New-York tribune., 1891-05-22
UJTr1cCS FOR THE INSINE,

The annual report of the managers OF the
Hudson River State Hospital contains some adj
mirabIe suggestions for improved treatment OF
the insane. In order TO secure economical ad-
ministration large and massive buildings have
been erected at Poughkcepsie and are capable
of accommodating 500 patients. The cost OF
maintenance per patient is heavily reduced by
crovding these great structures and conducting
them on a uniform plan. That is an economic
gain. but there is corresponding loss in curative
resources. When hundreds of patients are
herded together under q single roof the evils
of contact with the insane are very serious IN
retardine convaescence. There is no way OF
escape from what the managers term the NOR
bid environment of the institution. Patients
subjected to constant intercourse with others
more insane than themselves are doomed to
grow worse instead of better under such un-
fortunate conditions. Accordingly, the man
ayers suggest that the evils of the present sys-
tenn can be counteracted or at least materially
lessened by the formation Of agricultural COM
munities for quiet and harmless patients.
In detail this plan contemplates the erection
of groups of cottages in which this class OF pa
tients can remain under conditions allied 10
family life. Each village will be the centre OF
a farm of several hundreds OF acres, and all
the patients will be furnished with occupation
in the fields. In winter light mechanical work
can be provided, and the inmates will in this
way be always employed. With cottage nos
pital and residence for the physicians IN
charge the insane hamlet will be complete
Indisputably the chances of recovery would be
greatly increased by the adoption OF this sys-
fem. The inmates would be employed in the
omen air without restraint and housed at night
in a homelike way. The physicians in charge
could subdivide group of $50 or 800 curable
patients into congenial households, where some
thing resembling family feeling could be Gre
ated Occupation, rural scenery and the quiet
and peace of farm life would tend to complete
their restoration to health.
The PoughKeepsie Hospital district has 1,15O
insane, or 359 more than the buildings can
accommodate. The Hudson River counties
four times as many as can be cared for in the
institution. 1t is evident that the accommoda-
tions of the hospital will have to be enlarged
in order to make provision for the increasing
number of insane. Instead of adding TO the
number of large buildings it would be humane
policy to introduce one of these village eStab-
lishments and to test its utility. If one-third
or one-half of those living in the cottages and
working on the farm could be cured, there
would be ample compensation even in an eco
nomc sense for the increased expense OF the
system. prOmscuous herding of patients ineyi-
tably lessons the number of convalescents, and
in the end increases the cost Of maintaining
the States insane. These well-organzed State
institutions, among which the one at Pough-
keepsie is conspicuous for excellent manage
ment, ought not to be converted into asylums
or places for impriSoning, feeding and housing
the insane. They should be hospitals where
large and steadily increasing minority of the
patients can be restored to health.