Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1893-04-14

The grand jury Of the March term Of
the Circuit Court for St. Mary's county.
which adjourned on March 31th ult..
submitted, upon the several matters
which came before it for consideration.
lengthy and an unusually -trong aud
intelligent report. Among other sub
jects it touched upon the important, q 1es-
ton Of the care Of the insane
Of that couHty in the following
terse language. suggestive of practical
ideas On the subject;
"TIe proper care and protection of
that unfortunate class of people (insane
Isuper~) (which humanity dictates should
recriye every attention possible is
matter that should calm the Immediate
action Of our County Commissioner. -
We are informed that the State institu-
tons devoted TO the care Of these unfor
tunate iDdiviiuals are now over-crowdcd
TO such M extent that further admission
thereto has been denied, aud that some
counties have been compelled to coafine
their insane in the county Jail The
condition Of our Alms-housc il made
quate for the requirements Of this Glars
Of individuals aud we would suggest
either the enlargement Of the same for
the care Of our insane or that confer
ence be had with the four lower counties
Of Maryland looking to the construction
of a hospital at some central point IN
this section COR the care Of insane and
thnt our next representatives in the Leg
islature be importuned to secure an APP
preparation from the State for the cree
ton Of such building Ey this action
we could care for our insane at home, as
it we're, where they would be within easy
reseh Of their friends; the money annu-,
ally paid out Of the county for their
board would be kept in cur midst; a new
'"arket TO a certain extent for our pro-
dacts would be established and many
other local advantages would arise
therefrom."
St. Mary's. like this county. has no
place to care for its insane except in its
Alms-house. which by reason Of want Of
room and the necessary appliances used to
treat that class Of unfortunate human be
ings. is totally unfit for the purpose, and
has been put to straights to find an ia
stitntion willing to accept its patients. and
through It's grand jury now suggest the
plat, time and again advocated b the
MDEPENBxsT. for the four counties Of
this section to club together and con-
s.ruct an asylum ofthcirown. Many ofthe
larger counties Of the State have been
fbrced TODD, So, and. since, baye not re,
GREETED the step. Balti~ore. Frederick
..,,, -. =. IhtTes, m
sane asylrhs. which have proven no ur
reasonable charge to those Counties
and there Is no good reason why South.
ern MaryIsmf should NOT consider its in
terest more ssesesy aud follow their ez
ample leq,
As our neighbour county has taken
the advance step IN this highly com
mendable and progressive movement the
plan Of procedure should be for the
County Commissioners Of thai county To
open correspondence with the
County Commissioners of the other coun
tres interested, at once, and appoint
committees to meet at some convenient
time and plan and devise the manner of
raising the. money necessary for the con-
struction % the buildings, etc, and
agree upon a site for the hospital. Not
much msney will be required in the first
instance. The plan Of treating the in
saae has changed of late years. No
large builling and dark cells are needed
Expert physicians in treating this dis
ease now tavo- small roomy cattageS
with all the iopen air exercise possible
The first. and greatest cost. would be
the purchase of the lanl; the buildings
could be erected few at a time as need
ed. So far as the good derived from the
Alms-huuses of the Southern Maryland
counties 're concerned they might be
dispensed without Inconvenience or re-
morse Of conscience aud tie proceeds de-
rived from the sale applied to better
charity, and the money now annually
appropria,sS for their support would be
almost, if lot quite sufficient, to maiotain
sjoint insane asylum.
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Under a Cloud.