The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-02-02
CARE OF THE INSANE.
An Experim emit Tried in Michigan-Tne
Colony at Kalamazoo.

The following account of an expert
ment in the care of the insane, the only
one of it's kind ever tried in this coun-
try, may be of interest at the present
time. There are several similar colonies
in Europe, notably the one at Alt-Sher-
betz, in Saxony. OF the latter, the Hon.
W. p. Letelwell, leading philanthropist
of New York, and author OF an elabor-
ate work, "The Insane in Foreign Coun-
tries.n saws: "Without any attempt at
ambitious architectural display or costly
interior furnishings, there is, apparent
". in this institution. everything essen
tial TO The comfort of the insane. The
whole system of care and treatment
seems adaped to insure highly satlsfac-
tory results; and yet stranger passing
along the highway and catching Gimp
ses of the asylum buildings through the
trees and shrubbery, would hardly sus-
pect from their unpretentious character
and their arrangement upon the estate,
that the place was public hospital. and
asylum for insane people.
A bout the year 1885, Michigan adopt
ed the policy of caring for all the insane
in the state. The asylum for the insane
at Kalamazoo was then crowded. having
in it nearly 800 patients. In order to
provide for the expected increase under
the new system, the board Of trustees
of that hospital made report recon-
mending plan for a "colony" of pa
tents. Previous to this time, however,
the colony idea had been put in practice
in small way at the institution. Fol
lowing are some extracts from this re-
port: "This plan contemplates estab-
fishing colony of patients IN some
healthy and pleasant farming LOCALITY,
within easy distance of the Institution,
from which il is to be peopled. to de-
rive most of it's supplies, and to be UNI
der it's management. On this tract of
land should be erected colony houses,
each with CAPACITY OF thirty beds, each
to be plainly and substantially Ebuilt at
an expense not to exceed $4,000. AT first,
and to meet present necessities, provis-
ion should be made for 100 patients; At
forwards the houses can be multiplied
as the necessity of the institution may
require In addition there should be
cottage for a resident physician, to be
placed near by and in direct communi-
cation with all the colony houses, and
with the asylum proper by means of tel
ephones. The land to be cut up into
farms for raising milk, making butter,
for growing stock for beef and for fruits
and vegeta bles, in which both male and
female patients can participate. The
advantages this system has over other
methods may be briefly enumerated:
lit will afford almost immediate re-
lief-within a year after provision is
made the colony will be ready for occu-
patton. Patients in the asylum suffer.
ing from chronic diseases can be trans
terred to it,while the recent cases occur
ring in one district can occupy the va
cancies thus created.
8 -2-In providing suitable occupation for
all able to participate, which Will be
both beneficial to the patients and re-
munerative to the institution.
sit VIII prove the most economical
method of providing for the insane, re-
ducing the expense of room from 500
to $500 per patient, and also the expense
of maintenance, as many OF the supplies
will be raised without expense on the
farms"
The plan was carried out substantial
ly as recommended. A farm OF 800 acres
was purchased three miles away. Upon
it have been built four cottages" ac-
comlnodating with the old farm house,
247 patients.
There are also at the Brook farm"
some forty patients. These cottages"
are in reality substantial two-story brick
houses, with brick partitions, built just
like the houses ordinary people, live in
only larger, and costing about $500 per
patient.
The success of the experiment may be
Judged from the following extracts from
official reports of the institution.
From the report of the medical super
intendent for 1SS9-90: "The Importance
of milk as an article of food in our hos
pital is now fully recognized. At first
it was supplied from the original asy-
lum farm; but as patients increased the
quantity from this source was not sut1ic-
lent, and afterwards the deficit was pro-
cured from farmers living i'll the vicin-
ity, at an expnse of $4,000 per annum.
A tract of $50 acres, now
known as the "Brook Farm" was Sc
cured. On this land the !. first colony
house, having accommodations for forty
patients, was erected. The house is
two story frame building, contains
rooms for the supervisor and wife, etc.,
Gall the rooms necessary for living and
doing all the work of the household.)
A barn for stabling so cows was built.
"The patients kept at Brook Farm
are quiet, able to exercise good control,
are free from active decisions of perse-
cutions, and are Industrious in their hab-