The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1897-05-15
EXPERTS IN INSANITY.
AMERICAN MEDIC0 PSYCHOLOGY
CAL ASSOCIATION MEETS
IN BALTIMORE.
Dr.. c. M. Ellis, of Cecil PresideS, and
Governor LOwndeS Delivers an
Address of Welcome.

The jifty-third annual meeting of the
American Medico Psychological Association
composed of experts in the care and treat
ment of the insane, gathered from many in
stitutions in this country and Canada began
in Baltimore on Tuesday.
The distinguished alienists were welcomed
by Governor Lowndes and DR.. Chas. NJ. Ellis
of Elkton. President OF the Medical and
Chirurgical Faculty of Maryland.
Governor Lowndes. in welcoming the asso-
citation, recalled the fact that Maryland was
third in the establishment of asylums for the
insane. in 1894 a movement was started to
organize Il general hospital, and in 1897 what
is now known us the Maryland State Hos
pital was opened on Broadway. In that
building in 1896, the Medico-Psychologica
Association held its first gathering in Balt-
more.
The Governor credited Miss Dorothea l..
DiX,with securing from the Maryland Legis-
lature. in 1852, an appropriation for the cree
tion of the present building of the Maryland
Hospital.
Dr. Charles NJ. Ellis. who was elected pres
at its recent meeting, expressed his pleasure
that the first function Of his Office was to give
the association hearty welcome He told
the delegates that the home the faculty
was theirs to do with as they liked Continu-
ing, he said
"Your coming to Baltimore at this time is
oppOrtune. for this is with us an era of re-
newed interest in the general welfare of our
insane. Much is being done, but unfortun-
atey much remains to be done Our amshouses
and jaiIs are still tenanted by the idotlc and
distraught, and the county asylums perpetu-
ate their denominations without even justify
ing the poor excuse for their existence in les
senrd cost. Some effort is being made to
awaken the conscience of the State to its fur
ther duty toward those of the insane who are
deprived OF the opportunity for betterment in
wards OF welL-equippcd hospitals. Our ulti-
mate aim is the aim OF all alenists and phil
anthropists the world over-State care OF the
insane. Every insane man, woman or child,
whatever their social condition, should. un-
der II humane and enlightened government,
be entitled to IL certain minimum provision
within the confines of hospitals or asylums
sustained 10y the State for their cure or for
their care"
DR.. Ellis remarked that he thought that
some impression should lie made on the pub
lie mind to the truth that private care of the
insane breeds poverty He had seen many
instances where many families had become
impoverished by the expense of sustaining
insane members. MY long acquaintance
with almshouse ife," he continued, illus
trates this fact from another point of view
great number of the idiotic and incurable
insane of the county almshouses are descen-
dants, one, two or three generations removed
of well-to-do ard influential parentage, who
are now, with their progeny, either extinct or
pauperzed when they are not mental imbe
Giles"
Dr. Theophilus o. Powell, president of the
association made a happy response to the
greetings of welcome bestowed upon the
association. 'We are glad,'' he said, "to be
where Peabody and Pratt, men from the
North have left their monuments, and where
lived those noble benefactors of the insane.
Moses Sheppard and Enoch Pratt We are
glad to be in city where fair women, long
famed for peerless beauty, have won higher
honors for the boundlessness of their chari-
ties"
short recess was taken. at the conclusion
of which DIR. Powell delivered the presiden-
tial address. Its subject was "Sketch of
Psychiatry in the South"