Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-02-17
TaERANKIN AND MYERS CASES,
The circumstances under which They
were Released

were Released
STATE LUNATIC ASYLUM, NEAR MIL
LEDGEvILLE, GA, Feb. l3-- Editor Morn
ing NelCs: My attention has been called
to two articles, one in your issue Of Feb.
IL and the other of Feb. u, and beg
you to allow me briefly to reply that l
may correct statements concerning which
you must certainly have been misin-
formed.
In the first article, it is stated that Mr..
William Rankin was discharged from the
Asylum about month ago, and In your
editorial OF Feb. II, you seem to think that
the patients, MIR. William Rankin, and l
presume Gas no name is mentioned MIR.
julius Myers, were discharged under and
by authority of the recent act OF the Leg
islature requiring harmless chronic in-
sane and idiots returned to their respec-
tive countless; all OF which is a mistake,
and will now Law the facts before YOU:
MIR. William Rankin was received in the
asy lum August II, 1883, and discharged
restored March II, 1854, so it will be seen
that Mr.. William Rankin was discharged
about two years since, aud not, as thought
and stated, about month ago. 1t would
not be more cruel, in my judgment, 10
keep a person in bed and continue to give
medicine, after he had recovered from an
person confined after recovery because
he might some time in the fu-
ture have another attack. Insanity
is like many other dIseases-it may
recur many times. As TO the other case
referred to Mr.. julius Myers), he was
not discharged at all. He had been going
in and out at will about the premises,
very qmet and orderly, but suffering
greatly from nostalgia. His wife request
cd that he come home on trial. He was sent
with ths understanding that she would
return him in case he grew
worse without a new commitment
After reaching home l understood he had
an attack OF apoplexy or stroke of paraly-
sis, and he was very properly returned TO
the asylum. 1t is, however, true that we
cannot always tell what effect, returning
to the surroundings and circumstances
under which insanity occurred, will have
upon all cases. Many cases, especially
those suffering from nostalgia, Will 20 on
TO rapid and complete recovery. Upon
the first evidence or indication of
damage by the change TO the mental in-
tegrity they should be returned promptly.
We endeavOr to follow the dictates OF hui
mainly in such cases. The demand from
lAe insane, confined to jail, have fire.
quently been so great upon us, that we
have allowed relatives and friends, who
were able and willing to take patients
home before they were fully restored,
when we mad good reason to believe that
it would not prove detrimental. 1t Will
be seen that MIR. William Rankin was
discharged restored March II, 1884. The
act for the discharge OF harmless lunatics,
amended so as to return to county authori-
ties was approved Oct. II, 1885, something
over a year afterwards, and MIR. Julius
Myers was not discharged under that act,
but taken home by his family with the
understanding that he could be returned
at any time without a new commitment,
il necessary. We have not returned any
patients to Chatham county under author
ity OF that act, and there are only three
at this time to be returned, and not
half dozen, as you think in your article
of Fe b. u.
AS there seems to be such apprehen-
sions, per nit me TO give you a statement
of those to be returned.
One white male, received here in 1854.
and been here 30 years, between 20 and IS
years of age; for the past % years has
been walking in and out at Will, around
the community, perfectly quiet and or
derby. We have never heard of any indi-
cation or tendency to do mischief in any
way.
One white male, age about 30 years, has
been in the asylum for the last 9 years;
perfectly quiet ana harmless for the
whole time, and has been going IN and
out ut will for the past SIX years.
And one cOlOred male imbeoile. There
is no probability existing of their being
benefited by medical ministratiOB.
T. .. POWELL, Superintendent, etc.
There was a mistake relative to the
date of Rankin's discharge. 1t grew out
OF the fact doubtless that two persons re-
turned from the asylum about a month
ago. Those two and Rankin together
with the three, of whose discharge notice
has been received, make up a half dozen.
Myers became violent, it is said, soon af-
ter reaching home. 1t seems that there
were half a dozen altogether and not
half dozen yet to come.