The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-04-19
DOCTORS ATTACK THE ASYLUM
THEY CALL FOR 4 REFORM IN THE
CARE OF THE STATE INSANE.

Accommodation at the Asylum
and the Lack of Proper Treatment
of the Pntiehts--A Committee 10
Memorabilia the Legislature for n
New order Of Things-Dr. BuIInrd
of Columbus Expelled From the
Medical Association for Advertis-
ing in the Newspapers.
The State Medical Association win close
up its work this morning. the principal
business before It being the election OF
officers and the selection Of the next
place Of meeting
The programme has been changed some
what in order 10 allow OF the acceptance
Of the excursion down the river rendered
by the Georgia Medical Society of Sa-
vannah- The Vigilant viii leave the dock
at the foot OF Abercorn street at noon
with the doctors and members Of their
families aboard. The trip will be made
down TO Warsaw and back to Wilmington,
where there will be an oyster roast. There
Will be refreshments on board. of course.
The time Of the association was taken
up yesterday in hearing papers read and
discussing them. Papers were read as
follows; Proper Care of School Children's
Eyes" Dr. Dunbar Roy Of Atlanta; "A
Duty Of the State Medical Association,
DR.. F. NJ Ridley Of LAGRANGE: Graves
Disease, with Cases" DR.. j. NJ. Hull Of
Augusta; Reports Of Several Interesting
Operations" Dr. w. s. Armstrong. At
lanta; Appendicitis" Dr. Floyd w Nc
Rae, Atlanta: Legation Of External Car
otid Artery" DIR. William Perrin Nichol-
son. Atlanta; "Laparotomy During Preg-
nancy" DR.. V. O. Harden, Atlanta: Sym
pathetic Affections of the Eye" DR. James
Il. shorter, Macon; "A Postscript to
NY Paper on Scopoline as a Myadriatic,"
Dr A. Q. Hobbs Of Atlanta; "Galvanism
IN ONCE Practice" DR.. ]. c. LeHardy,
savannah. A very interesting paper was
read the day before by Dr. +. r. Corson
OF savannah, on the use Of electricity in
certain diseases. entitled 'Apostollfs
Treatment OF Uterine Fibroids"
The paper by Dr. Ridley OF LaGrange
on = Duty Of the State Medical Assooia-
ton, was by far the one of greatest in
terest to non-prOfessional readers. The
subject discussed by DR.. Ridley was the
the treatment of lunatics. He dwelt in
strong terms upon the fact that the pres
ent institution and its equipment are to-
insane, for which reason lunatics or
insane persons are frequently kept in
county jails and other unfit places for
weeks and even months because there is
no room for them at the asylum. This is
the time DR.. Ridley said, when the insane
person Is most in need of attention and
greatest hope of recovery. The asylum, he
said, is badly overcrowded there
bling now 1,sO0 patients in the institution
TO attend to this number of patients and
aid the recovery Of their diseased brains
there are only three physicians, one TO
every 600, which condition, DR.. Ridley
said, is unequalled by any other institu-
ton of the kind on earth. The number
or attendants, too, is entirely too smell
and are not selected entirely with view
to their fitness for the work. Medical
science, DR.. Ridley said. had accomplished
wonders In recent years in relieving dis
eases of the brain, by surgical opera tons
require the most careful treatment and
the most suitable surroundings. The con-
ditions at present prevailing at the asy-
lum, he said, are the opposite of favorable
TO such recOVeriee.
DIR. Ridley attributed the greater part of
the evils now prevailing to ignorant legis-
lation. He attacked the present mode of
inspection of the asylum by a legislative
committee which visits the institution at
stated intervals and whose coming is al
ways known beforehand. thus allowing
the management sufficient time in which
TO put the place IN the most presentable
appe @rance He advocated a bill which
should do away with this mode of inspec-
ton and should make IL incumbent upon
the governor to appoint board of seven
of the most prominent physicians of the
state whose duty it should be to visit the
asylum at least twice a year and as often
as they should see Mt to do so without
making any previous announcement of
their Intention. He also advocated the
building by the state of a separate asylum
for the treatment of the cOlored insane,
to be located at Atlanta, Griffin, Savannah
or some other convenient locality. BY this
means. he said, the entire present build
ing could be devoted to the treatment
of white patients, and the blacks would
be sure of better attention in an institu-
ton conducted especially for their bene-
ht.
DR.. Ridley said he did not lay the blame
for the present condition of affairs upon
Superintendent Powell and his assistants,
whom he said he felt sure did everything
possible with the inadequate means at
unfortunates entrusted to their chargeA 1t
is the duty of the state medical associa-
ton, he said, to take this matter in hand
better provision for the care of the unfor-
The physicians present thoroughly
agreed with DR.. Ridley and his paper was
discussed with much interest Dr. West
moreland said that there was urgent need
of a strict separation of the sexes at the
asylum, as was shown by the number of
illegitimate children which are born there.
Upon resolution 1t was decided to appoint
committee Of five to memorabilia the
legislature upon the condition of the asy-
lum and to urge the improvements sug-
gested by DIR. Ridley. The committee will
be named this morning.
An event of the morning session was the
expulsion of DR.. w. l.. Billiard of Column
bus from the association for violation of
the code of ethics in advertising his cures
sion was recommended by the board of
censors. His offense was regarded as the
more heinous because he used cuts" In
advertising and published certificates given
him by their patients of cures performed
by him. DIR. Billiard is we'll known spec
ialist and has been a member of the as
ISOLATION for several years. Newspaper ad-
vertising or any other form of advertising
is strictly eschewed by the regulars of the
medical profession and any physician who
violates this rule puts himself outside the
pale at once.
The agents for medical preparations
and appliances have turned the corridor
leading to the banqueting room. in which
the meetings are conducted, INTO a regular
bazaar Many of these agents are physi-
clans. and they are enterprising in push
ing their preparations, freely distribut-
ing them among the physicians. DR. g.
G. Fife, of the Maltine Company has the
room opening into the banoueting room,
ana keeps a supply of maltine on tap.
DR.. s. T. Bryson offers Horlick's Matted
Mink to all who care to partake of it
Mellin's Baby Food occupies a prominent
position in charge of DIR. c. A. Robbins
Tarrant & Co. have an exhibit in charge
of DR.. ]. W. Fahr. Harris Lithia Water
is on tap for all who care for it, r. II
Dow has an Interesting electrical exhibit
in charge of DR.. FAgin. Other exhibitors
are Park Davis & Co.. DIR. Stauffescher;
Dios Chemical Company, Sharp q Dome
J. L. Pryor; d. Appleton & Co, DIR. G. J.