Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1889-02-22

o,u ,s,1.... I!Jeweler .....,.....
rtn.mith.' ''.....-. elGlass-maker, $780,. |
BARRIERS and hair N No ocsu makers w
.,uressers. -..... 49,. paaon...... 10
Workers In stores. Tota,
Az the Hudson river asylum ' ~, :.
1,973 cases admitted, there wo.. ", ". o.
keepers, ID book-keepers 1s s
smiths, IA butchers, Sc carnoS olacs'
,lgar-makers, SO clerks, Q clerov , y
~ dressmakers. 10 engineers soI y,
tory operatives. PIT farmers a., = lao-
laborers, IL gardeners, 10 proco.. arm .aa
housekeepers. $50 who did hopsss'.'sl
500 iaborers. ID lawyers, 27 sailo,s =
masons, so merchants, % paintans !, =
physicians, Fl seamstressas >, 70
makers, Il tailors. SO teachers = All.
ors. Or this number the cause =, =,
sanity of l,515 was not ascertainos ~ u.
OF the remainder 20 were maao NJ ~
by business troubles, ia bv er,,aa al'
ZOO by ill-health, 202 by intemners any,
20 by loss of sleep, So by ANXIETY sns
grief, "a by old age, 81 BY overwo aa'
~ by sunstroke, II by the opium bahi.
9 by religious excitement, Is Nv sna
plexy. "a by injury to the head and S1 ,
by poverty and privation.
DIR. Smith made the sta,emo,.
somewhat surprising in view Of tbs
frequent cutlery on the subject -thaths
had not found any one wrongfullv d.
tanned in the asylums of the State ON .
careful examination of all the facts in
each alleged case. He added;
Nothing is more surprising. on frat
entering the wards OF an asylum, than
the universal claim and often yehemsn,
assertion of patients that they vera
never insane, that they were committed
through frauds and oonspiracies, and
hence are wrongfully detained in ths
asylum. The stories of wrong and
abuse which they relate vary but little
in their general character. The objec,
sought by their enemies has uniformly
been. as they allege, to incarcerats
them in order to consummate some vii.
famous purpose which their presence
would prevent. One is thus committed
that others may secure his property,
another alleges that he alone knew Of
the frauds of officers of corporations,
banks or other institutions. Whatever
form it may take, all the facts are mar
rated with great minuteness, and with
an apparent candor. which often leads
the inquirer to doubt and hesitate
whether, after all, the patient had been
the victim of gross conspiracy Care
ful and patient inquiry into all the
facts of hundreds of cases has failed TO
prove that, in single instance, the
conduct of the friends OF patients has,
been governed by improper intentions
and motives. That conspiracies may
form for the purpose of securing tho
commitment of sane persons to insane
asylums is undoubtedly true, and is
never lost sight of in these official ex-
aminations. Every effort is made neces-
sary to discover the real facts in each
case, and to arrive at a just conclusion "a
to the mental condition OF the complain
ants. In the vast majority OF instances
the evidences of insanity are apparent
on entering the ward. In large num-
Der of cases moments conversation
determines the mental condition OF the
patient. In few cases a longer ana
more varied conversation is necessary
to discover the more obscure evidences
of mental alienation. Where there Is
any doubt as to the insanity OF an lndl-
vidual further inquiries are made oy
examining the attendants and Una
physicians. and by examining the re-
corded history of the case, and lne
certificates of the physicians who MADE
out the commitment papers. In Solh0
instances have not formed my oplh-
ion altogether upon this evidence ou'
have correspondent with persons iamii'
ar with all the facts in the antecedeas
history of the patient, and have eve, s,a
personally visited the locality Oh No
'ormer residence in search OF more eA.
act information. In some Instances
it has been found that patients nave ~
far recovered that they were capaOiss
Of complete care of themselves, anu \.
could do much useful work pu' ~
was found on inquiry that they we ere
not yet as firmly established in heal. "
rs to make it proper to allow them au "
return to their homes. Such pet'y;a .,
we're rarely impatient, and were qu nat
willing to remain under treasl neaa
until they were pronounced reeo ''iaed
by the superintendent. - o'S0'''"'
Leader.