Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1888-10-05
The Report of the Trustees of the Ver-
mont Asylum.


The biennial report of the Trustees of
the Vermont Asylum which will soon be
before the Legislature, is a document of
more than usual interest and significance,
for the reason that it takes up and dwells
upon the crowded condition of the asylum
and shows that the state must consider Sc
riously the question of providing for its
insane, the number of which is already far
beyond the capacity of this institution.
For many years, in spite of frequent en-
largements, the asylum has been crowded
to its fullest capacity, but for two years
past the overcrowding has been more
marked than ever before and the incon-
venience attending it has been such as to
detract from the highest usefulness of such
an institution. The capacity of the asylum
is now as great as its officers believe it to
be wise TO make it, and they do not con
template any further enlargement. Its
natural and proper capacity is the accom-
mediation of 400 patients, but the average
number for ten years past has been 40,
and for two years past it has been 46l.
Moreover, this overcrowded condition has
been aggravated by the fact that the dis
charge by the state supervisors Of 100 quiet
and harmless patients has given room for a
corresponding number Of excited and diff
icult cases, which prevents the proper
classification of the patients and seriously
nterferes with the best interests of all con-
cerned.
In view of these growing embarrass-
ments the asylum officers must consider
and soon determine their future course
and in doing this they wish to conserve the
best interests both of the institution and of
the state. On this subject their report
says
In carefully considering the relation of
the institution TO the state, aud in referring
10 that act of the Legislature by which an
obligation has always been recognized, the
trustees believe they are not legally holden
TO care for the transient, nor under obliga-
ton TO receive the convict and criminal
insane. That act of the Legislature upon
which alone all claim on the part of the
state rests, was approved Nov. LIST, 1897,
and reads as follows
An act concerning the Vermont Asylum for the
Insane,
1T is hereby enacted by the General Assembly
Of the state Of Vermont, that the Treasurer of
this state is directed to pay the Trustees of the
Vermont Asylum for the Insane the sum of four
Thousand dollars out of any moneys in the trras
uTy not otherwise appropriated, for the purpose
OF erecting another building for the asylum pay
able ON the first day of April next. Prouided in
future admissions To the bcuehts Of said Asylum,
a preference shall be giren 10 resident cifi-eus
Of his state
In 1871 provision for the care of insane
criminals was made, though it was not
specially provided that it should he in the
asylum, but that they should "be confined
IN the county Jail or some other suitable
ptdce.' In 1915 it was provided that con
victs becoming insane might be transferred
n the asylum from the prison. Not until
1888 were the transient insane recognized
aud provided for as a class by the state.
At the rate Of increase which has been go
ing on, before the expiration Of another
biennial period some process of exclusion
may be forced upon us. We urge upon
the Legislature the consideration of this
question
This declaration, with its accompanying
statement Of facts leads 10 hut one con
clusion that the state will he compelled to