The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-01-29
ALL INSANE TREATED I RI E
WHY INEBRIATES WE'RE AD-
MITTED TO THE MORGAN
TON HOSPITAL.
-FOUR IMPORTANT CHANGES PROPOSED
The cbjeciiors 10 them Answered by DR.. Muir
ply. The O her bectons nave been
Charged by Amendments
Argued Upon.

One OF the most important bills pend
ing in the General Assembly is the bin
codifying the laws relating to insane
asyluns, with certain amendments AL
fusion was made in these columns yester-
day to two of the changes. One of them
was as to the admission IF patients. 1ne
present law, section 2,27S of the Code,
provides:
In the admission of patients to any
insane asylums, priority of admission
shall be given to the INDECENT insane:
Provided, taht the boards of direc-
tors may regulate admissions, having i'll
view the durability of patients and the
welfare of the institution; Provided
further, that said boards may, IF
THERE BE SUFFICIENT ROOM,
admit other than INDECENT insane per-
sons upon payment OF proper compen-
sation."
The pending bin, prepared by direction
Of the hospital officers by Mr.. James
I'll. Pou, changes the section and makes
it read thus:
Every insane person who is a citizen
and resident of this State, according to
the definition heretofore contained in
into and treatment in one of the State
Hospitals. without charge, unless private
apartments, or extras, or private nurses
are required. When these are required,
the directors, if practicable to do so,
may contract to furnish them at a fair
price. In the admission of patients to
any hospital, priority of admission shall
be given to the INDECENT insane: Pro-
vided that the board of directors Ray
regulate admissions, having in view the
durability of patients, and the welfare
of their institution"
Speaking of the change DR.. Murphy
says:
in the proposed bill it is not believed
any hardship will come to the INDECENT
insane. certainly no more than has ever
been. 1t is clearly stated priority of
admission must be given the INDECENT.
The only difference between the present
law and that proposed is that all citizens
OF the State shall be treated free of
charge As a matter of fact there are
very few families in North Carolina able
to keep member in a private institu-
ton. for the rates are high; in fact pro-
hibitory. The few who are able send
ont Of the State anyway"
There has been very serious objection
offered to the bill permitting the super
ntendent Of an asylum to send to the
criminal department any person whose
insanity has assumed homicidal ma
MAJ and it is proposed now TO strike out
that provision. Speaking of the criminal
insane department, and the need of it
Dr. Murphy says:
THE hospital men of the State have
coll LODI
criminal insane in any part of the peni-
tertiary, but it was the very best that
could be devised in North Carolina at
present. One wing Of the prison has
never been used for any purpose and
was lying idle: many insane who had
never committed any crime were in Jail,
and if placing these persons i'll these
quarters Objectionable only by reason
Of the fact that it was intended for
convicts and its proximity to the prison.
would thus relieve many suffering people
If was thought to be wise to do so. All
civilized countries are now as fast as
possjble separating this class from the
innocent and have found it to be bene-
ficial to both classes. There is great
danger TO the other inmates when they
arc kept together, to say nothing of the
danger of burning the hospital itself. A
suDarintendent in Texas was killed by
one within the last five years and the
surerinrendent of the Georgia Hospital
was shot by one within year. The
ASYLUM in Mississippi was burned by
one and the hospital at Morganton has
Eeen fred twice by two. That these
neoplc should have the same kind care
that all the insane have there can be
no two opinions, but their quarters should