St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-07-22
DEBATES AND BUSINESS.
Papers on IMbeciles and Weak
Minded..Nevy 0fficerS

mInGC0s1NeW Officers.
At the opening Of the afternoon session
Mr.. Gilmore of the business committee SUBJ
mitted a report. The resolution of Mrs
Spencer of Washington. that each member
pay 50 and be entitled to copy of the pro-
ceedings. was not recommended for adop-
ton. The committee recommended that
the conference adopt the following resolu-
tons:
By Mr.. Letchworth: That the president
communicate with the governors of the differ
ent states not having boards of charity, cali
ing attention to the question and urging the
creation of such body By Mr.. Letchworth ::
That the conference Endorsed the establish
ment of monthly international Record, to
be published in New York and London, to
disseminate information of subjects such as
considered by the conference. By Mr.. Bull:
that members of the various state boards of
charity in the conference use their influence
with superintendent of poor, almS-houses,
etc., for a correct recording Of all tramps.
and Migrants.
The consideration of questions relating
to the insane was resumed, and Secretary
McCulloch read a paper prepared by DR..
Charles A. Miller, superintendent of insane
asylum at Carthage, o.. on diet and Vol
untary Employment of Patients" The
paper went into the details of the quality
and quantity OF food used in its prepare
ton.
Secretary A. o. Wright of Wisconsin
read a paper on 1.-THE Construction and
Management of Small AsylumS for the
Chronic Insane" The paper is prepared
for circulation in Wisconsin as guide to
the different counties to the establishment
and maintenance of these institutions, its
policy being adopted there in nearly all
these institutions.
He favored the combining Of not less than
fifty or more than 100 inmates in one asylum
Buildings should be of solid brick, metal
doors, iron window sash, without prison bars,
heated by steam or hot air pipes, ETC., and
said it should stand on d farm of four acres
to each occupant, near but not in city.
The institutions should be governed by a
| board of local trustees. Occupation should
be provided for all the insane, whether it was
or pecunlary value or not. Over three
fourths of the chronic insane could be fur
nished occupation. Amusements should be
furnished in the shape of outdoor games.
music, dances, picnics, sleigh-rides magic
lantern exhibitions, Christmas trees, etc. All
possible liberty should be given free cor
respondence allowed, and free visiting men,
bers in eases where the patient was injured.
Kindness, frmness and tact should always be
used in treating the insane Chronic insane
are creatures OF habit and are often cured by
careful training to do one kind of work after
upon them.
FEEBLE-MINDED AND IDIOTS.
DIR. Isaac n. Kerlin, superindent of the
Pennsylvania Institution for Feeble Minded,
| submitted the report of the committee on
feeble-minded and idiotic persons, giving
the progress made in different states caring
for this class. The report was adopted by
DR.. John Q. A. Stewart of Frankfort, KY,
chairman, who was not present. The paper
is summarized as follows:
Inquiry into over 500 cases of congenital
| imbeciity showed some valuable facts Many
were delicate in infancy, which could be
helped by physicians instructing young
mothers in caring for themselves in concep-
ton and pregnancy. The incompatibility of
husband and wife often caused imbecility.
Hereditary or antecedeut consumption,
epilepsy, alcoholism and dipsomania were
shown to be causes of imbecility. Families
had been known of five idiotic children in
one family, and the day was expected when
the state should rise to its highest authority
and prevent as far possible the birth of
imbeciles by legislative enactment.
Dr.. George II. Knight. superintendent of
the Connecticut school for Predetermined.
read paper on Epilepsy as Related to
lmbecility"
From his experience and inquiry he found
that in about 60 per cent. OF imbeciles
epilepsy was found to be a cause or a com
plication. One mother gave birth to thirteen
children, only two of whom were intelligent
enough to marry and those reproduced the
experience of the mother. The laws should
be framed SO that the marriage of epileptics
should be crime. To do the best work for
epileptic imbeciles and those not so affected
they must be separated. Homes for epilep-
tics should be established in connection with
the homes for the Predetermined. In this
way many young epileptics could be cured.
The discussion of papers proceeded dur
ing the day, under the rule of tive-minute
| speeches, and was opened by j. S. Myers,
superintendent of the insane asylum at We
roma. Wis. He spoke concerning the care
of the chronic insane, showing how the
patients could be treated so as to be trust
worthy. r. A. Mott of Farbault, one of
the trustees of state institutions, gave some
history of the establishment of
FARIBAULT school.
| for the feeble minded. Prof. A. 81. Nor
ris, connected with school for feeble
| minded in Indiana, spoke of the horrible
| hereditary effects of alcoholism, etc., in
| causing feeble-minded children. DR.. Dana
said that as much as we had to be proud of
IN Minnesota. the state was not yet half
alive to the wants of this class The Fari-
Dault school was Overcrowded. Sixty ap-
! pllcants could not be accommodated and
this represented but one-ninth of the class
IN the state. He said the time had come
In every state to establish institutions for
| the feeble-minded and providing for epilep-
! tics. He wanted his hearers to
see that when the next legislature met
provision be made for the enlargement of
the Faribault institution, and protect the
homes of these unfortunate victims from
themselves. He believed in the Scotch law
that this class should be confined for life to
prevent their increase. instead of leaving
them in almshouses. where they were the