Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-06-13
AN lNEBRlATE HOSPITAL.
DE-. GOdding Suggests How such an
Institution Should be Managed.
aIs LETTER TO THE SENATE DISTRICT COMMITTEE
THE INADvfsABILrrY OF COMBINING THE rNRBRrArEs
WITH TIE INsANE-rHR NRKD OF AN NRBRIArH
AsYLrh IN THE DISTRICT.

The bill which was originally introduced in the
Senate BY Mr.. Edmunds toprovide for the conflne-
ment OF inebrtates Of the District OF Columbia In
the Insane Asylum, was some time ago recon-
mitted to the District committee that the opinion
of the superintendent OF the Insane Hospital
might be obtained in regard to 1t. Chairman In
gals referred the bill to DR.. Godding, with Q
request that he would favor the committee with
any suggestions he might have to make in regard
to the propriety Of the proposed legislation. DR..
Godding's reply has, as stated In THE STAR, been
received by the committee After acknowledging
receipt OF the bill and the letter requesting his
views he wrote:
1.-THE number OF inmates Of the Government
Hospital TOR the Insane, as shown by the hospital
rolls on the first OF the present month June), was
, ,in Mns comiorta6ie t capacity OF The build
Isl ESQ: II Is clear that the inebriate is not
bli should provide An appropriation for the con.
struction or distinct building for his treatment
such provision would be needed In any event.
=. NRBRIHrY As A prsEAsE
is distinct from insanity. The very existence OF
this bill shows that 1t is 90 regarded. Inebriates
resent being placed with the insane, nor are the
insane as q rula proud OF them as associates In
sane from the poison OF drink as they undoubtedly
are while the liquor Is In them they now and then
their detention during convalescence they AFFORD
interesting, though unprontable, psychological
studies Dissolute In habit and Idle In life they
are Uncomfortable fr0m the start. They are
usually finding and impatient at their deten-
tlon, den0unctng everybody and everything about
them. They insist upon the liberty OF the grounds
as their right, and II they do not obtain 1t they
make the ward uncomfortable for everybo else:
II they do they preempt the pleasant places OF the
jeer at the insane mar who may chance to be con. @
tent and happy in his surroundings, and by their
lawless ways make themselves . nuisance to all
-ha narx1fp
are studying how to
SMUG0LR IN WHISKY
or enect an escape In them moral honesty and
generous impulses are sadly wanting, and q con-
diton OF settled discomfort characterizes the en-
forced abstinence OF their hospital life. For the
their influence they are bad as companions and
worse as mentors and guides In their idle hours
they often amuse themselves in teasing them In
the direction OF their delusions. What they need
10 occupation and prolonged treatment In an In
dustrial home. where they can be kept at work
at enforced labor under the supervision OF q
ness does them little or no good. Hence q hos
pital for the insane where from the very nature
Of insanity you Cannot make labor compulsory,
Is no place for them. What Is worth doing at ali
is worth doing well. There Is no place in the
United states where suitable provision for this
class can be so well made as here In the District
Of Columbia. Public s.ntiment is in favor Of such
legislation; there Is no lack OF means
NOR OF INEBRrArEs.
There Is to-day before your honorable commit.
tee, II mistake not, a bill prepared by the Medi-
cal society OF the District for this very PURPOSE
and Dr. J. N. Toner and DR.. n. 8. Lincoln and the
writer we're appointed a committee by that So
ciety 10 urge upon Congress the Importance OF
some such legislation. How little that urNing
mas NJ az % IN see nanaS o1 these busy men
bill Yet am sure these two eminent men whom
have named viii gladly appear before your CON-
nn@Ser oshsl wtn
such refuge Tine District Of columbia is rapidly
W sSs ana sea can
which It receives from the U. s. Treasury, In
addition to the amount raised by taxation, to
ment of the insbfiaIs. entirely instinct and remote
from any hospital for the insane. While bellev-
80 70 ana
deny that distinct building for tnebriates within
the grounds Of the 0overnInsnt Hospital for the
tain them there and keep them At work at pro- 10
ductive indusrr1e3, would be great advance on
their present environments OF the jail and the
tain at present. then let u have this, for 1t is
high time that something Was done. Inebriety is
A cRnE AaAnssf soclRrY
that present law does not reach. it were the In
ebriate alone who SUFFERED We might, ignoring Q
common humanity, be content TO let him ne In
the bed that he has made. But there Is another
side to the question, and when the question comes
TO u.s. where e thy brothsg7' 70 the sisters, the
wives the mothers, what answer shall we maker
have seen too many homes terrorized by these
men, TOO many wives for whose mental suffering
martyrdom 10 no name, too many children with
birthrf<ht overshadowed By this curse TO have
any respect for the doctTinA survival OF feudal-
ism, thas mans house - his castle, TO get drunk
In II he pleases, and that he may do what he viii
with his own, including wife and children In that
seIf and in behsif II Ihoss Of his own nousehoid,
whose silent suffering IL moro eloquent than any
words I AK that some legal recognition Of and