Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1896-11-26
CRIrIcIsE TRUSTEES.

The testimony showed that no rules and re-
gulations had been adopted Tor the internal
government of the asylum and for conducting
in proper manner the business OF the institu-
ton, and the committee We're unable 10 gam
any information with regard to the conditions
of admissions support and discharge Of patients,
or that any had been fixed by the trustee
In the appointment of a superintendent the
provision that the appOntee should be eN-
perlenced IN the treatment of insane was
ignored, and there has never been amy steward,
matron, attendant or assistants appointed by
the board of trustees. The duties cast upon
the trustees by these two sections, SO far as
they have been performed with the exception
OF the appointment of superintendent and
assistant physicians, have beed left by the
trustees Ia be discharged by the superintendent
These duties necessarily have engrOssed CON
siderable of his time and attention, which we
think should have been devoted to the dis
charge of his duties rs superintendent, and We
consider that the board Of trustees were reniss
in the discharge OF their duties, by not rellev-
ing him of these added burdens and that some
of the abuses mentioned in our report might
and probably would have been avoided il the
attention Of the superintendent had not been so
much engeossed by other duties and cares.
Since the establishment Of the asylum a.
Waterbury, building operations have been IN
progress for greater part OF the time, and TO
the management of these affairs the trustees
have given their best attention, and Tar as the
committee were able TO investigate the matter
of building, the manner IN which the trustees
have discharged their duties in that respect
meets the unqualified approval OF the com
mittee.
We consider that they have been yigilant in
looking after the best interests of the state;
economical in their methods and attentive to
their duties with reference to the construction
of the buildings, and their failure 70 seasonably
and properly remedy the defects in the system
of heating she buildings, when it was found
inadequate for that purpose was, donbtess due
to a dissemination ON their part to incur the
necessary expense.
We regard this as a mistaken policy, but the
fact that large appropriations were being asked
for, for the completion of the asylum, should
be considered in eNtenuatiOn OF tins fault,
We are convinced that the trustees acted ac-
cording to their best Judgment for the best in
terests Of the state in what they did with re-
ference to the heating system, but IN forming
their Judgment they made the idea OF economy
to predominant, and subordinated too much the
comfort and health of the patients OF the asy-
lum. This we regard as a mistaken policy
SUPERVISORS NEGLIGENT.
The Supervisors Of the Insane are required
by statute so examine the condition oil sald
ASYLUM the management and treatment OF the
patients therein hear grievances OF patients
apart from the officers and keepers, and m
yestigate the cases that in their Judgment. re-
aure special investigation, and particularly 70
ascertain whether persons are confined IN such
ASYLUM who ought to be discharged. The
evidence shows that the supervisors visited
this asylum from time to time, but we conld
not learn from them that they had any ade-
quate knowledge Of how the patients were
being fed or clothed, or how they were being
treated by the attendants or physicians.
They did not sufficiently investigate 90 as
certain If any abuses were going on in the
asylum, or whether patients were confined IN
the asylum who ought to have been dlseharg
ed; and we find that, without complaint was
made to them, or some abuse or irregularlty
was called particularly TO their attention, the
supervisors made no investigation.
We would suggest an examination by some
competent board to ascertain whether there Is
not a number of idiotic demented persons
being supported as insane, at the expense OF
the state who should be discharged and here
after supported by the towns charged by law
with that duty. We of the opinion that
more should be done in the way OF giving the
patients open air exercise. We do not ma
that there is any system of airing the patients.
During the winter months they have but little
exercise out of doors. Those in the criminal
ward have been confined continuously IN the
building for nearly year. The fence around
the ward of the original ward blew down about
n wear ago and was not reconstructed until
about a month ago. There is lack of books
papers and amusements in the asylum.
Charges Of cruelty and violence to the
patients upon the part OF the superintendent
and attendants were heard by us, and we have
carefully considered the evidence touching
upon this branch of the case