Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-03-15
Treating the Insane.

bit
If tie contract system of caring for
the insane must be continued in opera
ton in this county, and it will be done
unless the legislature should interfere.
The HERALD would suggest one I'M
provement which would conduce to the
best interests of patients, contractor,
and county. In former contracts, and
the provision is the same in the present
contract, medical attendance is included
in the essentials furnished by the con-
tractor. Under the contract the lessee
must provide for regular visits of a
physician not less than once week
Now, however well weekly visits may
have worked when only the poor and a
few insane were to be cared for, attcn-
uated medical attendance of this kind
is obviously inadequate when there are
in the neighborhood of a hundred pa
tients, including paupers and insane, to
be looked after. 1t is quite apparent to
even a casual observer that some one
of the number will be in need of a physi-
clans oversight, even if not of medi-
cal treatment, every day of the year
Yet, under the stipulations, the contrac-
tor is only obliged to furnish regular
medical attendance once a week and
transient visits when there is necessity
for it. The decision as to the necessity
rests, it will be seen, with the contractor
who in turn has to pay for the extra
visits as well as the medicine consumed.
Hence it is obvious that he will natur-
ally make medical bills as light as posi-
BILE. In this statement The HERALD
wishes to be understood rs simply stat
ing general proposition.
If the above statements are correct
it is plain that physician should visit
the asylum as often ut least as three or
four times per week, while daily visits
would be much more preferable. He
would then be able to keep a careful
supervision of the inmates and often
times might be able to assist in lifting
the black cloud of unreason through
which the shattered mind might be seen
cndeavoring to force its way. How often
this might be the case is shown in the
return of the insane from Madison re-
Gently. Some of those who were to
have been returned had within the past
few months, shown such signs of inn
provement that the Superintendent of
the Madison asylum kept them there, in
the hope that the improvement might
prove to be but the preliminary to a
full restoration of the beclouded fac
ulties.
Under the circumstances then, and
with all this before us how much better
would it be for the county to provide
the medical attendance and pay physi-
clan for making three, four, or even
daily trips to the institution, the same as
he would TO his other patients So far
as the cost is concerned it would be "a
mere bagatelle. A little over two hum
dred dollars would pay for three or
four visits per week, while the cost of
daily trips would be but very little add
vanced over that amount.
Again, in employing q physician by
the county another object would be at
tanned, in that each visit paid would be
in reality an official inspection of the
workings of the institution. Nor is this
by any means Il minor consideration.
The county system is now on trial and
there is eyinccd on every hand an earnest
desire to make a success of this new
venture. Every one who has been heard
to express themselves on the subject,
from committeeman down to the
humblest citizen have gwen expression
to the same thought, hence anything
which can be done that will conduce to
that end ought to be thoughtfuIly con
sidered and if found good Incorporated
in the workings of the institution. A
physician making regular visits and be-
holden, not to the contractor but to the
county for his pay, would be much more
liable to see and Immediately have cor.
rected any little defects which there is
likelihood will creep in with new
undertaking.
On the one hand he would feel the
responsibility of his position while on
the other he would be but the paid EN-.
ployee of the man who was responsible
for the defects. Again it would he the
best defense the contractor would have
against the idle stories and rumor,
which are only too ready TO float out
into community in regard to the con
duct of any public institution, blasting
the reputation of their subject, ever
before he is aware of his danger. /,
hide any shortcomings from the pryin;
eyes of the physician making frequen
visits would be simply impossible, whil
on the other hand the latter would b.
able to promptly deny any detrimental
stories which might be started by scan
dial mongers, anl his denial wouli hay,
an authority that it never could beal
were he simply the hired attendant o
the contractor. To the county thi
change would be beneficial in that tn,
county individually and collectively, cor
porateIy and severally, is responsible