The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-01-26
ESCAPED LuNATlCS.
Is the Asylum Loosely Managed ?'---
DR.. Kirby Replies to a Criticism of
the Wilmington Messenger.


the Wilmington Messenger.
There is a notion prevalent that an
insane asylum is like Jail, and that il
an inmate escapes the authorities have
been very lax. The truth is that it is
a thousand times better that patient
should escape every week in the year
than that the insane parties should be
tied up or compelled to stay in cells,
as they were forced to do in former
times.
WHAT DIR. KIRBY SAYS.
The recent escape OF John c. Davis
and the unwillinguess of the authori-
ties to give the news TO the public has
created some criticism, the Whining
ton Messenger going. so far as to
make the following criticism Evident
ly things are loosely managed about the
asylum" DIR. Kirby replies to this
criticism, making some observations
that will be of general interest He
says:
such statement coming from
many writer's we would not notice at
ALL but coming from one having the
reputation you have for accuracy,
we cannot let it go unchallenged. We
wish to say that this is a hospital, pri-
marily, for the treatment and cure of
insane people, and that the days of
chains, dungeons, Ieglocks, manacles
and handouts for the insane in North
Carolina have. we hope, passed away
forever, and all intelligent alienists
recognize the fact that exercise in the
open air, amusement and aversion, are
the most valued agents in the restora-
ton of the insane, but they cannot be
thoroughly given without opportunity
sometimes occurring to escape. Active
and watchful patients are quicker to
take advantage of the slightest OPP
portunity than others, hence the fire.
quency with which Mr. Davis has es-
capped.
WASN'T John c. Davis smart enough
TO deceive the lcvel-headed business
people of Wilmington (than whom
there are none better) out of nearly
100000. What wonder then that he
sometimes fools our attendants? He
is, however, not dangerous, except in
a financial way, and there is no neces-
sity why any community should be
convulsed whenever it is reported land
that sometimes falsely that he has es-
capped. | think it is creditable to any
hospital for the insane that patients
do sometimes escape. The fact that
that it is being managed in accordance
with modern, intelligent and humane
IDEAS, with a view to the restoration
of patients, and that prisons
and dungeons, chains and hand
cuffs have been relegated to
the past could. no doubt,
the patients chatting and irritated in
prison all the time, so that not single
one would escape; but / fancy the
humane editor of the Messenger would
be one Of the first to protest and say,
Treat them kindly and in a manner
conducive to their recovery, even if
one does escape occasionally" as they
do from all well-managed institutions
Your criticism forces me to say
what might otherwise seem egotistical
that more patients have been receiy-
ed last year at the North Carolina asy-
lum than ever before; more discharged
cured, and no patient has been declined
for want of room; that the per capita
ratio of expenses has been decreased
and a surplus OF the appropriation left
over.
''Dr. FaisoD, our faithful assistant,
has kindly furnished me from the rec
ords Of the institutionthe number of
patients escaping each year for the
past ten years: