The record-union., 1895-11-23
STATE INSANE ASYLUM DIRECTORS.
They Meet to Discuss Reforms With
the Governor
A Committee Appointed to Perfect 6
Plan and Formulate Law
Concerning Them.

ferent institutions for supplies.
It has been noticed for some time that
the same article would be bought by
the different institutions at widely
varying prices. For instance, Agnew
might pay fourteen cents a dozen for
eggs, while on the same months claim
from Stockton or Napa would appear
Eggs, twenty-four cents a dozen. "
The matter was discussed two weeks
ago at the meeting of the board, and it
was determined to request the attend
ance of the Superintendent and Di-
rectors, in order to see if some under
standing could not be arrived at
whereby supplies could be bought when
az their lowest.
There was large attendance yeSter-
day, the asylums being represented as
follows:
Stockholm. o. Southworth, ]. D.
McDougald, A. Mcdonald, Joseph Stef-
fens.
Mendocino-J. H. Seawell, M. Gard
ner, c. O'Connor.
AgnewS-W. w. Montague, /. Upham,
F. Gould, E. White
Napa-Benjamin Shurtleff, r. Howe,
A. j. Hull j. c. Martin, r. P. Lambden,
Dr. a. NJ. Gardner.
Southern California-H. L. Drew, J.
A. Gibson, F. A. Miller
The Governor made a statement to the
gentlemen present that in going over
the accounts they found various matters
in the methods of keeping the books,
paying labor and buying supplies, etc,
and as one of the institutions could not
well remedy it singly, it was thought
best to call representatives of all the in
situations together and have a conSulta-
ton as to the best remedies, legislative
or otherwise, that could be adopted.
There are also large number of harm
less lunaticS, imbeciles and similar
cases that crowd the asylums and that
should not be burden to the State.
For instance, in Stockton there are 400
violently insane, 745 that are insane
but not violent, and POI that are i'm
beetle or harmlessly insane and that
might be cared for by the counties to
which they belong. These cannot prop
eIly be admitted to the asylums under
the law. The Napa Asylum shows a
similar state of affairs. The average
cost TO the State is $3.50 a patient, and
the aggregate cost is enormous There
are also many who have relatives who
are abundantly able to pay for them, as
the law requires, but who never do So
This should be altered
He also recommended that a uniform
system of bookkeeping be adopted, as
the State Printer informed him that
five different systems of ruling books
| blanks, etc, was in use. He also recon-
mended the appointment OF a committee
of one from each asylum to consider the
matter of employees wages.
DR.. Gardner of Napa said that in that
asylum there were about two hundred
who were mildly insane and could be
easily cared for elsewhere Some OF
these had been Improperly admitted
and others had been properly admitted
and had drifted into their present state
A reform was clearly needed, and legis-
latige action should be secured.
DR.. NJ. Gardner of the Mendocino
asylum stated that there were very
few such cases there, as most Of the
patients were chronic insane who had
been sent from other asylums.
Mr.. Drew of the Southern California
Asylum said that the Superintendent
had sent back a number of imbeciles
who had been sent there from various
counties, at the expense Of the county
| sending them.
R. Howe of Napa said that patients
were committed by Superior Judge
and that there should be some legal
authority for sending them back An
other trouble is that there is no fund
TO pay for sending them back whence
they came.
The Governor said that the law pro-
vides that if the doctor finds that the
patient should not have been sent tC
! the asylum, he should send him back
I, his county. 1t may be that the con-
/ tingent fund can be used for sending
them back
! Mr. Howe said that the law provides
that the patients shall be discharged
when cured, but he did not know
whether or not they could be discharged
uncured.
/ Governor Budd said that he and
! DR. Gardner had discussed the matter
and decided that the physician had
power to send them back.
! President Shurtleff of Napa thought
/ the law was defective in many respects
/ II provides that mo such person shall
/ be maintained" but does not author
izc their discharge unless they are
cured
The Governor answered that the
/ law provides that if they are not
properly committed they must bt
! sent back Mr.. Shurtleff cited the
case Of man in. an Eastern
/ asylum who was thoroughly cured, ex-
! cept of the idea that the roof of his
/ cell was only fifteen inches from the
/ floor. He was competent legally to dc
all kinds Of business, but under our law
( the physician could not declare him
cured and discharge him. He stated
| that the per capita expense here is
much lower than in the East.
! The Governor and Secretary of State
called his attention to the fact that in
the Eastern reports interest, salaries
and improvements are all included IL
/ the per capita expense. Then again, oul
climate is much milder, which de-
| creases the expense of clothing anC
| fuel.
Mr.. Shurtleff said that in the Eas
! there was a system of returning pau
rers to other States and even to Europe
/ We should have something of the sor
here.
Governor Budd said if the question
| had been discussed here six or eigh
wears ogo we would probably have
only two or three asylums in the STATE
! now.
Mr.. Shurtleff thought the law SHOULD
/ he amended so that patients could b'
examined and discharged and permit
! ted to go free He cited a case of al
old lady of over so years who was sen
| from the northern part Of the State
who was not insane, and should have
/ been supported and cared for by he
relatives. as she was only SUFFERING
from the infirmities of old age.
7. d. McDougald of Stockton sait
that If this class of people is discharged
the directors would have to hire Nor,
help. as they worked on the farm anC
at other work, and really paid thei
own expenses.
DR.. Gardner of Napa said he woulC
like Mr. Shurtleff to tell what he was t
do with these people when they wer
discharged. The officers of the Sal
Francisco Almshouse had refused t
receive them when he sent them there
IF they were turned loose on the street
If would provoke severe criticism
The Governor said there were hun
dreds of men walking the streets o
that city who were no better fitted T.
take care of themselves. and many O
Ian c,f