will cost about 5000.
The Superintendent and teachers perform
their duties faithfully. The Board OF
Trustees perform their labor of love with
singular devotion doing everything within
their power to give light. knowledge and
pleasure to the inmates of the institution.
DEAF AND DUMB ASYLUM.
This institution is in an excellent condi-
tion, provided with efficient instructors and
all necessary appliances to render the iu-
mates comfortable. 1t is under the man.
agement of an excellent gentleman, whose
life is devoted to the care of those under
his charge. He writes me that 1.-The pu-
pill. have enjoved perfect health and have
exhibited a gratifying disposition to pros
ecute their studies diligently and to &C
quiesce in all reasonable measures for the
maintenance of order" The Legislature
should not, by meagre appropriations. de-
yHrI nnfn IL e