The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-29
A TYPICAL FIRE.

A bonfire was lighted on Christmas day in
the grounds of the Insane Hospital of Indi-
ana that might we'll be initiated elsewhere at
zimilar institutions. On that day DR..
Fletcher, the superintendent, caused all the
machinery CT restraint-the cribs, belts,
sfTait-jackets, etc.-to be thrown into a
pile, when a quantity of petroleum was
poured over the collection and a match APP
piled. 1t is said that some of the inmates
who had at times been cor fined by one or
another of these appliances assisted in
the incineration, personally casting
upon the pyre such things as had
been employed upon them during fits of
violence. 1t is barely possible that all the
good anticipated from this innovation will
not at once be realized, but the principle
is undoubtedly the correct ore. Humanity
is becoming more humane. The old iron
clad methods used against the insane are
going into disrepute, and even the harshness
OF prison discipline is relaxing undera public
sentiment that views such measures with no
degree of sympathy. 1t is not to be ex-
pected that those non compos mentis will
rise to the occasion and remove the necessity
OF all restraint, and thus show
their ability and desire to cooperate In the
5ork of reform. The sacrifice made in the
construction of cribs, belts, and such things,
was a great one. 1t is a much easier thing
to chain a man, or to fasten him down help
lessly in a crib, than to lead him out of his
excessive madness by gentler means. 1t will
now require infinitely greater patience to
deal with those whose reason is dethroned.
But the innovation will be applauded, and it
is to be hoped that the experiment will
be proved a success, in which event
thousands of unfortunates will be
The gamers. Any measure that will, even in
the smallest, ameliorate their condition, is
to be attained at almost any sacrifice of time
and expense and pains.
But this bonfire is not unique. The ten
dency of the times in all fields is toward
greater liberty and a more humane
policy of conduct between the peo-
pie. With increasing intelligence the paths
are being broadened and leveled and made
smooth. Corduroy roads of pioneer days
will not do in an age of railways. 1t
we're folly to expect the people of to-day to
content themselves with the things that were
good enough" for the fathers. These things
we're good enough in one sense, and in an
other they were not. Corduroy roads lifted
The pioneer over treacherous sloughs, and
made passage comparatively safe if not pleas
ant. The world has gone on to better things,
and now the railway lifts the people over the
uncertainties of corduroy. The progress of
thought has broken the barriers
that man had placed about the
church, and has stricken off the shackles that
so long hampered religion. There has been
and can be no revolution in the Christian re-
Iigion, but there have been a number of
revolutions in its Interpretation and admin
istration. The cribs of the inquisition have
long been burned, and the narrow creeds
born of men are now going into the fire.
The ipse dixit OF pope, priest or preacher
alone is not enough, The think-as-I-think-or-
b%e-damned policy will not be tolerated. Re-
ligion was made to save all the people.
In non-essentials there must be latitude to
accommodate the infinite variety of natures
to be dealt with; enough will be kept out by
falling short of the high mark of what is re-
quired.
What is true of the growth of a sentiment
OF greater liberty in church creeds and tenets
is true of medicine and of law. The formu-
lee of remedies admit of infinite variety, and
no man dare proclaim the one true way. The
field is being explored in every direction; dis
c~overies are almost daily being made and new
remedies and treatments found. The people
are intelligent enough to want the
best, and too intelligent to believe that long
established methods may not be improved