News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1886-09-30
in rooms bv themselves under more

in rooms by themselves under more
restraint than is found necessary in
the asylum; some are inoffensive and
kept in poor-houses one or two indi-
vidual cases were learned of where the
unfortunate victims are kept in re-
voting condition as to their surround
ings, but for the most part they are
we'll provided for.
The most important and significant
part Of the supervisors report is that
in which they treat of the ''criminal
and convict insane" meaning by this
term those inmates who have been
sent to the asylum from the State !
Prison, or those who committed some
crime after they became insane, which |
led to their committal to the asylum.
The supervisors have evidently made
a careful study of this subject, and
we are glad to see that their investi-
cations have led them to the only le-
ultimate and proper conclusion-that
this class of inmates should be re-
moved from the asylum proper and
cared for by the State in connection
with one of the prisons. These in
mates are in a sense outcasts from
the world; most Of them are danger
Gus in their tendencies, and their lib
Grafton under any circumstances would
mot be tolerated. They are all incur
ables, and the most that can be done
for them is to provide for their secure
isolation under kind and humane
treatment.
with attendants sufficient to insure
their obedience to all restraints required;
proper care when sick; the necessary
food for the proper sustenance OF the
body; such exercise as their necessary
restraint shall admit; and when this is
accomplished all that can be done for
this class of insane persons in remedial
way is done. They are class separated
entirely from all associations with any
BODY but themselves; their connection
with an insane asylum as forming part
of its inmates is an incongruity they are
a kind of barnacle upon the asylum, COM
pelling the association of a prison and
prisoners with surroundings designed to
| be as far as possible removed from that
| idea: of criminals and convictS in an in
| stitution devoted to the care and treat
ment of the innocent and insane from
| civil life. They increase the ratio OF III
curables, or chronic insane, and lnJure
| the reputation of the institution for the
cure of its inmates. They occupy space
which is greatly needed for those who
have a more promising prospect IN the
| future for restoration. All that posi-
bly, can be accomplished in their care and
treatment can just as well be done away
| -, md wifi l
| increase of expense to the State. 1t costs
the State now nearly $4,000 per annum to
support her criminal and convict insane.
| 1t would cost no more to maintain them,
| and probably less, at either of the penal
| institutions from which they are sent.'
A very essential point which would
be gained by the removal Of these in
mates would be to leave vacant an adj
ditional ward in the asylum where a
legitimate class of patients could be
treated, and by means of the in
creased room thus secured the neces-
sity for an independent State asylum
would be obviated for many years to
come.
Believing that this subject will COM
mand the attention of the legislature
at its coming session the supervisors
have visited the House of Correction
at Rutland, and the State Prison at
Windsor to obtain information which
may help to wise conclusion in the
selection of place for the care of these
unfortunate wards of the State. The
natural plan would be to erect build
ing for their accommodation in con-
nection with the State Prison at
Windsor, but the prison uses all the
room at its command and there is no
suitable place to erect an additional
building there. At Rutland, on the
contrary, there is ample room to erect
such a building in connection with the
House of Correction. The cost
would not exceed $4,000 and the SUI
pervisors are clearly of the opinion
that here the State should at once az
range to take care of its convict and
criminal insane.
Following their detailed treatment
of this important subject the super
yisors present statistical facts relat-
ing to the asylum for the past two
wears, and these are followed with a
summary of general observations on
the philanthropic, humane and effi-
Gent work which the asylum is doing
in its treatment of the insane people
committed to its charge. Their judg-
ment is in every respect favorable to
the institution, and none who have
taken pains to acquaint themselves
with the present management of the
Vermont asylum will question the JUS
f tice of their conclusion that, at the
| close of its first half century our home
institution holds place ''equal, il
not superior, in all its departments
to similar institutions in this or any
other country. ''-Brattleboro Phgn5@