Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-10-10

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years, and 80 per cent more than 10 years.
The convict and criminal insane, 10 in all,
are now isolated from all others and provid-
ed with a special airing court The number
Of patients discharged In the two years as
recovered" was 81, and as improved" b.
The supervisors state that at their monthly
visits during the two years they have made
careful inspection Of all departments of the
institution they have mingled freely with
the patients, converted with them. listened TO
their complaints, ard have had every facility
for arriving at their real condition and the
manner in which they are treated. As tho
result Of this thorough investigation they are
satisfied that the asylum arrangements and
methods leave little to be desired. The num-
Der OF attendants, averaging about one for
each IL patients, is ample mechanical re-
straints are used only when the protection OF
the patient himself or his fellows requires
them, and are used no longer than the super
intendent believes to be absolutely necessary.
The sanitary condition Of the institution is
very perfect and the heating and ventilating
arrangements are not less so. The culinary
arrangements are admirable !" the tables
are supplied with an abundance of whole
some, substantial food, and "the capricious
appetite of the invalid is specially provided
for, as occasion demands"
The new chapel is approvingly mentioned
and the outside improvements, including the
new Park" and the Summer Retreat, are
approximately described, and dwelt upon at
length. OF the former the supervisors say,
with truth, that, "When completed according
to its survey, it will form one Of the most
magnificent and attractive parks, in its vari-
ETY. of grade, of scenery and surroundings,
in this state and will far excel that of any
similar institution in the country"
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changes needed to be made in the law for the
commitment of insane persons followed by
a glance at the progress and radical changes
in the treatment of the insane which have
been made ia the last century, dating from
the initial efforts in this direction Of Philippe
Pinel of France about the year 1870. To
this line OF progress the supervisors "are
pleased to find the superintendent and man
ayers of the Vermont Asylum for the Insane
fully committed. The improvements they
have made outside and inside the asylum
buildings all look towards this end. The
dividends of the corporation are all devoted
to this purpose. The convictions of the su-
perintendent and his associates in the treat
ment of the inmates are in this direction"
We quote in full the reasons which the su-
pervisors give for opposing the erection of a
new asylum by the state, and for recommend
ing that the state increase by 90 cents its
weekly payment for each patient
"In view Of these improvements present and
prospective the present board Of supervisors see no
special reason for the establishment Of new state
asylum. They would recommend rather the encour-
agemeut Of the managers Of this asylum to continue
in the line Of their present progress, to increase
the capacity for the better accom- odations Of their
present inmates by the erection of buildings at
some points on their spacious grounds, adopting to
some practicable extent the cottage system, add-
tonal summer retreats. In their opinion II would
be more economical in pecuniary point Of view,
more for the interest and credit Of the state, and
more beneficial to the unfortunate class Of persons
who placed here to receive its benefits, that the
state should increase the weekly stipend pays for
their care aud treatment rather than to invest in
definite sum Of money in buildings such as would be
indispensable in new location. An increase Of fifty
cents per week in our opinion ought to be made.
This asylum il already in existence. II has ample
held for all the enlargement and extension necessary
to all the insane people Of the state. 1t
Is to all .ntents and purposes state asylum. The
policy Of its managers is TO accommodate patients
from the state and to decline applications from those
outside. The state has the beneht of this investment,
without the dangers and expenses incident to its
construction, repairs or management. The weekly
stipend u pays ior the care and treatment OF It's
wards less than that paid by any other state, and
Is hardly sufficient to cover the expense Of their
maintenance. Moreover its superintendent and
managers are enlisted in the line Of improvements,
sanitary, hygienic aud medical demanded By the
progress Of the age In the treatment Of the insane.
The only limit to their lAbors is the funds necessary
to accomplish their plans. The state has 1t in its
power by this small increase Of its weekly stipend to
aid in this philantnropc undertaking. In doing 1t
creased proportion OF these unfortunate people and
to the comfort Of those whose alteration OF intellect
has passed beyond the boundaries Of science or hu-
mainly to do more than smooth their pathway to the
tomb"
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND sUPERINTEND-
ENT.
The officers of the asylum, in their report,
embody the statistical facts already referred
to and allude in detail to the improvements
which have been carried forward during the
past two years. The trustees call attention
to the fact that the policy of the state in dis
charging harmless, chronic cases, thus lessen
ing the average number of inmates and leav-
ing on the hands Of the asylum a greater
number Of destructive and expensive patients,
inevitably tends to cut off the income of the
institution and cripple its resources in the di-
rection of making such additional improve
ments as the spirit of the times demands For
this reason they represent that the state should
make an additional allowance Of 80 cents per
week for its patients. Another important
suggestion is renewed in the following Ian
guage:
eve also respectfully suggest that provision be
made for those who become insane in the state prison
and house Of correction, and for those who ac-
quilted Of crimes in the courts by of insani-
ty in connection with one of these penal in stitutious
The universal sentiment OF time is that these
should not be provided for in common with the in
nocent insane. We six years ago urged the consider
er provision was then reached. We have since then
isolated them from the rest of the household in a
separate ward, which were obliged to strengthen
TO adapt it TO this particular class, which at present
numbers 10. We need the room for others, and feel
that an asylum for the ordinary insane is not the
proper place for the confinement OF those whom
| ciety regards as the dangerous classes"
The trustees would evidently regard the
making Of such provision for the convict and
| criminal classes as a more suitable and desir-
able use for the funds of the state than the
erection of new buildings on the asylum prop
erty as proposed by the supervisors in their
report-it being their policy to improve and
perfect arrangements already existing rather
than to increase the capacity of the institu-
| ton.
DIR. Draper, in his report, mentions the
somewhat curious fact that, while the census
of 1880 shows more insane females than
males in Vermont, about 63 per cent of those
received in the last two years have been of
the male sex and for the fifteen years pre-
ceding there has been an average of 20 per
cent. more male than female applicants for
admission. He is unable to give any salts
factory explanation of these facts, but suggests
that 1.-THE prevailing type of insanity must
be less demonstrative and aggressive in the
female sex than in the male, else the re-
stTaints of an asylum could hardly be avoid.
ed"
The number of recoveries in the past two
| years has been greater than in either of the
two Immediately preceding biennial periods,
aggregating % per cent. on the admissions.
The death rate for the two years was about 7
per cent. of the resident population-the num-
Der for the year ending July 81, 1888, being
80, and for the year following 20. But six
of these deaths were from acute bodily dis
ease-showing a satisfactory sanitary condi-
ton of the institution.
| Open-air treatment is made more aud more
a feature of the asylum treatment, and its
beneficial effects are especially noticeable in
! acute cases.
The doctor describes at length and with
! justihable pride the new Park, the Summer
Retreat, the Chapel, and the various other
| minor improvements which have been car
ried on during the past two years. The main
portion of his report closes with a brief dis
cussion of the complaints made by patients
under restraint, and the statement of the
| very evident fact that 1.-THE circumstances at
tending given case must always be taken
into account in determining whether it be an
instance of i'll usage or otherwise"
Touching as they do upon a subject which
| is of general no less than of local interest,
these reports make interesting reading
throughout. From them it is evident, as il