New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-03-04
COMMITTING TUE INSANE.
suoJJLD TT BE DONE BY JURIES'


DIR. rALCoTr TELLS OF THE OBJECTIONS TO LEAV-
ING 1T IN LAY vANDs-DEsIRABILIrY OF AVOID
ING Publicity.
Or 6 III. TaIcott. who is Superintendent OF the
State Lunatic Asy lum at Mddetown was in New
York the other day. He is one OF tho leading ex-
perts In insanity in this country. The Doctor Is
magnificent specimen Of physical manhood lie
is O sxiooter, with generously proportional irame'
large head and long, flowing, slKen piach
whiskcrs. DR.. 1alcot is deeply interested IN
bill introduced in the Assembly on Tuesday, os-
tensitIy for the amelioration of the condition OF
| insant patients In talking about it he said:
The bill emanates from society formed for
the alleged purpose Of ameli0rating the conditoh
Of the insane. One of the queer things about
this association is that its members have never
nut themselves in communication with any OF those
who have charge of the insane in the STATE
have written to all the superintendents OF the
State asylums and find that not one OF them mas
been consulted. Now. persons who have spent
lifetime in the study of insanity and it's surround
ings certainly ought to know something OF what
laws are needed for the insane. The trouble with
most of the proposed changes is that they are
made by persons who have never known what it
is to be afflicted with an insane member OF their
family, and to have constant fear that his con
dition would he made public. They propose
Jury trial to determine whether person shall be
committed to a lunatc asylum"
"What objection is there to a jury trial p
The principal objection is that it makes
sort OF criminal Of the alleged lunatic. who 49, I'D
fact only sick person This is genera pubic
error. man may DO insane and con'inement
necessary for him, yet he may be in full posses
sion of such faculties needed in his business
and able TO attend to all his affairs. The Ircs,nt
law recognizes this and it is only after an inquiry
Of lunacv and trial by jury that the conduct
Of his Affairs is placed with trustees. lie docs
not lose citizenship by being committed to any
asylum now. lie goes there as n
patjcnt. You would not summon a jury to
send a man afflicted with smallpox to the pest
house. No more should you have jury fot
man sick with insanity. 1t is case for the
medical authorities to determine. Then again.
jury trials drag the family into court. The men,
bcrs take sides for and against the alleged in
sane per on. Animositcs cngcndered TO last
like old-t.ne ( uds growing hotter as they grow
older. They hove jury system OF commitment
in Illinois have letters from every superintcnd-
ent In the State, saying it works injustice to the
insane 1t is better for the super!ntcndents in
SO far as il relieves them Of the responsibility OF
Judging Of the condition of patient. But that
is where it is unfair to the insane man, who may
recover at any moment Yet. If he is committed
by q Jury, the Superintendent will be slow to take
| the responsibility of dlscAargne him II he were
committed as in this State, by two physicians the
| ulerinteLIcnt would put has own Judgment ana
that OF the yluIn physicians ana experts against
| inejrs and dlschargc him. In Illinois within a
| short time Two women were taken 10 court aoF
judged INSANE sent 10 aSy iu rs ana shofly .eI.
| alter died who suffering from PuerPci"i
| fever after child birth. Tue exposure Oh VIC
| trials kiled Them r
WHAT would you suggest by way of remedy
| ing the ,reSehL law = o.
| :" There are two things that might be profit
! ably done More care should be exercised III puV,
| ting persons into the asylums, ana there shoIiu
| be some nnpIo, ement in getting them OUT. by
the present law to physicians may COMMIT mn, a
man on the Endorsement of Judge OF any court
| Of record. / would require that III every sucn
| case the two physicians be required TO prcsehs
their written stat mont Of the case in person To
| the Judge This would give him the opportunity
to inquire into the case, II he saw any reason 10
| oubs H.. honesty Of their purpose. lie could
then if his suspicious were not allayed, order the
| INQUIRY of lunacy which is provided by law al
ready Under the present piactlce physician
may seri comm tmcnt papers to q Judge Tor az
prevail by his Office boy or any other messenger.
What about the dischaTge Of patients
There should be a board of discharge whose
! functions should be like that Of board OF par
| dons They should act IN conjunction with the
superntendcnts, and all complaints OF detention
improperly should go to them. Their action ION
| should he final They should be experts and aI-
| pointed outside and free from all connection with
The asylums or their management. mat would
| be a prudent safeguard to throw around the IN,
| sane There are some provisions OF this new phi
that arc asuid. 1t is proposed, for instance, that
| IL shall be madc punishable offence not TO send
| all mail prepared by an insane person. Much OF
their writing cannot be sent by the mails without
violation 81 the p sta Laws regarding ohscenltl'
Yet this bill allows no discretion whatever II IS
proposed also that all females insane shall be
treated Ivy female physicians, Why this should
| he made imperative in an asylum any more than
| in the home or social world il will he difficult IN
| discover In our asylum we allow female patients
the privilege OF female modica attendance,
where it is requested. So think they do else
where il there are female physicians within call.
But to make it imperative would be unwise. y