The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-11-15

THE CARE Oh THE INSANE.
Defects I'm the Present System aud
Their Proper Remedy.


The need of some provision for the care
of the acute insane while awaiting conn
mitment TO the asylum and for the chronic
insane, who are deharred from admission
TO the state institutions for their care, has
impressed DIR. J. r. Loushary, who has
had much experience TN that direction.
He explained the deficiencies of the pres
ent system and his Views as to the proper
remedy I'm an Interview with a Post-In-
teliigeneer representative. in which he said:
ut seems TO me that the time has come
when sane suitable provision should be
made whereby tho acute insane can be
properly cared for before they arc commit
ted 10 the insane asylum. As II Is now. II n
person loses his mind. as may happen on
the street or In lodging houss, theIe Is
no place tn send him except 10 the city or
county jail. IT he. shows evidence of bling
insane, complaint is made and ne is served
with a warrant by the sheriff and is then
placed behind the bars the same as
criminal until such a time as the court
can bear his case and examination Is made
ard he is legally committed. This may he
one. two or three days and nights. He
receives no special nursing. rule. UNI
I'll he is received into the state hospital
and Is treated more as criminal than a
sick man. There are cases where women
have had 10 lie IN the county jail where
there Is no matron. Such ireaimeat Is not
conducive 10 restoration OF the mental
faculties: on the contrary. tegds 10 az
srsvate the disease
I'm most other states these eases are
sent TO the emergency hospital and are
cared for as sick people until such a time
as Ii seems necessary to have them exam
med and properly committed In many
cases II they could he treated in an ener-
seacy hospital. their condition might he al
leviated and the necessity Of commitment
avoided, thus saving expense 10 the state
or county. The stigma of commitment al
ways follows a man through life. and ,hiA
should he avoided II possible do NOT
wish "a cast any reflection on the officers
of the law, or on The present system Of
hospitals for they so the best they can
under che circumstances Tho poius I
make Is that the law makes no provision
THE cases that are exempt from being
received into the state insane ASYLUM tf4-
der mrs Code are those o. iynheciIitv or
harmless. chronic mental unSouadneSs or
acute mania = potu II in the ouguF0s1 ~
the superintendent. after proper exsueius-
tan. ease comes under this heading he
can refuse IN receive Il. hGt rctv+n il N
ths county from which Il was sent
al the expense of that county. There be
Ing ~ state hospital FOR the care of such
cases ana no provision IN our county hos
pitfalls. they arc virtually without a home.
NotSa X nHt NJ proper s0d right 20
provide a ward in the county hospital for
such coses@ tn other states. each county
/ cares Tor us own chronic insane. ard when
+ cases become chroaic they are returned
. from she state hospital ~ the courtv. This
leaves more room IN che state hoSpsta1 .ar
acute c8snS. II the county hoSnira, had
+ a ward f0r the care OF the chronic Il
"1iSai also hr asc,i for the acute cases be-
1 fore commitment This eouia be doae
{ wt1l. very iittie extra expense IN the
part II the cowuty.
| Vt Pas been the prsetice under the fa~-
mer AIN, atsiFat.a0 for the state to take
! care ~ chfoutc eases az she state asylum.
| because theTN Was 20 ether place - send
them Bar row the appropriation, has bee,
( 50 cot do~n that i3s officials ara keeping
( c}oses 20 tss Heller % she law sns are r..
tgSins 20 take SUI eA~es and arp THROW
ing iaFssl on the mercy ~ ;hsfr friends
( who. 80 1asHT cases. are unable - saks
{ cara ~ them