The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-05-27
The County Poor IEouse Should be
Abolished.

The Grccnvilc Enterprise and Mountaineer
states that recently four lunatics were sent
from that county in one week, to the asylum
in Columbia. From the statements made we
judge that none of them were maniacS. In Il
recent conversation with a gentleman thor
oughly posted In such matters we received The
suggestion that Il ward for insane persons
should he established In every poor house.
There are hundreds of cases of incurable i'm
becility which crowd the asylum, and ut half
the cost. The suggestion seemed TO he an eX'
cellent one.-Spartanb Daily Herald.
We do not see the force OF the suggestion
that lunatics may be Il more cheaply main.
tanned in the county poor house than in the
State lunatic asylum.
If Governor Tillman will let out the luna
tic asylum 10 the lowest bidder, rs our Coun-
ty Comm issioners do the poor house, it is not
improbable that somebody in Columbia
would undertake the keepiag of the asylum
for much less than the present cost.
If the supcrintendency of the asylum was
let out in that way, it would not surprise us
if some stckl Ter for medical ethics, who has
the right TO attach NJ. d. to the iail of his
name would undertake the job for much less
than has been paid to DR.. Griffin.
But if the keeping of the lunatc asylum
should bc let out to the lowest bidder, the in
stitution ought to be removed far from the
from the limits of the city, as are some OF the
county poor houses removed to remote spots
from the Court House.
We belcve it would be safe to say that II
the lunatics were reduced TO the squalier and
dcsttion OF the inmates OF the average coun.
ty poor house, and the asylum in Columbia,
were open to public inspection, the institu-
tion and the name Of South Carolina would
tt,z
For locking prisoner in cell, and poking
food through a crack to him, we pay our Jail
crs about so month, but when decent. re-
spectacle, lawabiding people, from misfor.
tune, become a charge upon the public, their
keep is sometimes let to the lowest bidder,
which is usually about half the amount
which we pay for maintaining criminal
who is undergoing punishment, or waiting
for trial.
We are fully aware that it is difficult TO
draw the line, and it is not easy to determine
our duty to afflicted or dcmented brethren,
but rather than take our lunatics from the
asylum and place them in the poor houses
we are quite convinced that it would he more
humane and more III accordance with Chris
tian duty TO take them out anu shoot them.
ton Of them-from the asylum to the county
poor houses, the proper thing to do would te
10 abolish all the county poor houses and
send every pauper and every lunatic, maniac
or other 1lt subject for either the asylum or
the poor house, to State Poor House, 10 be
located in any situable place in the State.
The county poor houses are generally situ-
ated some distance from town. Many OF the
inmates require medical attention and the
services OF Il nurse. Others arc able 10 do
more or less work and to that extent, should
be required TO contribute TO their own sup.
port.
AS rule, some physician receives small
fee, say $50 to $500 q year. OF course no doc
tor living miles away can give the needed at
tention, as well us could better paid physi-
clan whose duty it should be to live on the
premises and give his whole time to them
very much as do the physicians at the
asylum.
On the other hand, with convenient or suit
able houses, and proper machinery, under
practical management, the present raupers,
If brought under one control, could In large
measure earn their own support.
Instead of hiring "a doctors, two or three
would be sufficient. Instead OF hiring 81
supcrntendcnts Of county poor houses.
much smaller number would be necessary.
Instead OF poor accommodations better sur
roundings would present themselves.
The value of suitable and profitable en-
ployment would result in Il better filled treas
ury. The mental effect upon the inmpt.S
who may be treated kindley while at con-
genial work, would be most beneficial.
In our opinion, the day for county poor
houses or county ante-chambcrs 10 purga-
tory-is about past.
Christian reason, advanced civilization, ana
the course Of humanity, all demand the abo
lition of the county poor house, and the cs.
tablShmeut OF n State Institution.
AS well have q coanty pcnitcntiary and n
county lunatic asylum, as county poor
house. Can you see any more reason for the
one than for the other?
The county poor house is a relic OF semi
civilization, which tn is more enlightened age
should abolish.