Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1902-01-16

| The Charity Organization Society
of Baltimore has just published q
number of its quarterly paper, the
Charities Record" which is de-
voted 10 the subject Of the State care
of the feeble-minded and epileptic.
In an editorial which states that in
every part of she State of Maryland
there is felt to 90 she need for more
adequate provision Tor the feeble
minded and epilsptic. IL is urged
that q vigorous effort be made:
| ! To secure segregation in proper
asylums of the adult feeble-in-mind
who are plainly harmful 70 society.
2 To rouse public sentiment at
once to see that suitable care with
separation Of sexes, is given in all
almshouses.
3 To obtain adequate support for
the enlargement Of the Asylum and
Training Scntol for the Feeble Mind
ed OF the STATE of Mai yland, situated
at Owings Mills, Ba timore County.
The Secretary of tie State Lunacy
Commission, Dr. George ]. Preston,
says that excellent work is being
done at the State School, that the
location is IN ideal one, and the
buildings .ano equipment are ade-
quate as far NJ they go, but because
the State is not generous enough
to enlarge and properly equip this
plant, the leni:th Of the waiting list
is appalling ind constantly grows
larger. At present but 95 feeble.
minded children are being cared for
by the State in spite of the fact that
hundreds Of these unfortunates are
IN homes where they can receive no
training and are becoming menace
to the community at large, as well
as drag on the MEMBERS of their
own families.
Fromone Of the county almshouses,
where the provision for keeping
the sexes separate is very made
quate. the report comes of feeble
minded woman, who brings into the
world every year or TO an infant.
The state OF affsirs at tie almshouse
caused by this womin's conduct
is said 10 be simply fearful. Just
year ago the SIX year old daughter
OF this woman was committed 10 o
children's institution in Baltimore,
but being found TO be q hopeless
idiot, she was returned TO the coun-
ty by the institution. She could
not be placed in the State School
because of lack of room. From
Queen Anne, Cecil, Garret, Hartford,
Baltimore, Frederick, and other
counties comes the cry for some
institution in which to place their
feeble-minded and epileptic charges.
Many of these afflicted persons are
being shamefully abused, as for i'm
stance in the case Of colored child
OF Ii years in Harford County, who
is reported to be treated badly and
sadly neglected in every way by
his parents and to be seen frequently
without sufficient clothing for either
comfort or decency.
As DIR. Preston says the State of
Maryland is not doing its duty. Is
there any subject that should appeal
more strongly to the hearts Of well
thinking men and women than the
pitiable case of these unfortunate
children" ''Let us present this
subject to the members Of the Iegis-
lature and urge for the honor Of the
State and the cause of humanity
that something more and something
better be done for aaiicted children. |"
DIR. John s. Fulton, Secretary OF
the State Board Of Health adds his
testimony TO that OF others to empha-
size the fact that as State we are
Il neolao4ina 10 .oaa.a- Ca. these dos.~----
tlveS and that as a result OF 0ur neg
ligence and sbort-sightedness the
defective children are when grown
old enough 70 leave the family cir
Gle, usually advanced to the aims
house or the Jail. That the leaving
II "a s.nl~~~:1... a. E,va t&<.,r anl xvha~<
they please means that there viii be
q constant increase in the number
Of the defective, dependant and de-
linquent classes is urged by one Of
the great authorities in the care OF
the feeble-minded, Mr.. Alexander
Johnson, Superintendent of the In
diana State School for the Feeble
Minded. Taking the United States
as q whole, he claims that 20 per
cent OF imbeciles owe their affection
70 hereditary causes, but 30 per cent
to accident or disease. To care for
all now aud stop the increase would
mean that the strtamof which idiotic.
parentage Is the source would be
diminished by two-thirds OF its vol
ume in IS years. Can you sug-
gest" he says . more profitable
investment for the Safe than that"
, Let US see 10 IL that the State real
izes its duty and t'ias il does les part