The herald., 1894-09-27
TIE INSANE OF rag STATE.

THR INSANE OF TdK bTATE.
In his Saturday nights speech at the
pavilion Mr.. Budd dwslt so much upon
the necessity of economy in the man
sgement of state affairs that many got
an idea that be contemplated . material
reduction of all state expenditures, in
cluding the keeping of the insane. A
local paper likewise gave vent to be-
lief that. If MIR. Budd is elected. he will
close up all the branch insane hospitals,
and concentrate the patients at Stock
ton, where he now resides.
This is sheer nonsense. Mr.. Budd
knows land 80 does every other sensible
person. for that mstter) that the Stock
ton asylum would not hold one-iourth of
the insane population OF this state;
that it was good enough for all public
requirements up to 1865, when it began
to be crowded, and the necessity OF the
first branch, at Napa, became apparent;
and that the other branches since erect
ed at Ukiah, A9news and Highlands
would not have been built had there not
been an urgent need of their existence.
In old times the money paid to sheriffs
for conveyance Of patients to the asylum
at Stockton, especially from the OK
treme ends Of the state, amounted to .
very large sum. This is now materially
reduced by the construction of branch
hospitals at convenient DISTANCES apar t.
That the number of insane patients
in California is very large in proportion
to the actual population OF the state, we
do not deny. But whom we take into
consideration the fact that the Jramps
and all the other irresponsibles OF the
entire coast drift into California at some
period in their precarious existences. the
number does not seem so extravagant.
Probably not less than one-third OF the
patients now being cared for in our in
sane hospitals are citizens OF Oregon,
Idaho. Nevada and Ari-
sona, and their care and keep should be
made charge against those
states aud territories.
Again, the excitement OF pioneer
lie and the results arising from disap-
pointed ambition enter very largely in to
this confederation. DR.. Harry Lane,
q grandson of the Democratic nominee
for president in 1850. was for four
years in charge OF the inaane hospital OF
Oregon, and. in a conversation on this
subject one day, he said:
"You speak OF the prevalence OF in
sanity in our pioneer families, and men
tion it ss a curious coincidence. Why
my dear sir, my only aatonishment is
that there is not more of it. just remem
ber that up to 1869 over 60 per cent
population came across the plains in
slow march OF five months, and often six
Recollect that many wives were in con
dition of impending maternity durinl
that journey. and exposed to hostil
Indians and many other less privation
while on the march. Remember tia
many hardships that befell those immi
grants even after their arrival here. an
you will ceaee to wonder at the preva
lence OF dementia among our pionee
families"
What DR.. Lane said about the pionee
families OF Oregon is true OF this stats
but in less degree. Up to the compile
ton OF the railroad in 1869, our acces
sions OF population from the east were i
the ratio OF about 60 by steamer to 3
that drove wagons across the plains
because California received mucl
larger influx OF people from the Atlanti
seaboard than did either Oregon, ldah
or Washington, most of whose populs
tion came from the Missiasippi valls
states. Hence the perilous journey b
wagons across the desert was not g
prolific source OF insanity in Californi
"a in the states last above named.
That Mr.. Bndd, if elected, would vett
appropriation bills for the care OF thesI
helpless people, whom misfortune an
hardship have bsreit of their reason, i
monstrous proposition. He ia ma
OF too humane principles to lea
towards any such stupidity. That b
might see fit to examine into the man
egement OF such institutions mucl
ploser than his predecessors have done
We deem quite probable. He woul
probably look to it that the residen
physicians of ouch hospitals came int
more frequent contact with the unfortr
nate beings committed to their charg,
and that they trusted less to the per
sonal observances OF the deputies or al
sistant pathologists by whom they wer
surrounded. He would, perhaps, 6
iurther and see to it that, as the laoc
Of che insane man properly belongs
ths state. which il responsible for b