The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-12-02
N0RTH'TEXAS ASYLu
MOVEMENT OF POPULATION
SINCE OCTOBER 81,
1885.

intendent of the North Texas
ASYLUM FOR THE INSANE,
situated at Terrell, Kaufman county.
The report says that the institution has
been very prosperous during the year,
and no death from local cause occurred. |
Daring the year additions, changes and
improvements were made to tie building. |
The
WATER SUPPLY
was greatly increased, additional stock |
shedswere constructed and the north CALLER
les given better protection against severe
northers.
NUMBER OF INSANE.
He estimates that there are at least $500
insane people in the state, with accommo
dation for but 1000.
DIR. Wallace and the board of managers
recommend that wings be added to the
Asylum building, thus doubling its ca
pacity, and it is proposed TO do the work
with the sum of $4,000 unused of the
previous two years appropriation for the
asylum, and an additional sum of $4,000
to be appropriated.
| Under the head of recommendations,
Dr. Wallace calls the attention of the leg
islature to the subject of
JURY TRIALS OF THE INSANE,
as precedent to admission into the asy-
lums of the state. A careful consider
alton of it on the part of the law-making
departments of the state is respectfully
invoked. The only other stats in which
similar law is known to exist (there may
be others) is that of Illinois. There, as in
Texas, there is but one opinion of the law
among those who have the best oppor-
tunity to observe its practical workings.
1t is deemed of so much Importance as to
Justify somewhat extended discussion of
it here. The writer feels that should his
humble efforts result in helping to erase
this blot from the statutes of Texas, his
life, so large portion of which has been
devoted to the care and cure of this most
unfortunate class of his fellow citizens
would not have been lived in vain.
: The law, it is believed, can be shown to
be contrary alike to common sense and
humanity in the treatment of the afflicted
Ct ass for whose interest it was the object
; of it to provide. 1t applies only to the
insane poor, not to pay-patient5. 1t
would seem that our Legislators, generally
: humane, intelligent men, would need but
to have their attention called to the use-
D lessness of the law and the evils of its OBJ
servance to secure Its repeal. But, judg-
ing by the history of it in Illinois, it may
turn out not so easy matter. law
&. once on the statue book is frequently hard
= to get off. 1t is curious fact that in Hi
u nois superintendents of ospitals for the
insane boards of charities, and Others
U who have interested themselves in the sub
j iect. have been number of years labor
j ing for its repeal without success.
e The opinions of those who, in theil
d work, have had to do with the statute il
its practical operations and details oh
u much larger scale and for longer tint
, than the writer, will now be given.
u Dick Hack luke, in a recent work OF
J. the insane of the United States and Can
r ada, speaking of the lunacy laws of tn
u several states, says:
:, ~ "The last example"-he did not visi
n Texas-"and the most stringent of all
h have to give, is in operation in the stat
a. of Illinois, where the law requires no ont
n to be placed in an asylum and deprive
n. of his liberty without trial by jury. Tn
- publicity is a most serious objection, an
80 / was informed the people often keel
~ their friends at home rather than max
81 their insanity known" In regard to tria
"a by Jury, DIR. Mcfarland, of Jacksonville
~ ILL., says: "The law is injurious, odioul
ny barbarious, damnable, and you may ad
a. Just as mary more epithets as you pleas
= and still not say all the truth in regard
90 its evils. Every superintendent in tn
or state is pleading most eloquently for
II, change in this detestable system"
=, "Again, it is objected to jury trials {
~. the insane on the grounds that, as the r
~ ~ moval from home to an asylum necess
~ ~ tates publicity to an odious extent, no
= pital treatment is delayed in many cas-
~ until the prospects of recovery have b
u, come seriously lessened; that the transit
~ to court and the incidents of trial O
y ten endanger the life of the patient; al
in not few instances patients becon
dangerously excited by having to appe
lid in court as defendants,
It "Dr. Jewell, of Chicago, highly disa
al proves of the practice, as does also
he i. H. Wines, the secretary of the Illino
ls board of public charities. Mr.. Win
writes:
"Dr. Dewey, of Kankakee: The info
tunate influence of the patient havii
49,, been treated as a crimina! is conspic
M OuSly hppdrou1 AIMING Ouo Po"iohVo IA
nh hospitals, as an undae proportion
"A. whom are impressed with an idea tn
~ they have been unjustly accused of sol
~ crime, and tyrannically held in confr
oys ment. The best feelings of all rigl
ci- minded persons are outraged by seei
, q presented in courts the depraved, unnai
az raj acts and speech of otherwise repu
m. bic men and women"
AL These excerpts, all taken from
M. Tuke's recent publication, place the m
The ter in due relief. 1t will naturally ocC
RS, TO all right.minded people to ask: WI
tu- is gained by jury trialsY 1t obviou
ee- works deal of evil, as anyone can read
the understand without ever entering
rot wards of an insane hospital. There IN
ne, be some good, it is objected, to Offset
on evils the above testimony discloses,
such state as Illinois would not have
NV sisted for years the influence brought
/ bear upon successive legislatures to hi
the it repealed. The question is plain
are There is but one good within the POI
ge. bilities, and that is, that no citizen be
to Justly deprived of his liberty, and shut
key in lunatic hospital, upon the plea OF