New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-23
one who watches with open eyes tne ""iu'
condition of the italian Nation.
TIN co,ovy OF EPILEPTICS

In connection with the renewed proposal "
establish a colony Of epilept.c patients III '''''
state II Is interesting to observe that such a."
exneriment-if indeed experiment 1t may no" We
coIIed-,s At this moment actually being ehtereu
unon IN England The enterprise Is under o'hcia'
patronage. and is regarded with earnest ap
proyal by the medical profession. Inc p'a0e
selected is known Skippings Farni' anu .',e
work Is beginning there on a small scare WI"
tho exnectation that It will rapidly expand as us
oood results become matters of accomplished fact
indeed sites for other such colonies will probably
coon be IN demand for there are probably 'l5O,oOo
eniIent,cs in the kingdom and only small pro-
norton Of these will be enough to compose
number of colonies. These unique settlements
will be. as Sir James Crchton Browne describes
them in advance, busy little hives OF INDUSTRY
with two sorts Of products-the fruits OF the
earth and manufactured articles for sale. ana
mental contentment and improved health which
are beyond all price
This colony Is modelled after the plan OF the
first of the kind ever attempted. That IS al
Gadderbaum, near Bielefeld, in Westphalia' Ter
many. 1t was founded more than twenty years
ago, with about a dozen patients To-Day IL
has l. 500 colonsts. and is handsome. prosperous
village with workshops Of all xmas equai 10 'he
best In any place. and gardens and farms no.
where TO be surpassed The rule Is TOT each
patlent to be engaged In such work as he or she
Is hest fitted for and such as seems pest
suited TO the individual state or heaith.
Thus there are farmers. gardeners, carpenters
h,acxsmiths. shoemakers printers, bakers. dress
makers washerwomen, BARRIERS. etc. In each
working-place. and even in the village church'
one or more large cour hes are provided for the
recontIon Of those who may suddenly be stricken;
and those natients who are subject 10 frequent
and violent attacks are constantly watched by
their less afflicted friends. But as n rule the
fits do not occur often or as severely as De-
fore the patients entered the colony, while IN
many cases entire cures are effected. Moreover
the colony is so prosperous that It's members are
self-supporting instead Of being burdensome
charges upon their friends or families.
The success of this German colony Is fully es-
tablished There IS no more doubt Of the beneii-
cence of the system, as practised there, than OF
the shining of the sun. This fact is now recog-
nized by the medical profession and by official
authorities in England and hence the foundation
Of the similar colony at SNppings Farm. 1t
would be shameful for this State longer to delay
the adoption OF the same plan. The initial ex-
pcnro would be slight: and the enterprise. like
that in Germany, would probably soon be self
supporting From an economical point Of View,
therefore. it is most commendable, while on the
score of humanity its appeal is stronger than
any language can express. 1t Is earnestly to be
hoped that the bill now before the Legislature
will speedily become a law, and that within the
year we may see the actual organization OF THIS
colony OF mercy and OF hope.