New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-03
NETWORKS BURDEN OF INSANITY.


The only satisfaction that can be denVed
from the annual report OF the sOanuins ooni-
mittee of the State Board oil Oharihes oh sne
care and condition of the INSANE Is 'he s''iS-
faction of finding that it is tnOrouen anu un-
Ainching statement Of facts. Inc reporV Gun
firms the revelations lately made Dy tne o'aOe
Charities Aid Association, especlaly aS 10 'he
poor-house asylums of what are caiieu lhe eA-
empted counties--that is, the counties winch
are permitted by statute to take care OF thelr
own chronic insane-and thereby indicates that
the BOARD has found reason to modify It's views
EXPRESSED year ago, to the effect that in these
small asvlums the tendency was toward I'M
provement.
The primary evils from which mary sec
ondary defects and disgraces result are over
crowding in the State asylums ana the unlaw-
| ful retention of acute cases in the county asy-
lnms. The only cure for the former hes IN
largely increased accommodations, for winch
the state is urged to make adequate provision.
With respect to the latter, the first necessity IS
n rigid compliance with the law To the con-
dition of these poor-house asyums great part
of the committees time and OF It's report mas
been devoted. The investigation was appar-
emily close and impartial, and the disclosures
in nearly every instance are dlscreditabie TO
the exempted counties and to the state az
large The theory on which great sums OF
money are expended for the care OF INDECENT
nnatics is that the incurable are entitled to
q reasonably comfortable and decent mantle
nance, and the durable to fair chance OF re-
ooyery; that civic morality enioins such treat
ment, and that in the end ii is profitable. But
10 appears to be the truth that in most Of the
exempted counties, whether through lack OF
intelligence or conscience, or both, the insane
are subjected TO conditions which defeat the
ends which alone justify the expenditure. BY
peglecting to obey the law requiring that acute
patients shall be sent to State asylums, tho
county authorities deprive this class OF their
chance 10 recover and increase the misery of
the rest. The fact that it costs less TO violate
than to obey the law partially accounts for the
delinquency, but inability to discriminate be-
tween chronic and acute cases and general
negligence and indifference must also be taken
into account
Any one would expect TO find ignorance or
contempt Of the law on this vital point asso-
ciated with every sort of neglect and abuse and
such is the fact. There is scarcely regula
ton Of the Board which Is not continuously
violated. All the evils which must result from
tho want of proper classification exist in an
aggravated form. Poor food, indecent aSsO-
citation, insufficient medical supervision. made
quate attendance lack OF employment, eXer-
else and amusement filthy surroundings,
cramped space, bad air and multifarious In
dignities are among the infections TO which the
unfortunate creatures for whom the State has
undertaken to provide are subjected. Not all
Of these conditions are combined in all Of the
county asylums, nor perhaps continually ex-
istent in any one OF them; but there is no
escape from the conviction that these institu
tons, in general and in detail, are mserably
equipped maintained and managed.
No one who has any night TO ODER an opinion
on the subject doubts that the care of the in
sane involves some Of the most perplexing
problems from a medical, moral and economical
point of view with which society has TO deal.
IT, hearings which will presently be held in
Albany, and the debates which will follow in
the Legislature, ought TO be instructive and
practical. The inquiry has been approached
and should be prosecuted in spirit worthy Of
a great and civilized State. final solution
Of every difficulty is not to be hoped for, but
at least there is no excuse for doubling that
the retention Of the curably insane in county
asylumS. in violation Of the law which aims
10 promote their recovery, perpetuates the
burden Of their maintenance and so inflicts a
direct fraud upon the community.