New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-25
POPULAR OBSERVATIONS.
SMALL AsYLUMs OR LARGEs
A PLEA FOR INDIVIDUAL TREATMENT OF IN
SANE PATIENTS.

a
SANE PATIENTS.
10 the Edftor OF Tho Trfbune.
Str: When associations Of such intelligence and in
nuence as the State Board Of Charities and inc
state Board OF Charities Aid Association inyesi-
gate the county insane asylums and report
tho bad condition In which these homes are we are
justified in believing the reports, but when they sug-
yest that the poor be removed from these county
homes and placed in our State asylums, It is well to
Inquire whether this is proper remedy for the evil
and whether It Is a thing, jumping from
the frying pan Into the fire."
Are our state asylums cmatvef Or, are they not
simply cumulative accommodating sick people by hun
dreds and keeping them in durance year after
year until the grave takes theml Some
asylums profess TO give 40 or 30 per cent
Of cures, but They do not tell US how many Of
these (so-called) cures are OF persons who
mtted for inebriaton and discharged the
effects Of the liquor are passed away, and sent out
where the FIRST saloon tempts them and they relapse
and are returned to the asylum TO be cured again. and
so rotate from alleged TO drunkenness, and give
the asylums a chance TO report many cures. The
ports Of asylums do not tell of other alleged
which arc marked to the credit OF the asylums bat
are really cases that got we'll spite of asylums I'm
stead OF through their aid
Ono thing Is ccrtaln In county asylums the patients
are comparatively lew IN numDef, ana IL IL pOSsiDle,
therefore, indlvidualze the treatment of each
and to give TO each patient such medical aid and gem
eral Is adapted to his her necessities In
tho vast numbers crowded under superintendent
In State asylum, individuality Is lost all the herd go
chronic together and all become living nonentites.
Wholesale treatment Of tho insane is wholesale cruelty
to humanity.
II county asylums not well kept, II IS the fault
OF the people Of the counties. II IS their duty TO visit
and Inspect their poor houses-whether tho insane
are kept there nOt-and to whether these
homes comfortable ard we'll cared for as
are the homes and people OF the reputable families OF
the towns and counties The insane are sick people
needing physician They should never be hndded
together IN masses in one building or hall, nor
even set apart In village, like epors except where
actual want OF mcars proclndes the possibility Of
segregation IL IS better 10 have one insane person
In a family OF seven eight or ten sane persons than
to have seven eight, or ton insane persons under
tho care Of sane person. This IS the remark Of
we approach 10 THIS method Of care for the insane
the better IS the care. Better Is asylum OF one
hundred patients than Of ten hundred, and better y
home for ono patient than an asylum for one
hundred.
For the insane, besides housekeeping improvements
intelligent physicians needednOt one for hundreds
OF patients whose eases he has no time TO diagnose
but one who viii carefully examine and treat each
case. 80 physician who + incapable OF treating the
insane should be allowed 10 practise In our families,
where mental diseases are liable at any moment 10
appear 49, -. 49,. ..,--
homes 10 the great State asylums. 90 into these
country homes and make them what they ought to
be- NJ. 4. BERRY.
Hs~-Fork, Feb. 10, 1890.