Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-01-24
TWO ENps THE STATE MAY CONSERVE,

the mental, active, moral powers, coupled
with physical inirnaity. give us the un-
fortunate and pitiful classes known as
idiots, imbeciles and the feeble-minded,
whose condition makes the hearts Of hu-
name men and women bleed with sympa-
thy. AS these classes are incapable of
caring for themselves without training,
they naturally become the Objects of State
solicitude, as much as do the insane. But
while the latter, as a rule, osnnot be made
self-helpfui, and while some are cared the
former are scarcely susceptible of'cure but
may be greatly improved and'ky training
can be made, in large sense, ,self-helpful.
1t follows that in State u,inistsations to the
feeble-ninded peculiar skill is demanded,
and the utmost liberaEity in providing the
means of training and Improvement. 1t
is, therefore, as an economic matter, wise
policy to so equip institutions for the
feeble-minded that the very best possible
results may be most speedily obtained
For with this accompaniment the feeble
minded cease to be wholly State charges,
and may be brought TO make their institu-
tons more nearly 'self-supporting than IS
possible either with the insane or the con-
yict class. In both the latter cases the
costs of guardinssand maintenance remain
unchanged; they can never much diminish
but with the Predetermined, Improvement
means less and 3ess care of the individual,
and training means more and more of con-
tribution by the inmates of the institution
to its current support. The full, indeed,
elaborate equipment of institutions for the
Predetermined is, therefore, as we have
said, an economic essential, the experience
every State and country where their
care is matter of State concern proving
these thinga beyond the possibility of sac
cessful dispute.
The bill before the Legislature for the
Home for the Predetermined asks only for
such outlay as in the light of experience
and reason is absolutely necessary. The
idiots and imbeciles must be treated dis
tinctiyely from all other classes If those
in the insane asylums and county infrm-
aries are allowed to remain there, it will be
State disgrace. Predetermined children
cannot be placed in the common schools
teaching must, therefore, be provided for
such in the State institution, and that, too,
of patient and peculiar order, and for
which the ordinary teacher is not adapted
1t has been demonstrated that the feeble
minded cannot be nearly SO well treated in
their homes as in institutions specially de-
voted to their training, because, as we have
already said, peculiar skill is essential to
their improvement.
In every institution of the order of the
California Home" the prime purpose, so
far at least as the superior juvenile grades
of inmates are concerned, is to so educate
and train them as to fit them through de-
veloped and acquired self-helpfulness for
return to their families in from five 10 ten
years In this direction, then, it is neees-
sary that industrial training should tend.
1t must be adapted to that vocation which
the patient can most successfully and easily
follow when he or she is returned to
society, and is no longer a dependent
creature. There must, therefore, be pro-
vided the means for teaching varied handi-
craft, and hence well-located farm
adapted to diversified production, is indis-
pensable; shops in which the use of tools
play part are necessary; fittings are es.
sential with which to teach the house
wifely arts and machinery that will aug.
ment the manual effort and give greater
value to its product.
DR.. Kerlin, the distinguished specialist IL
the care of the minded, insists thai
the employees of these institutions must BE-
of such number and skill that the hours O
their service, which is exacting in pecu
liar degree, can be relieved by rest ane
change without detriment to the patient
in charge. All such institutions must b,
equipped with buildings for the school
shops for the industrial department. sep
arate buildings for the nursery, with dor
mitories, day rooms and such convenience
as the infirm character of the children de
mand; hospital apart from all the otke
buildings, where possible, and arranged TO
every need There must be an abundance
of pure water that will supply every par
and the highest attitudes of the institu
ton; the grounds must be high, wei
drained, and contribute in the hiebes
possible degree to the physical upbuildin,
of the patients. There aust be plenty Of
sun exposure, free ventilation, and ever,
part of the institution must be made a
cheerful and home-like as is possible. /
must contain drill-rooms for use in inclern
ent weather, and every apartment must b,
high, dry, and capable of being properl,
heated. The bathing accommodation.
should be ample and very liberal not les:
than $50 cubic feet of space per inmat,
should be provided in the day and schoo
rooms, and these should be so arrange,
that not more than twenty inmates nee,
TO be grouped at one time.
These are essentials to the improvement
and training to self-helpfulness of the in
mates and their final discharge from Stat
dependency, and therefore to the least cos
to the taxpayers for maintenance II
however, The purpose of the State j
merely to /. herd these umfertunates an,
keep them perpetual charge upon tn
oommunity,of California, the thing to do i
to build larn-like structure no matte
where or what the location, corral them i,
it, guard sgainst their escape, and leav
them to the inevitable results of .,ncared
for idiocy, neglected imbecili<y, and unim
proved feeble-nindedness. II, However
the humane ard noble ends OF improve
ment, self-support, amelioraticn of safer
ing and general physical and saensal let
torment are in view, the State snust .n~o
vide at the outse< with great Iibcrality. /
can afford to start sight it can afford *