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


The grand jury Of the March term Of
the Circuit Court for st. Mary's county.
which adjourned on March ;iOth ult. .
submitted, upon the several matters
which came before it for consideration
lengthy and an unusually ~trong aud
intelligent repurt. Among other sub
jects it touched upon the important q les-
ton Of the care Of the insane
Of that county in the following
terse language, suggestive Of practical
Heas on the subject:
"TIe proper care and protection of
that unfortunate class of people (iDsane
Iaupers) which humaAity dictates should
recriye every attention possible, is a
matter that shOuld CAIN the immediate
action of our County Commissioners -
We are informed that the State institu-
tons devoted to the care of these unfor.
tunste iRdivilusbs are now ver,crowded
to such an extent that further admission
thereto has been denied, aud that some
counties have been compelled to coniine
their insane in the county Jail The
condition Of our Alms-house is made
quate for the requirements of this class
Of individuals and We would suggest
either the enlargement Of the same for
the care of our insane W that a confer
ence he had with the four lower counties
Of Maryland locking to the constructions
of a hospital at some central point IN
this section sor the care Of insane and
that our next representatives in the leg
islaturc be importune3 to secure an APP
propriatior from the State for the cree
ton Of such building Ey this action
we could care for our insane at home, as
it were, where they would be within easy
reach Of their friends tire money annu-
ally paid out OF the conBty FOR their
board would be kept in our midst; new
'"arket to- certain extent for our pro-
ducts woulf be established and many
other local advantages would arise
therefrom."
St. Mays, like this county, has no
place to- csre for its insane except IN It's
Alms-hcuse. which by reason Of want of
roonsand 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 m
stitution willing to accept its patients md
through its grand Jury now suggest the
plat. time and again advocated b. the
INDEPENDENT. for the four counties *
this section to club together and con
s.ruct an asylum ofsheiyown. Many ofthe
larger counties Of the State have been
f6rced to do.so., and since, have not re-
gretteu me step. BlItimora. Frederic
and Allegheny counties, il
sane asylums. which have proven no III
reasonable charge to those couatie'
and there is no good reason why South
ern Maryland sliouhl not consider il il
terest more closely and follow their ez
ample
As our reiqhbor county has take
the advance strp m flis highly com
mendable and progressive movement ii
plan Of proctdure' should be for th
County Commissioners of thu county t
open correspondence with thu
County Commissioners of the other eoun
ties interested, at once, and appoint
committees to meet at some convenient
Hime and Plan and devise the manner o
,aising the money necessary for the con.
struction Of The buildings, etc, am
agree upon site for the hospital. Not
much money will be required in the first
instance. The plan of treating the in
sae has changed Of late years. No
large buifling and dark cells are Hes'led
Expert physicians in treating this dis
ease now favo- small roomy cattsges
with all the open air exercise possible
The first, and greatest cost, would be
the purchase Of the hndT the buildings
could be erected few al Aime as need
ed. So far as the good derived from the
Alms-hOuses of the Southern Maryland
counties ,us concerned they might be
dispensed without Inconvenience or re-
morse Of conscience and tie proceeds de.
rived from the sale applied to a beiter
charity, and the money now annually
appropriated for their support would be
almost, if Tot quite sufficient, to maiutain
sjoint Insane asylum.