The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-12-22
The Legislative Action.

10 the EultOr OF ne ToSt.
Granbury, Texas, December 19.--As II
seems to be propitious time to offer sug-
gestions to our coming legislature, the fol-
lowing is submitted:
The manner of sending people to our in
sans asylums il not as it should be. nor
do | believe it is up to the standard that
our intelligent civilization could place 1t.
The present Plan is TO report case that
some one thinks Is of unsound mind and
of such nature as needing restraint. The
county judge impanels jury and few
witnesses are examined ami the jury re-
turn verdict Judging the party of UNI
sound mind and the party, or sometimes
when perhaps all that was needed was an
intelligent physician to treat him or her
scientifically for while.
Now, | suggest that the legislature
change the law little and make prov son
for erecting or turn one OF tho asylums We
already have into what | would term a
detention hospital, with board of three
or more expert scientific physicians In
charge, aud instead of jury adjuding the
person insane, let them only 60 so far as
to Judge whether or not the person should
be sent to this detentiou hospital. where
proper treatment can be Instituted, and If
necessary after thirty or ninety days let
this boarA of experts be required TO sly
whether the party IL insane or not. If they
Judge him insane let them send him 10 the
asylum, or If he can be cured, cure him
and send him home without the stigma on
his character and that OF his posterity or
an insane asylum.
think these experts would be much
better after proper time TO cons der aed
treat the case to say whether the party
was insane or not, besides many thus
properly treated would be cured that are
not now nor can they be treated properly
often unless they become vloleat.
With the present method little pref
udice and Misunderstanding of case
much and lasting harm may be done. for
many times jury have not sufficient facts
before them, but must make up their minds
and decide u case on the ground solely
from the STANDPOINT OF whether the pa
tiert Is violent or not
There are many cases due to family or
domestic troubles connected with debility,
producing melancholla, that could be cured
quietly, and If it was not for the stigma
on their characters would be soon re
turned to their homes happy Whereas al
present the party is apt 10 brood over the
fact of having been in an asylum, and the
chances are that this VIII affect his con
duet more or less the rest Of his life. Be-
sides there IS the question OF responsibility
that comes up so often in our courts with
those with who have been inmates OF our
asylums.
| believe that when person has been
adjudged insane before he is again turned
loose on the public he should, by the same
authority, whether 1t be judge, jury or
board OF expert physicians, be judged and
declared sane or cured and held accounts
able for his acts accordingly
Few juriea have the knowledge and
training to qualify them for understanding
the different causes of insanity in its in
ciplencN hence ara scarcely qualified to
apply such knowledge to each Gaze like a
board of experts would. Many cases OF
simply could be saved much
ana Inconvenience, for this board
would be acquainted with all such in
fuences, as heredity trauma, anteinfec.lon.
the acute and infectious dis
easer, etc. fully we'll know there will
arise difficulties. hut they can be over
come.
Almost every reader VIII recall cases
where much inju7tice has been done. Also
Will receive advantages by having detep-
ton hospital or something ON that order
and let all cases fret pass through this
channel. Respectfully,
E. L. Menefee. NJ. D.