The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-04-02
INSANE ASYLUM IN POLITICS.
Charlotte Observer. J

1
held in New York in May, 1S4S, the fol-
lowing preamble and resolution were
adopted:
Whereas, In the selection of medical
superintendent to hospitals for the in
sane, it is important to choose mon with
the highest qualifica tons, both as re-
spects professional requirements and
moral endowments, therefore
Resolved, That any attempt in any par.
of this country, to select such officers
through political bias, be deprecated by
this association as a dangerous departure
from that ~ound rule which should gov
ern every appointing power, OF seeking
the best men, irrespective of every other
| consideration.
The following quotation is taken from
the opening sentences of the presidential
address of Edward Cowles, NJ. d., of
| Waverly, Mass, before a melting of asy-
lum physicians at Denver, Col, June II,
1895:
The foolish man built his house upon
the sand; and the rain descended, AMI
/ the foods came, and the winds blew and
beat upon that house; and it fell.'
When we build our houses we try first
to lay firm foundation, and then raise
a good supcrstructure. After the house
is built it must rest for its existence
upon deeper fact to sustain and main.
| tain it. The material house is perish
| able thing; the underlying purpose that
upholds and keeps it lasts from genera
ton to generation.
The State builds its hospitals for the
sick in like manner, if it builds them
| we'll There must be the material struc-
lures before the sick can be sheltered in
them. Then, whether or not they are
real hospitals rests upon the understand
ing of the people who maintain and adj
minister them. If personal and political
interests creep into this essential founda-
ton then II becomes l0osened and I'M
stable, and the hospital no longer stands |
for what it pretends to I've. The purity |
of its purpose and its sacredness to hui
manity are prostituted; and it becomes
a scandal to the great cause it was built
TO aid. The executions of all honest
men should fall upon those who work |
such evils. They IRE of the tribe of |
those who were driven from the temple. |
1t is of such that it Is written: '"They |
robbed the helpless of their bread; they |
stole medicine from the sick"
Both Of the foregoing quotations have |
bearing in North Carolina now, when |
we see our asylums for the insane about |
to be made the prey of politicians; and |
they bring forcibly to memery the fact |
that the new trustees of the State Hos
pital at MorgantOn meet ON the 9th of
Aprit to take charge of that institution.
We are asked frequently if they will
displaee DIR. Murphy. Upon this paint
we have no information whatever. We
only know that they ought not to do 10,
and that they will not If they have at
heart the best interests of the State aud
the insane people of this district. 1t IS
interesting in this connection to recall
that the members Of the Association df
Southern Hospitals for the Insane visitet
the Hospital at Morganton last SeptenB
Der and unanimously voted the institul
ton the best managed in the South, and
one OF the best in the United States. Dra
Murphy has the unqualified endorse-l
ment of his brother physicians in neigh
boring States: DR.. T. O. Powell, super
intendent of the State asylum, Milledge-
vile, Ga; DIR. j. T.. Searcy, superin-
tendemt Bryce Hospital, Tuscaloosa, Ala;
DR.. W. f. Drewry,. Central Hospital,
Petersburg, VaE, and DIR. J. w. Babcock,
superintendent State Hospital, Columbia; /
s. c. l.
Medical men are not so swift in pay A:
ing conrpfimentSsto each other as to rush 4,
III and pronounce upon one of the frater- Il,
nifty sucf a tribute as that above with Vi
out there being the best of reason for it. /
1t is something for all North Carolina Il
tO be proud Of that an association of L
asylum superintendent, representing 1
every State III tlfe South comedies that
we haynatba hest lut IN a God n SWIM, IN, +lo 4