Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-18

visiting the settlement Of Dun-sur-Auron.
1t is here that patients are sent from Paris
and Its environs. the expenses OF mainte-
nance being chargeable to the assistance
publiQue. Some eleven years ago DR.. Mai
RE, well-known specialist in mental cases,
recognized the overcrowding OF the Paris
asylums with harmless persons. who be-
came worse by their confinement. He re-
solved to take a new step. His first care
was to find healthy locality. convenient
for Paris, where his patients could enjoy
to the full the healing influences of sun and
afr. Such conditions presented themselves
at Dun. village picturesquely perched
upon a sharp ridge of hills. He set to work
to establish his colonie familiale, or sys-
tenn of boarding out patients. Naturally,
the most important matter was that the
houses into which he proposed to send his
cases should be perfect from a sanitary
point OF view. The peasant prOprietors
were very glad to have their houses thor
oughly oyerhauled under the doctors SUI
pervision as the new guests were con-
siderable source Of revenue to them. The
colony had small beginnings-twenty- five
women only. Today the number is 750 and
the peasants show an increasing willing
ness to take the patients into their houses.
From being private enterprise, 1t has
become a state matter. The settlement has
now central bureau, with a matron in
charge, who has caretakers and other ser
wants under her orders. There Is also an
infirmary with ward specially for old peo-
pie.
Inc RELATIONS between the SCdu
and the 'colonists' were delightful to wit
ness" said Miss Beadon, chatting of her
visit. MANY Of the women were sitting in
the sunshine on stone benches under the
trees around the beautiful old church, bus
lily knitting and talking. Others, whose
rooms we visited, were working in their
apartments, making various little objects,
which were afterward to be sold, to their
own advantage, to the shops in Paris. Most
thankful were these poor creatures for
their independence and the Illusion Of free
dom that is at least. given them by the
system under which they live. Frequent
baths, which We found installed on an ex-
celient plan, are part of the treatment.
Nowhere throughout the village did We
encounter any of those unpleasant sights
so often associated in the public mind with
mental flness-except at the infirmary. In
the case of any relapse likely to disturb
the colony the patient is Immediately sent
away to the nearest asylum. We were as
stirred that there had been some remark
able cures and that much more could be
done If means were at hand to develop DR..
Mairies ideas. The whole expense was
much less than the usual asylum charges
Fourteen miles off, on the same range
of hills, is colony for men. which has
been even more successful, we have been
assured.
Miss Beadon's suggestion is that the sys-
that the county Of Norfolk, In the neighbor-
mood of Cromer, would be admirably adapt
ed for such purpose. She recommends
however, the establishment of regular out
door settlements with huts for the patients
tn live In such as are already well known
In Germany and are at present being tried
in England in particular cases.