St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-01-13
TO AWAKEN DULL MINDS.
INTERESTING P.PERS ON THE INSANE
hND FEEBLE-M.NDED
BEFORE ANNUAL CONFERENCE

or the State Board of Charities
and Correction -The Causes OF
Insanity Traced by DIR. Tom
linson-Address by Sarah Linz
ton Phelps, of the Rochester
Asylum-Interesti Papers.
The annual conference Of the board Of
charities and correction was resumed
at the Church of the Redeemer yester-
day forenoon. The conference proper
was preceded by business session at
which number of routine matters were
disposed of aud the several committees
than met.
The regular session was called to
order by Supt. Ii. A. Tomlinson, of the
hospital for the insane At st. Peter, who
submitted the reports of the committee
on insane and feeble minded.
The first paper under this head was
read by w. f. Wilson. of the school for
the feeble minded at Farlbault. 1t was
full of exhaustive statistics, the main
features OF which were the tact that of
tbs inmates of mad houses 56.5 per cent
were males aud 49, per cent were
females. Statistics also proved that
there were less insanity among native
Americans than among any other ma
tionality in this country.
a very interesting paper was read by
Judge Mott, of Faribault, which was
written by his daughter, on the subject
of teaching imOecile children. The gist
Of the paper went 10 show that patient
example was the most effective method
of awakening dull minds. An illuStra-
ton was given of an imOeclle child who
had neither the power Of locOmOtlon
nor the sense of feeling. He could not
even recognize his own mother. BY
dint of constant daily example the child
was taught to expect certain things at
certain times of day, and iii this way
the first spark OF intelligence was
awakened. He learned with wonderful
rapidity after that. and develop ed into
an intelligent child.
An Interesting paper was read by
DR.. Tomlinson on The Relations OF
the Public to the Hospitals for the Ill
sane and Their Inmates"
In the course of his remarks he said:
On the part of most people there is
great dread of anything connected with
an insane person, and this very fear is
nothing mole or less than the relic of
ancient superstition, and is a great
drawback to the institutions for the
cure of mental ailments. He deplored
the fact that families having insane
members should make such strenuous
efforts to conceal both the patient and
the fact of his existence. Insanity comes
from common causes, the same as any
other disease, and should be regarded
as what it is-a nervous disease. The
attitude of the public in general toward
the attendants in such institutions is
also discouraging, and is undoubtedly a
reason why the work has not progressed
faster than it has. although it has made
wonderful strides jill the last few years.
Minnesota has done more for its insane
than almost any other state in the
Union, and has reason to be proud of
her institutions.
In regard to the operation of the
aSylums, the speaker thought that force
or punishment should be used with the
patients only in the most extreme cases.
He suggested as an improvement that
to each institution be added a hospital
building in which all the newly arrived
patients should be placed. Fully one
half of the newcomers could be cured
in this department in short time, and
| it would not he necessary for them to
| be placed under the stigma of having
been occupants of ''madhouse."
! An able address was delivered by
I Sarah Linton Phelps, the assistant ply.
stefan at the Rochester asylum.
Her paper was devoted to Modern
Hospital Ideas in Treatment of the In
sane" She said that there was great
deal in name in the distinction be-
tients who are perfectly willing to go to
hospital fairly shuddered at the idea
of an asylum, and she therefore recon-
mended the scheme suggested by the
preceding paper of establishing such a
department.
Rev. Ii. T. Nichols, of Minneapolis,
chairman of the committee on depend
ent children" read a preliminary adj
dress, in which he said that it was a
most difficult matter to decide just
where the state should step lin between
child and parent.
1.-The Legal Aspect of the Child Cues
ton" was considered by G. p. Maginnls.
of Duluth. Mr.. Maginnis also admitted
the fact that it was most difficult to tell
just when to interfere, but was inclined
to think that the error of being too
severe and asserting too much authority
OH the part Of the state was less than
the error of leniency.
Mrs. d. l.. Kiehle closed the morning
programme with paper OH "rhe Kin
dergarten VS.. the Reform School," She
called attention TO the fact that the i'm
pOrtance of the first seven years in a
child's life as to its effect on his after
life has always been conceded by all
who have had experience with children.
Was it not better, then, to use this Pc
riod as an age Of prevention? The kim
dergarten lays the true foundation for
industrial learning If tpSnlpC omit
nuitY of effort, patriotism, cheerfulness
and Self-denial-in fact, more attention
TO the kindergarten would lessen the
attendance at the reform schools.
The special committee on the next
place of meeting decided to hold the
conference In st. Paul.
A committee Oh publication was ap-
pointed consisting of Secretary Moore,
George A. Merrill and II. H. Hart. The
committee Immediately retired to dis
cuss the matter of the association print
ing for the year. 1t was decided to
print the full proceedings of the present
convention in pamphlet form.
In the section meeting Yesterday
afternoon on"Public Care of the Poor"
G. T. Staples, commissioner of Dakota
county, opened the discussion on the
question, Duties of County Commits
sionerS in Caring for the Poor" In the
city charities section the subject of
friendly visiting formed the main fea-
lures. Mrs. j. II. Arnell, of Minneapo-
lis making the principal address.
The conference closed last night with
the election of officers. Hon. r. A.
Pratt, of Faribault, was elected presi-
dent; Rt. Rev. James McGolrick, OF
Duluth, first vice president. and II. M.
Palm, Worthlngton, second vice pIesi-
dent.