New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-15
THE PAUPER INSANE.
A PLAN roR THEIR CARE BY TIE STATE
THEIR REMOVAL FROM COUNTY ALMshoOsEo
neutrality-suspicious. or BILL NOW BE-
FORE THE LEGISLATURE.

duced in tho Assembly by General Curtis.
1t is entitled AN ect in relation 10
the care and custody OF the paupcr Insane
and udigent insane In the cCurle5 of this state, ox'
cept New-YOrk, Kings and Monroe Countess The
intent and scope of this Is set forth in tho fol
lowing circular letter which las been sent out By tho
state Charities Aid Association 10 the visiting com
mitecs and other members Of that organization
throughout the state:
1t ia with much pleasure that the Board OF Manasers
Charles AID Association announces t. it5
forty County Visiting Committees and ether VS.
State. that viii Do introduced duTins The
present session of the Legislature which einbodes me
yws so long held and so advocated by This
association in its annual reports in behalf OF state care
for the pauper insane OF the state OF New-lork.
the Insane, Professor Theodore W. Dwight comprises
the results of experience of sixteen years OF visits TO
the insane 10 county poorhouses aud ely nlmshonses by
our visitors and OF many years Of stuuy OF the unacy
legislation OF this and Other States and OF other COM
tries by tie CDuinlIttce the Insane OF tie Cenral
Association
approved BY experts Ia tue care and cure OF INSANITY ~
represents the views OF the State Commissioner IN
atnre; and is with the advocacy OF
State care for the insane to be onnd in the Annual re-
ports OF tile State Board OF Charities.
PROVISIONS OF THE PROPOSED LAW.
The bill provides for the gradual transfer OF the in
sane, both acute and chronic cases. from county poor
houses and city amsbouses into the of the state
Its prominent features are as follows:
First the dstrichg of the State into many asylum
insane
pauper insane both acute and chronic from all
the poorouses and amshouses OF the district to which
capita charged to counties each pauper insane
person received whether acute or chronic case OF
expenses An attendant trained Ia tao State Hospital
for the purpose Will be sent for ana VIII accompany tho
insane person TO the state Hospital.
Third erection the grounds OF the existing State
hospitals OF number OF xpensive detached buildings,
sufficient TO provide suitable accommodations for the
pauper insane In the poorhouses aud aims
houses Of this state at cost not to eIcseS 500 Rep
one year after the appropriation Is made .,o,.o ro
refer you tho bill itself copies Of which are herewith
sent 10 you The elastic nature OF the proposed meas
as regards oyercrowdine SIZE OF buildings &c, we
would especially call your attenion TO- Also 20 the iac9
TO the county poorhouses or almshouses:
It will he noticed that the OF New York. Kings
Tns is further legislation is recded to suit the
special conditions OF those counties.
THE INSANE BEST CARED FOR by THE STATE
The association is not unmindfu of the fact that the
condition of the insane In county poorhouses is much
improved compared with what it was not many years
ago. But those members OF the association who
familiar with the management OF our State asylums as
they with that OF county poorhouses find themselves
obliged TO acknowledge In accordance with universal
State is vastly superior TO that furnished by the
pose to give the character OF their pauper
Insane that given by state Hospital with its stan OF
training its large force OF attendants Its various
organized systems for occupation, instruction and
county at q weekly cost per capita OF 81 80. The ex
pense OF new or improved county buildings, and Of
advanced and enghtcned public opinion now demands
Irrespective of maintenance and medical treatnent-wi
impose heavier burden on the taxpayer or the county
perfect the SYSTEM ali eady established by the state
The following uT res T I efbs IKE e
W the e1eepSn Of Kings and
Counties obliged by law to send their acute pauper
Of en $ IS o g S. fy e s
counties Of the state are also Obliged under eIisting
to state asylums at weekly cost capita OF 81 25
1t is thus apparent that to substitute for these hgyres
uniform weekly charge to the counties of 81 so the
for both acute and chronic cases greatly TO the
OF eysTy county S no 4e
apparent when 1t considered that tho Increased State
for proposed to lower the standard Of given
by the state-w be borne largely by the city Of New
onsaf of tho entire annual made BY tie
State for It's State hospitals.
OVER 1000 INSANE PAUPERS IN COUNTY
INSTITUTIONS.
Exclusive OF the insane Ia the three counties specified.
thore are about 1000 insane persons scattered in
the various poorbouses and an.houses OF this State.
To the buildings required for their accommodation
on State asylum grounds an appropriation OF about
$500, 900 would be necessary The State has already
appropriated $500O00O for the better Of its
pdper insane, and 1t Is believed that the Legislature
win not refuse the additional hainillloh asked for
and sdopted by The state Of NewYort nearly hT years
the care Of this most deeply AFFLICTED class Of cur
We regret to feel obliged to give much space to the
financial consideration or this suhec It's medical con
sdeIaon. aud its bearings upon tho scientific treatment
disease leave to the medca societies Of this State,
whose mcmbers are ever alive TO the ca ms VI legsa
ton which seeks to alleviate suffering and 10 beneht
mankind A., CO.. c,,,,
Aii Association, what arguments SHAH VIC use 10 make
others understand all that feel about the insane
How shall make legslatOrs our citizens gem
orally those who do not so into poorhouses ana aims
houses see, aud know we Know, that the In
sane IN these places must DC nctter taHeh care o. hat
this Is demanded by our common humanity ana religious
faith and that this better Is beyond question: TO be
found for thcn dayfor all Of them In State hos
pitats under STATE suQeiylsioni or how make them
Understand the necessity or prompt action In this
never forget the peculiar claims the insane have
upon Of all known diseases Of our evili1atien In,
taken from his home, from his family and those who
The very nature OF his disease its uncontfollablo
temper, It's morbid depression, It's sefcentrcd absOrp
lion ann lack OF apprecltion OF all efforts to help and
com1rt him rs r. stcssncss irr.s ability and unreasou-
ahcneSs, all tend - ALLEVIATE rather than 10 excite the
ayinpathy Of those in charge And yet II subjected
the harsh treatment OF attendants lie has escape He
is not only imprisoned but his complaints however just,
are not believed surely there Is pilia1e copdi-
tion OF suffering humanity than what these few
sentences indicate nor one for which greater care Is
needed fsithfh service aud kind Treatment
TO provide food aGd clothing alone Is tie frat but also
the lowest step TIC Of the insane. They should
have the best medical treatment, the highest grade OF
attendants and unrlng efforts, through the incentives
of occupation. instruction and amusement, to kindle tho
smOu,dcring spark Of Into life, or To surround
those ncurahly i'll with every alienation their unhappy
condition makes possible. our State hospitals, what
further advance they yet have to make repre-
sent to-day the best standard Of care for the insane
thls far reached ia this country. Their doors open
70 all, 20 rc and poor alike. to the durable and incur
able Let us therefore unite In asking Legislators 10
place the 1000 insade persons bill provides for In
these State hospitals AMI within year from today!
The Legislature OF tho state Of New York has never
been deaf 10 an appeal OF this knd-n the interests OF
| hunanity-nOr viii II be- now.
The state Charities Ala Association has proud record
10 Look back upon thrOugh the past sixteen years
record whose prda consi IL In the unfrling confidence
ana support tho Association has received from the
pe3p; OF this state, from It's pnlpt its press s Lagis-
Iature ana which has never been impair ell by either
political or religious dissensiUns within without tho
boiy We now ask that this confidence I've reGewed-in
behalf OF the insane! We ask tho assistance OF every
! citizen OF this State IN our present undertaking.
d. HAMfDES I.OBB PreSt MsRY :. IRINBLE,
CHAs UIICHCOCk, VI ID. Woo Pres Henry d.