The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1891-02-01

what it is, and not all we would have it,
we recognize the fact that the voice of
Mendocino county will have some in
fiuence in this matter. But the truth is
that it will be infinitely better for the To-
cality to have an inebriate refuge in its
insane aylum. In the former industries
are pursued to considerable extent, the
peace of the community is never men,
aced by the inmates, the curables and the
incurables alike in such institutions are
not threats to the lives or property Of the
community.
Ukiah is located distant from the CEN
tiers OF population, to convey the insane
there we must carry them almost by the
doors of our largest insane asylums,
constructed at enormous cost to the peo-
pie. 1t was, as we have said, bad piece
OF public administration to locate the
new asylum at Ukiah let us, therefore,
now that the Act is past recall, get all the
good we can out of it. Because of the
remoteness of Ukiah, the sparsely
settled condition of Mendocino County,
its distance from cities and large popula-
tons, it will answers good purpose to the
State for the restraint and treatment of in
ebriates in the new branch asylum. The
modification cannot in any manner hurt
Ukiah or Mendocino County; on the
contrary, it will conserve their interests
far more than if the entire institution is
devoted to the restraint of the non-pro-
ducing insane, who are more or less
menace to any community in which they
are grouped. But an inebriate depart
ment in the Ukiah asylum will bring out
no such objections. If half of that insti-
tuition is devoted to the care and treat
ment OF the alcoholic insane, and that is
the proper designation of the inebriate
class, it will become an institution as bene-
fetal and humane as that at Binghamp-
ton, in degree, and the citizens of Mendo-
elmo will feel no reproach because of the
location of the asylum in their midst,
but point with pride to it as splendid
benificence.
We know of citizens of California who,
feeling the grip of liquor upon them be-
coming irresistible, have voluntarily gone
across the continent to Binghampton and
submitted themselves to the treatment
there prescribed, paid the cost, and re-
turned to their homes cured. We know
of other cases where husbands have sent
their wives, and parents their sons, to
some of the private inebriate asy-
lums of the East, thus saving them
from total wreck, and have received them
back restored in health and reason. and
armed, as it We're, against temptation.
All such cases can be treated at home, and
where the parties are financially able,
without cost to the State. But the great
mass of inebriates are poor they are dis
eased by liquor, and as much entitled to
be treated as wards of the State as are the
insanity. D
We do not want separate inebriate
asylum; there is not need to incur the
great cost of founding and maintaining
distinct institution but we can, with the
approval of wisdom, science and hui
manity, direct that a portion of the Ukiah
Branch Insane Asylum shall be devoted
to the restraint, treatment and cure of those
afflicted by alcoholism or inebriacy, and
since it can be done without dollar of
additional cost to the State, and will prove
a beneficence, the Legislature should
modify the law accordingly.