Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-10-13
The State Asylum.

inc reports of the trustees and super
lntcndent of the Vermont asylum for in
sane for the term ending juno 30, 1895,
are of unusual interest. The trustees re-
port shows that in spite of continual en-
largcmcnts, an annex for convalcsccnts
and a farm having been added last year,
the influx of patients keeps the asylum
overcrc wdcd. 1t was built to accommo-
date 40 patients. For the past two years
the number of patients has averaged
about five hundred. As gagged by the
number of State patients at Waterbury
and Brattleboro, insanity is increasing
among our population. There are seven
hundred insane persons supported by the
state in the two asylums-an increase of
over two hundred, which is 40 per cent,
in the past eight years. 1t IL, however
not necessary to believe that insanity Is
increasing as such fearful! rate in YER
mont as these figures seem to indicate.
The towns, as the trustees say, have
found how easy 1t is to turn these men,
tally defective wards over to the State
to be cared for; and insane persons pre-
viously cared for in their homes or the
homes of friends, are in increasing num-
bers sent to the asylum. The trustees
believe that State supervision of the feeble
minded would diminish the number of the
insane.
They note great reforms in the man
agcment Of the institution under its pres
cnt superintendent, and they commend
him in high terms.
DIR. Frank w. PAGE entered on his dut-
les as superintendent in January, 1897.
The asylum was under sad cloud at the
time. 1neXpericncc, excessive economy,
and want of executive capacity in its
management had resulted in serious scan
dals and resort to courts of justice for
remedy. The State was dissraced by the
institution on which it was cxpendinS
more money than on any other, and
which the people wanted and expected to
be a model of its kind. Dr. Page has
worked wonders in the way of i'm
provement. The physical changes have
been great The ventilating, heat
ing, lighting, and cooking APP
paratus has been vastly improved
Cold storage has been added An adjoin-
ing cottage, previously a private resi-
dence. has been turned into a convenient
and comfortable home for the quieter pa.
TENTS. Safeguards against fire have beer
added. The bedding has been improved
The wards and halls have been freshened
with paint and made more wholesome
and many convenences have been added
ct u.
internal management has been reformed
The coarse and careless attendants have
been replaced by earnest, gentle and skill
full persons. Mechanical restraint has
been practically done away, and the re,
suits in improved Une of the establish
ment, increased comfort and contentmcnt
of the patients, and higher rate of recov
cries of mental health, have been mark
ed The asylum has ceased to be poor
house. and Is now n true hospital for tn,
insane. DR.. Page is a man Of progress
and these improvements are but the ear
nest OF others to come, lie Is evidently
also an efficient manager from n financia
point of view. In spite Of the very extern
sive and expensive repairs and additions
which have been made. the cost OF tn,
concern has been increased by the amour
of only twenty-one cents per week PEE
| patient. The cost, per capita, has beer
49, "a per week for the biennial period, anC
into the expense has gone an item of owe
/ sl1, 900 shrnkage in the inventory OF stool
on hand--as reported in July, 1896. and a
found when the new superintendent tool
| hold n, npnary 1897
1t appears from the report that six per
sons have been discharged from the asy
lum in two years as mot insane" and W,
heartily endorse DR., Pages recommended
ton that the statute be revised 30 as t,
make the outrage of committing a san
person to the insane asylum, absolutel,
impossible.
We commend DR.. Pages report. and es
pecially his statement of the presen
needs of the institution to tho earnest an,
favorable attention Of our legislators.
Tables of statistics and rules and regu
lations in force, arc appended to the re
port, and u few rather dim and misty pho
photographic Views of the buildings an
wards. illustrate the pamphlet,