The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-03-23
chrome she had ahdicated

The death blow was dealt to the in
discriminate restraint and cruel se-
clusion aud confinement of the Insane
by the immortal Pinel, a French phi
lanthropist and physician, who, in
the year 1902, struck the chains from
the insane in the Hicetre, a large asy-
lum in Paris, and demonstrated that
kindness could control even an insane
mind. Since that time the improve.
ment has been rapid and has spread
until it has prevailed every civilized
country, until today mechanical re-
straint is the exception where former
~ it was the rule and punishment,
unkindness and cruelty are universal
ly condemned and relegated to the
dark ages of superstition and ignor-
ance.
Thus very briefly | have scanned
the subject and now arrive at the con-
sheraton of the care of the insane
now among us. In caring for the in
sane two ends are sought to be OBJ
tanned; first the cure OF the insane,
and second, the protection OF society.
The accomplishment of these two re-
suits is reached by practically the
same means; that is, the isolation of
this unfortunate class from the sane
population. In all civilized countries
this class Is considered irresponsible
for their acts and unable to control
and care for themselves, hence the
government has assumed their care
and support.
Until few years ago it was the
rule in this country to erect magnih-
cent and palatial structures where
these people spent their lives in idle
ness and solitude, with nothing to re-
lieve the monotony of polished floors
and bare walls. The extreme of this
idea of asylum construction has been
passed, and now more economical
and rational plan is being sought. The
large majority of the inmates of our
asy lums come from the laboring and
middle classes of the population have
never been accustomed TO living in
four story palaces. 10 place them in
these magnificent buildings takes
them out of their natural element,
without aiding in proportion the
attainment of the end sought
the restoration of their reason.
To my mind the ideal asylum is one
built on what Is termed the
cottage system, that is, q copgre-
gated system of small cottages capa'
bic of accommodating from twenty
| five to fifty patients with a yard anGA
small plat of ground surrounding
each. This gives more home-like
arrangement by means of which the
too prevalent idea of treating them en-
masse is replaced by isolated treat
ment. This entire system should be
under one head Large farms in con-
nection can be cultivated by the
patients, thereby rendering them
largely self.sustaining and of course
lessening the expense of the state. AS
the burden of caring for this class,
is every year becoming heavier
it behooves the state to adopt some
plan TO lessen the expense without
being detrimental to those sought to
be benefited. They should be given
everything necessary to make them
comfortable and render their lives as
pleasant as possible. Give them bet
ter food and clothing, more amuse-
ment and diversion and less palatial
homes. The asylums should be made
as pleasant, cOZy, and homelike as is
possible; the monotony of dull, aim
less life should be relieved by pictures,
music ana pleasant surroundings,
without these our best efforts to effect
cure will often fail.
| can now recall many dull, stupid
and morose cases who were cheered up
aud had new life infused into them
and were started on the road to D.
speedy recovery by music and dane
ing. Amusements divert their minds
from dark forebodings and gloomy de-
lusions and lift them, as it were, out
of themselves. 1t is well known how
music can thrill our whole being,
change one line of thought and push
us on to nobler ideas and higher deeds.
1t is difIicLlt to explain juet how music
effects us, but the fact remains the
same. Holmes says: at has its seat
in the region of sense rather than
thought, yet it produces continuous.
and as it were, logical sequence of
emotional and intellectual changes;
but how different from trains of
thought proper. How entirely beyond
| the reach of symbols"
| MY ideas of the care of the insane
may be summed up in the following
words: Give them cheap but sub"
stantial and comfortable buildings,
pleasant surroundings and an album
dance Of out of door employment and
exercise, good, nourishing food and
comfortable clothing with all the
amusement and diversion possible.
| When we do this we have done our
pleasant duty to the most unfortun-
| ate class of Gods creatures.
h f. s. WHITE,
| Lunatic Asylum.