New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-22
THE EVENING SESSION.
COWIEs TALK on PROFESSIONAL WORK
IN HOSPITALS FOR THE INSANE.

Owing to the fac; that the mombers @: TO con-
ference numbering about three hundred. who Wis
tied the Catholic TTotectory. Gi not return AZ the
time at which they were expected. there was only
q moderately large audience present AT the even
ing meeting. This was held In Association Han.
and was n general session q TIE conference. NJ
which the subject Of in-anty was discussed VIII
lam G. Stearns. superintendent - the Illinois
Eastern Ho-pital the chairman Of the Committee
on Insanity OF the Conference, presided ana read
the committees report.
Tho report did not deal with tho suuject as
whole but with ce.tain important phases Of i.
II declared that ono Of tho Grief influences tina;
initiate against satisfactory tree inent OF the IN
sane In tn. early stages % the afiicuon We 'he
popular prejudice against insane asyiums. These
were Identified IN the popular mind with da-k cells
and many other horrors and IN consequence ihe
friends and relatives Of the insane sent them 10 the
hospitals for treatment only after other M ans
had failed People were lELo:aut 81 the modern
methods OF treating The insane. and i was reces-
cary by all means 10 dispo. the popular deirs'ons
on ne subject Tae report also spoke OF the
necessity for private ofsan!zed EFFORT 10 lrofidc
Institutions for POOR people Who had eeen dis
charged cured. whore they could be s"li-sdppof-
ing and az the same time euurlcd against a re-
.lpse
Dr Edward Co~ies. medical suporin;endcnt Of
the Mclean Hospital. Waycriey. Mas spoke on
Advanced Professional Work IL Hospitals for the
Insane" In the course OF an able address he saln
that the idea that insanity was a disease was
peculiar 20 the end Of This century. Tie insane In
hospitals had never been 80 Nell or completely
cared for as at the present time. Dr. Cowiea then
went on 10 consider the subje~ un-er three heAd'.
the conditions Of doing prof ssiona WORK. the KIND
Of work that should be zone and The providing ~
properly qualified physioiana.
DISCUSSED By DR.. WISE.
The discussion Or. Cowess paper Wa opened
by Or Pcter II. WISE president OF TIE New-hork
state Commission H. Lunacy. In the course 81 MS
address Or. wise said:
The purpose for which our hospitals ase ptht
maintained and managed - in,a',a. I Pr
pose. ne development Of the i1ea that 4hsahliJ
is a disease. and 0i the professional worn o! t''@t
10 Its humanitarian progress. ihe nfst essential
step IN THIS progress l. 70 ptoSee 5ua." nc ba.'
efforts OF pnilanthrople persons tAc "lsuoin , VI
legislators, the knowledge OF i"e medlca. profess
Nevertheless It II safe TO say that never before
have the insane been 50 well cared fo9 az az pres
cnt The discussion OF this SUBJECT presents tuIev
general considerations: FIRST. TIE condlt'ons Tor
DONG the professional worh second. me E.nd OF
work that should be done. third, the providing Oh
properly quaiined physicians 70 do IL ..,
nc organization OF the hospital must be system
attic and busness-like !, has rs pee Iliar require
ments as a medical business, because a. every
20 tns,irufion-to servo the Interests OF The sick
inc conmon-sense principle of management Is that
who are best acquainted with It's requirements
Inc former ccnocrton Oh n,eH,ai dnyre fssn
Of disease some special iofW Oh s,sn,ic
work in the study OF insanity meant chiefly post
moriem Investigations, ia the expectation VI hhd-
form OF mental disease. The hospitals FOR the in
sane are not behind the general nos pitals IN TINS
essential every general hospital OF Importance
was quite unknown ,.,a
study Of disease, due to the marvellous progress
in medicine that the present generation Is Wit
Messing SERVICE IN THE HOSPITAL
The practical question arises. Can there be found
enough young melica! men. interested IN such
work. who will seek such appointments at small
salaries? 1t Is only necessary that service IN
such IL hospital shall be made TO have an educa-
lonal Value It should be like general hospital In
his regard when scientific department Ia IS
s@nDnIIs as II ought 70 DO The opportunity for the
practice OF laboratory methods in atudyinG the
ppatRo.osy. then il is profitable for the young
graduate in medicine 10 spend year in such WORK ,
before entering upon genera! practice, cspeciaiy
as all cannot find opportunities In general hos
pitals The instruction received becomes the larger
Not only should all uncertainty be removed In
me- deal men. but their compensation should be
adequate 10 secure the services Of those whose
cess which their due In otner walks OF their pro-
fession. The state or Now-Io has set a notable
the magnitude Of our sreat hospitals, requiring
administrative capgcliy and Professional '' an.
be considered having relation T. ine volume OF
the business No investment pIinss Deter returns
The prime requisites now are interest IN me wOik
and It's material support The best evidence OF the
oenuncness OF the methods Is that tney create
nj once the professional interest, ana often the
enthusiastic zeal which give the assurance Of
future accomplishment In the work. What Is
wanWd now IS the hearty cooperation OF right
minded men with the aiienists who have the special
profe ssional work to 90:
A general discussion followed the reading OF DR.
Misses PAPER Zach speaker was limited 10 five
minutes The debate was opened by DR.. Richard
Dewey. OF Milwaukee. Tne scientific world. he
cases TO which the Drain and the nervous system
are subject came mostly TO those who had some
Inherent deficiency lack OF stability 10 contend
with In other words. the largest number Of cases
OF insanity came TO persons who were. predisposed
TO the affection. -. .,.,, :,
conc OF the most general causes OF insanity, he
rama rived proceeds from overwork or mental Ia
tigue and Il is singular thing that those who are
npt exercise proper prudence in this direction
TO CARE FOR THE RECOVERED.
Dr. Dewey urged the necessity OF creating insu-
buttons 10 care for insane patients AFTER their ~