New-York tribune., 1901-10-12
TO HELP THE INSANE.
GUILD TO BE INCORPORATED TO ASSIST
MENTALLY UNBALANCED PERSONS,
ESPECIALLY AMONG THE POOR.

Formal action on the subject of incorporation
will be taken 81 the meeting Of the Guild for the
BENEFIT OF The Insane which will be held tonight
at the home Of the president, Miss B. a. Rosen-
field No 224 West Forty-eighth-st.
The guild was formed year ago and its mem
bership is increasing so rapidly that the officers
have thought il better 10 incorporate the assoca-
ton. which is composed Of men and women whose
sympathies are with the insane.
The object Of the guild is help the insane poor
ay aiding them TO proper treatment, ard to assist
she insane rich by improving the methods now
employed in hospitals. both public and private.
Miss Rosenfeld who originated the society, is a
student OF medicine. and is making special study
Of nervous and mental pathology. She has inter
ested several wei known physicians in the guild,
and has received promises of assistance from them
n cases Of need.
Miss Rosenfeld said yesterday TO a Tribune re-
porter: The guild hopes ultimately to establish
hospital for the treatment of insanity which shall
be conducted in some respects on plan wholly
different from any Yet tried. The insane shall be
surrounded oy the and not by those similarly
unbalanced, whose presence only intensifies their
mental disorder. I have acquaintance, a woman
Of culture and great refinement. who is mentally
unbalanced. but in my opinion is entirely durable
Under proper conditions. That woman eats at a
table with thirty other patients. who would drive
q sane man into lunacy in three months. The
guild intends 10 put that woman in healthful sur
roundings whore she viii receive skilful medical
Treatment Her family cannot afford the expense,
and it IS for just such cases that We have com
bned our forces
We intend to issue quarterly magazine for
distribution among the public, that the laity
may become better Informed on the subject of In
sanity. learning something OF its different forms.
the different modes Of treatment demanded and
such general knowledge may help TO wiser
public sentiment. We propose, also. TO try TO in
huence legislation regarding the conduct Of hospi-
tals for the insane. IN the matter of CORE
fondence. for instance, there is great necessity
SeIee thdl tfe fewer the restrictions the better IN
Dealing with the mentally unbalanced. yet there
IS harcly hospital I'm the country where the let
ttis NdtieIS. sent ana received, are not reao
ana. II thought desirable, destroyed. The kpOwk
edge that such is the case is a constant irritan'
10 the or woman whose mental disorder is
largely a matter OF nerve weakness and may ac
tualy prevent restoration of balance The mere
iact OF beng able 70 express ones self fully ant
uhtestralnediy 10 friend often SOOthes the mlnC
a. LOHlhg e-se can, and the helpless patient IN
nospital should not be debarred from the privilege
-Nen u IL we complaint IL would not in)ure th'
iilosptai tlat Is properly conducted and can beal
All the trouble is with the insane poor. a.
many rich patients suffer needless and irritating
RESTRICTIONS and lose the chance of restoration be
Sause they are not properly treated. ] have posi-
I've Kho"ledEe that member OF a rich family o
thIs city, who Is in private hospital some dis
talice, IS ued her bed night after night withou
any real necessity. I should like say her sis
cnSrlty; Spend less money your sisters clothe
cover
1T is for work among the poor, however, con
uheea Miss RQsenfed, that We want TO interes
be5ple- J. ne insane helpless and so neg
3ected The city and State try to care for them
put those great Official charities must necessarily
.eeNt tnlch undOne. and they need TO be supple
"he.tea oy private benevolence"
after the business meeting tonight there will b
al entertainment by Miss ZeVelia Prentice, reader
anu MISS Minnie Mccormick, singer.