Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-03-29
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In Favor Of County Asylums.

The following is summary of the
report of the majority of the committee
on charitable and penal institutions, to
whom was referred that portion of the
Governor message, relating to the
chronic insane. 1t is only fair to state
that in the computation of cost of the
state institutions the committee reckon
from the erection of the buildings, which
in the case of the state asylum at Madi-
son was years ago and necessarily
many repairs have had to be made
since, which naturally increases the
total cost of the institution.
The total cost of constructing the
state hospita! to date, S515,270, which
is a cost per capita per patient of
Sl.09S, taking the average of inmates
for the year ending September, 1882; as
basis. Total cost of land and con-
struction OF the Northern hospital,
S720,000, which is cost per capita per
patient of 1861; average per capita
per patient for both 81, 229.
The cost of Milwaukee asylum, S202,-
900, which is cost per capita of S67l,
which is a less cost per capita than the
average of the two state asylum,
S55S.
As the Milwaukee asylum is equal in
every respect to the state asylums
proper, your committee cannot under
stand why the latter costs so much
more than the former, and think the
matter ought to be investigated by the
proper state authorities.
The cost of the county asylums,
which are reported by the state board
of charities and reform to be equal in
all essential points to the state asylums,
are as follows:
Average cost of patients in county
asylums per capita per week. &c
Average cost OF patients in state asy
lnms per capita per week. az
Difference In favor of the county asy-
lums per capita per week.. O6
Difference in favor OF the county asy-
lums per capita per annum....... 10s 12
Which would make a difference in one
year on 1000 patients Of. .......... 2l4,20 %
The above statement of the cost is
based on the supposition that the cost
of acute eases. costs no more than
chronic. Now reckoning that one-third
are cases of acute insane, the saving
on the remaining two-thirds would be
Sl44, $50 annually, which your COM
mittee consider is paid under the state
system more than would be required
under the county system.
The committee then proceeded to ex-
anime the humane aspect of the ques-
ton, and quote from the report of the
board of charities and reform and from
an address of Hon. III. H. Giles, in
whose sentiment they concur, that the
massing of large numbers of the insane
together is ''refined cruelty" and they
enter at some length into a discussion
of the proper treatment both of the
chronic and acute insane, concluding
that in the county system the problem
of how best to care for the insane is
solved. The report concludes as fol-
lows.
Nature is memorable and never for
gives violation of her laws. The
penalty is vigorously exacted, but the
''vis medicatfix naturan is ALWAYS at
work endeavoring to repair damages,
and the best way to aid it is for the
patient to live in perfect accord with
natures laws, perfect temperature in
all things, good nutritious diet, pure
air, pure water, proper employment for
body and mind, kind and sympathetic
treatment in the opinion of your COM
mittee to assist the wis medicatrix
natura', torepair damages and restore
health.
Now in the very nature of things
this cannot be so we'll accomplished
when large numbers are cooped up in a
PRISON as in the state asylums, where it
is impossible for the superintendent to
know each individual case. when, as a
matter of necessity, much must be left
TO subordinates, all of whom are not
above The suspicion of brutality, rs in
county asylums, where the superin-
tendent could easily give each individual
case critical examination, and where
the patients could have the benefit of
the best remedial agents-pure water,
pure air, healthful occupation for both
body and mind, and proper medicinal
treatment
All of which is respectfully submitted.
ESocH CHASE, Senator.
GEO. A. ALBERT.
J. j. RASMUSSEN,
G.. L. WARNER.
f. V. PIPER,
o. w. Bow, Assembly.