The evening times., 1899-02-10
p a. m. 10 5 p. m.-Sundays ? to 5.
623 Thirteenth St. N. w.

acute cases and all cases requiring me-
chanical restraint 10 the State institutions.
1t is to be hoped that in the future
there will be a separate building for the
criminal insane. since il is manifestly i'm
proper to allow this class to mingle with
ncn-criminal class. Attention must be
called TO the fact that there is practically
no provision made for epiieptics. Sooner
or later we will be compelled to establish
an epileptic colony on plans similar to
these now in operation in other States.
This epileptic class is a peculiarly unfor-
I lunate one, since many of these persons
have at times full possession of their fac
: uities, and consequently should not be
forced to associate with the insane The
nature OF their malady dcbars them from
most forms of employment. and, becom-
/ ing charge on the community they are
sent either to almshous6s or asylums for
the insane. The plan proposed in the colo
ny Is 10 make the foundation largely self
supporting after few years. II is hoped
that the attention of our philanthropic
citizens may be turned toward this most
important subject.
1T is 10 be noted that the laws re tat
ing 10 the insane stand in most urgent
need of thorough revision. Many of these
laws date back TO the early part of the
century, and while still on the statute
books have for many years been practi-
caliy disregarded. The sections which pre-
sent the most glaring defects are those
relating to the pauper insane idiots. com
mitmsnt and discharge and transfer."
Proud of Springfield.
Probably in no asylum in the world is
the theory OF non-Testraint so consi ,tently
carried out as at Springfield. The doors
are 80 constructed that they open from
the inside but not from the outside. and
the windows are without bars. The pa
tients are treated exactly as If they were
inmates Of general hospital met zad of
an insane asylum. II is most gratifying
10 note the change in behavior in patients
who have come from asylumS where the
treatment has been accord: Ing TO the o
asylum methods. The method at this in
stitution has demonstrated the fact that
IL an insane person is treated as a human
being he will soon recognize this fact and
behave as a human being.
The large farm affords ample occupa-
ton for the patients. and an exceptionally
large proportion OF them are regularly en-
pIoyed.
II is not TO be wondered at that the
general health Of the inmates is far above
the usual asylum average
A group of buildings similar to the ones
now in use and intended for females will
, NJ
this group is completed the capacity of the
hospital will be between four and I'VE hun
dred.
This magnificent plant might be ex
panded so as TO meet ali the needs of the
State in providing for its chronic INDECENT
insane
The State may justly feel proud of
Springfield, since il is doubtful if in point
of efficiency, it is surpassed by any smi-
lar institution in this
try.
Hay View Asylum.
During the year 127 male patients were
to Springfield.
Perhaps the most important change that
has been made in Bay View during the
past few years is the introduction of
trained nurses. The difference in comfort
to the patient between the unframed
nurses, many of whom were formerly talk
en- from the almshouse department, and
the present excellent nursing staff is SIM
ply incalculable. Owing to the limited
acreage of the farm, and to the absence of
workshops, little employment is afforded
the inmates. When the State hospitals for
the insane have sufficient accommodations
for all the INDECENT insane In the State the
new building at Bay View would make an
excellent detention hospital for acute cases
pending an investigation into their mental
condition.
Anne Arundel AImshouse
This almshouse has most picturesque
location on the South River, about six
miles from Annapolis. The house in which
the superintendent lives and where the
white patients are kept is a very sub
stantial mansion dating back moro than a
century. Partitions have been drawn
across the large rooms, dividing them into
smaller apartments. This part OF the in
stitution Is clean and comfortable. and
is reasonably well adapted for the purpose
for which 1t Is used. There is wooden
building short distance away, which is
set apart for colored patients. The rooms
in this cottage were antidy and not par
tfcularly clean. The rooms ON one side
Of the building are occupied by male and
on the other by female patients, and the
superintendent very frankly said that j!
was utterly impossible under these condi-