New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-12-21
sTATE CARE OF THE INSANE.
prNEFICENT RESULTS OF THE NEW
SYSTEM.
MORE ECONOMICAL AND A HIGHER RATE OF
RECOVERY sHOwN-IIOw THE CNroRTt-
MATES ARE CARED FOR

MORE ECONOMICAL AND A HIGHER RATE OF
RECOVERY sHowN-How THE UNroRTu-
MATES ARE CARED FOR.
Albany. Dec. % (SpeciaD.-The system OF caring
fo- the insane wholly by the State has been IN
complete operation since March last. when' the
county Of New-York transferred is insane ana
ire property TO tho State. Tho year previous inc
County of Kings surrendered the control OF It's IN
sane with It's property TO the STATE In 1871 'he
transfer of the insane from the county poorhouses
began At this time there were 200 out OF ABOUT
5000 registered insane IN the poorhouses exclusive
Of those in the counties of New-York and Kings
All of the insane receiving the oenehcen'
rare provided by the State All are provided win
.u,tab,e diet sufficient in quality and quantity
All are provided With sufficient clothing All are
receiving a high grade of medical care ana all are
treated with reference TO the possibility or tneir
recovery. The old system Of setting ASIDE several
thousands being beyond the pale OF recovery
has been abandoned In favor Of The more enight-
.,ed one which provides the benefits which the
gate can only give The old horrors abuses.
neglect and il-treatment which prevailed under
the county system have entirely disappeared.
A showing the eject OF this policy two things
should be taken into consideration; FIRST, the cost
NJ maintaining the insane; second. their recovery.
An examination of the workings OF tfese institu-
dams which are now consolidated under
.,onsiblc head shows what might naturally have
been expected namely, that the cost of maintain
ing the institutions has enormously decreased UNI
der central management and control and THAI the
,o,e Of recovery has constantly risen since this
control began. Under the enlightened system
which now prevails, the best methods. ideas and
rolices ara substituted for the chaos which for
ner,v prevailed All receive the careful consideTa-
ton of the Board of Superintendent. who are
nrobsbv not exceed in intelligence and education
IN the world in this particular branch OF pubic
economy Since 1890 the recovery rate has mate
tally risen The average recovery rate is higher
than that of any State where the real principle
Of exclusive State care for the insane Is appheo.
Inversion and employment play no inconsderable
MARI In the care of these urfortunates. Nhile me
state does not require that the insan should Ia
hor heyond their ability. modern experience mas
shown that healthfu occupation properly a,sers,
recoy ries incidentally. the economy OF this
method is no inconsderable feature IN S p ore
lam of properly caring for the insane ohop. are
NOV, in operation where clothing boots, sloe anu
various articles OF iurituIe are ns on:ide mar
Vets but simply tor the use OF the nosp'ta's.
,,,s,es,, and diversion are conducted on n
b ard and are part Of the regular
system OF for the insane regular a p os
Amusement and entertainment are being pro- o.
yjded Dances and plays are eNtm' On. 80 Irsa W..
w"o are canable of appreciating the same are al
lowed TO participate in I'll OF the amnstI 'h 90 70
ond ~ trSaiment Of the insane from the domain OF
en- snodic and uncertain charity has resulted no'
onIy In economy but in greatly increased pel""tn
Tbs State hosnitalS of New-Nork to-day are no
nrrAr REGARDED "a places of terror ana iii-te a
w., T-hev are hospitals In the true sense OF III.
word in ali that pertains To the successiui car" VI
the most unfortunate class OF the states P"Pua
r. is gratifying 10 note that the purely sccn;lnc
aspect Of this great problem is RECEIVING a'.e,'p
T,,ring The mast wear great cathoioslcai uePdi'
nent for the scientific Investigation OF diseases Sc
raa,ad. ~ insanity has been established ioi VI.
s. - eli The state hospitals 1t has the most
modern equipment and is provided with All OF ine
accessories which 60 10 make up co,na'e ~ Sis
nortmcn, Of This kind Here special forms OF uiS
eease can be studied under one Of the aoIssi oi
moSern investigators who Is assisted by a traiieu
nnrns ~ assistants and where the state hosp'di
nbrsicians NAV have an opportunity TO become ac
rrmsinted with the more intricate ana pureiy ~.
eu,isc features Of those diseases which are aiieo
10 mental maladies