The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1899-01-13

pTPSeuG uuTedSOuoDioC CuoloLi VI W.
hitting the hospital to be filed with |
a class of inmates who can be prop
erly cared for without aid from the
State, nor should justice and wise
economy longer tolerate the growing
burden Of expense that this inexcusa.
bic crowding of the hospital with in
eligible patients entails upon our
people.
By Act of the General Assembly,
patients arc committed to tho Hos
pital for the Insane by the Judges
of Probate, upon physicinns' cortiti
Gates. It is too evident that this
is done in many cases after hurried,
perfunctory, aud unsatisfactory ex-
animation of PATIENTS; and it is to he
feared that not infrequently those
charged with this duty to the State
are influenced by their personal feel
ings for the afflicted persons and by
their regard for the wishes Of thoso
who are seeking to rid themselves Of
q burden. This abuse should be, as
for as possible, done away with, by
so amending the present law govern
ing the admission of patients as to
prevent incligible applicants from
being foisted upon tho States
charity.
Frequently, commitments are made
to rid community of some harm
less nuisance, sometimes to provide
poor unfortunatcs with a home, not
infrcquently to please indifferent
kinsfolk, who seek to lay upon the
State the charge and care Of helpless
imbeciles. whom every consideration
of humanity and decor cy should
urge them to foster and guard il
their own homes. 1t has even hap
pened that idiots and imbccilcs whom
the hospital authorities sought tc
discharge nave been forced bncl
upon them, because Of quibbles ano
doubts raised against the right O
these authorities to discharge then
and thus rid the hospital from un
necessary encumbranccs.
About 05 per cent of the inmates
are Iwhat is callcd) "bcncfciaries,
tho cost of tho treatment and main
tenance of this class being borne b,
the State. Now, tho law declares
that no one for whose support r"la
tives arc able to pay shall be main
tanned as Il tax upon other citizen.
Of tho State. 1t is plain, then, tha
no one but "dependent insane l,er
son." as detines@1. Il. si'y oar laws, has an,
II iffa'nTto be admitted to tho hospita
rs a beneficiary patient; nor has an
person whose case does not come IN
der the head of insanity as define
by these laws any right to be ther
at all. This also leads to an abus
that demands instant and stringen
correction.
Unless the General Assembly sha
at once take measures to purge tn
hospital Of idiots, imbecilrs, an
harmless patients who should be i
the poor houses, and unless the
shall also correct tho abuse Of tb
States charity by persons now tai
ing advantage Of tho loose admin,
tration of the laws governing the nc
mission Of patients to tho hospital,
will immediately become neccssur
te make further provision in tho wa
of accommodations and appliance
and nurses and physicians for TIL
increasing number of patients no
crowding to the hospital. If, how
evor, you will, by stringent ennc
ments, prevent the further comni
ment Of persons not entitled to trea
ment in tho hospital, and will ord,
the discharge of those now thol
who arc nut legally entitled to tn
aid, the present buildings and for,
Will afford accommodation and a
tention for some years to come fI
all who should be received into II
institution.
JUVENILE REFORMATORY.
At tho last session of tho Gener
Assembly, resolution was passe
authorizing tho Governor to appoi1
commission, composed Of five men
barc to ipynet iroto oDl ,n,>osl x