New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-07
A COLONY FOR EPILEP1ICS.
PROPOSED BY THE NEW-JERsEY COMMio-
SION APPOINTED LAST YEAR
THE WORK OF THE COMMISSION ~ COLLECTING
STATISTICS AND EXPERT oPINloNs-Nh-

cEssIrY OF STATE INSTITUTION
Trenton. Feb (SpecaD.-The New-Jersey COM
mission for Epleotics and their Institutional o"',
created by the Legislature OF 1895, has present.
It's report. and is now urging Inc
of the passage Of the bill approprIang the sum u
$1,000 for the coon!Zng and care OF epiieP"o'
conference between the Commission and "o'''''o
Gr.ggs was held to-day. The members OF the Com
mission are Dr. T. G. Baker. OF MorristoNh ~
William L. Newell Of Melville: Or Johh ~
Ewing of Pennington. the Rev. Or. j. " b"'"
ley OF Morristown. and Professor 5 Oin 'a'i'''''
OF Vineland
In their report the Commissioners show that they
have made an exhaustive examination OF the SUD-
ject and they are fully convinced Of the aoso-
lutte need Of an institution for epieptics III New
Jersey After the Organization Of the Commission
by the selection Of Dr. Baker and Professor "arl'-
son FOR president and secretary respectively 'ne
various penal and benevolent institutions OF t'e
State were visited and more than 700 New-JefseY
physicians were communica Ted with on me SUI
tec Inquiries were also addressed TO more thah
100 institutions
Informa ion was sought from the institutions a. 70
tho whole number of epilepics in their custody M
number respectively Of very mild. OF moderately
severe OF very severe and OF irregular cases u
epilepsy. Information asked also OF such as
able ana nt to do work generally. such as are
able to work portion Of the time. and such "a are
both epneptic and diotic The superintendent Oh
the institutions were requested 70 furnish me 'o'
mission with Information concerning the former ''
cupations Of the epileptcs under their care anu
the physicians were requested 10 impari similar III
formation regarding patients under their care
VALUABLE STATISTICS COLLECTED
The repor; of the Commission says that more than
three hundred physicians and about forty hS,'"
tons Of various kinds reported, and addltohA' -
ports from both still being received. Among
tho institutions reporting TO the Commission are
eight ialls six insane asylums. five hospitals -"
almshouscs. one home for feeble-mindei "o'ne"
one reform school, one school for dear nu''-' o"'
school for feeble minded children two alH-ho"S'S
and insane asyums combined. and six miscellaneous
institutions. No reports were received 10y inc
Commissioners from any institutions in Monmouth
Passac. Sussex. Ocean. Salem or Warren counties
The whole number OF epileptics reported by ihst-
tutions is 35l. OF whom 1873 are males ana loo
females In thir,y-three cases the sex Was not
specified.
The whole number o. epieptics reported by the
physicians addressed is ~. OF whom 80 are inaes
and 2l5 females. In ls cases the sex was not spe0
fled This makes total OF l.O0
In consideration Of the fact that at least 10"
musicians dli not reply" say the Commissioners
in Their report. and that hfty nine institutions
made no report at the lowest estimate the ioia'
epiepiic population Of the state must be more ina"
200, Information gained by other states In similar
Investigations renders II probable that not more
than half the actual could be included IN any
census. public private. because OF the na'ura'
lnd.sposiiion on the part OF sufferers ana the'r
friends to acknowledge to themselves the existence
OF such disease In the family. ami In me case OF
the poor the lack OF thorough medical eNamina-
ton necessary in many instances To- recognize me
malady in irregular forms
The Commissioners discuss epepsy a. length ana
show that the disease Is as old as the history 90
medicine widespread and common. The most COM
sentative calculations. the Commissioners declare.
allow from Two 20 five cases % epilepsy 70 ever,
thousand - population IN this country. AS
disease. ne report continues - T. herellii.ary
nat OF c.rtaln other forms ~ nervous disease.
Inherited drunkenness ana insany NM ,nnr., ae
hitting thai the majority OF cases are lncufab.'.
50 FAR a. complete immunity from subsequent
llghtened medical treatment Joined WIN pLoItf
hygiellc diet,uc and moral influence Which
only ~ properly constituted inrttluonS.
EPILEPSY AND INSANITY.
The Commissioners say tina, probably more than
two-nfihs u aii epilcpcs a part Of the time in
sane ard they point on; the cJnstan, danger % an
insane "fervor" which may be followed by The COM
mission Of homicide or Other crime.
II IS surprising to learn from the Commissioners
report that At the present time there are eshiy'vo
epileptics In the state Hospital AT Morris Plains. and
cighiysix In the Trenton Hospital In the last year
The sgepto Popuiaiion nas iacr,ased u pei cent In
the Trenton Hospital The CommisHoners say mat
upon inquiry AT the hospitals they were informed
that the presence OF IN" eiileptcs is alike Injurious
70 the insane and 10 the epllepuc. a considerable
number Of the epeptics in these asyTms are sane"
says the report. They are practically imprisoned
in an environment which can but deprcss them The
insane especially those liable 20 excitement and de-
preston are impressed By the sight of cpieptic
IL commissions and startled az The epileptc cry
COLONY TO BE SELF-SUSTAINING.
The partial returns received b. the Commission
as TO the occupations OF "pileptics In Ncw-Jersey
show one each Of the following trades and business.
Fireman. blacksmith. tailor. shoemaker. gardener.
butcher. engineer. ciockmaker. harnossmakcr. nle-
cutter photographer. painter. undertaken telegraph
operator. bricklaycr. merchant miller. boxmakrr.
school teacher and cook each O.. machnisis
carpenters. trunkmakers. fancy ne~dc- workers.
three each. business men, musicians. five dr"f
makers and seamstresees; six clerks eight each
hatters and servants. ten farmers. thirteen house
keepers and iwcnty-fOur laborers.
In closing the Commission recommend the es'ab-
lshment Of "A colony The Commission Is OF the
bel ef that the colony would be selfsustaning after
two years.
4 MASSMEETING FOR ARMENIA
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