Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-21
FRENCH METHODS
IN .tgENThL CASES,
Eu.Iishyvontun's Observation
Concerning the Opcn-Air
Cure.

\ Paris special says: An English lady,
Miss I3caQoE. OF ~ Sh,h4a'eA Ca ett'
licensing con, much Interested IN ques'-V o
OF SOCIOLOGY, has recently oetn 4iani4ls
SOM. Investigations into ltle WorAlAS OF
the open-aIr cure for mental cases az
France. she tells me-, ln tle cot4N>i l So
lion ! have h3iI wllL her, tn3t 81" " d.
drawn toward this subject by the
thought that there are many unfortunate
persons in England conllneG IN hleidN-
choly lunatIc aSyIumS, Wnefe theN pe
come increasingly depressed, VINO couIu
be treated much better and at a dliii!h :
ished public charge in open-alr estapIisn-
mentS Miss Beadon was staying VIII
some LANDED proprletors IN liie De'a a. I. :,
rnent Of Cher. not far from Orleans, ana
took the opportunity OF visiting me SET
Element OF Dun-sur-Auron II IS mere
that patients are sent from fariS anu
its enVirons. the expense OF maintenance
being charg1abie TO the Assistance Pup-
liq,1e. Some eleven years ago Dr. Marie,
a Well-known specialist IN mental CdSeS,
recognized the oVercroWdiRG OF the rams ms
asylUms with harmless persons, who be
came worse by their confinement he
resolved to take a new step;
His first care was 10 find a healthy
locality, convenient Tor Paris, where ms
patients could enjoy 10 the full the heal
ing influences of sun and air. Such con-
ditons presented themselves At Dun a
village .picturesquely perched upon d
establish his Colonie tamlllaie, or sEs-
TEN OF boarding out patients. Naturally
the most important matter was mat tne
houses into which he proposed to send
ais cases should be perfect from a SAM
1ary point Of view. The peasant proprle-
tors were very glad to have their houses
thoroughly oSerhauled under the DOC
tors supervision, as the new guests were
considerable source Of revenue to them.
The colony had small beginning
twenty-five women only To-day the
number is $50, and the peasants show
an increasing Willingness 10 take the
patients into their houses. From being
a private enterprise, it has become a
State matter The settlement has now
charge, who has. caretakers and othe.
servants under her orders. There is
also an intirmary with ward specially
for old people.
The friendly relations between the
staff and the 'colonists We're delightful
TO witness" said Miss Beadon, chatting
II her visit. MANY OF the women We're
sitting in the sunshine on stone benches
church, busily knitting and talking.
others. whose rooms We visited, We're
working in their apartments making
various little objects. which We're after
ward to be sold, to their own advantage.
to the shops In Paris. Most thankful
we're these poor creatures for their indie
psndence and the. illusion of freedom
that is. at least. given them by the sys-
TEN under which they live. Frequent
baths. which we found installed on an
excellent plan are part of the treatment.
NOWfcrc throughout inc village Qlu
we encounter any of those unpleasant
sights so often associated in the public
mind with mental illness-except at the
infirmary. In the case of any relapse
likely to disturb the colony the patent
Is Immediately sent away 10 the nearest
ASYLUM. We were assured that th8r.
had been some remarkable cures. and
that much more could be done if means
We're at hand to develop DR.. Nairfe's
ideas. The whole expense was much
less than the usual asylum charges.
.'Fourtecn miles off on the same rance
of hills is a colony for men. which has
been evnn more successful. we have been
as~nred"
Miss fseadons SUGGESTION IS that The