The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1903-02-06
JASPER INDIANA. FRIDAY. FEBRUARY 6. 1903

In addition, thirty insane persons
are reported confined in jails Aug
ust 81, 1907. This is a disgraceful
thing. When further inquiry shows
that some of these persons have
been in confinement in Jail for long
periods OF time, We realize how
shameful our treatment Of them has
been. Few jails have any facilities
for caring for insane. One cannot
properly describe how uncomforta-
BILE and pitiable the condition Of the
Insane in Jail is. Some OF them in
their violence or destructive frenzy,
wreck the furniture and tear to shreds
their clothing. In a nude condi-
Ition thsy shiver through the period
Iof excitement, frequently, no doubt
suffering greatly.
l We are told by expert alienists
THAT the confinement of the acutely
insane in Jail is always harmful.
'lEven in the Police Station in Ind
Annapolis there is no provision fol
'linsane. The pitable condition oi
-lsome of those unfoItunates who
sIhave been confined there, awaiting
1.-The action of the commission OIL
transfer to the insane hospital, ha:
been commented upon by daily pa
jpers.
Ii is we'll known that the posi-
Ibility of cure in curable cases Of In
sanity is much greater if the pa
ltients are promptly treated wher
|they are affected. Experience
lproves if the patient can be treated
lin a month or two after the disease
lis discovered, that the chances fol
recovery are many times what they
are if treatment is postponed nine
lor twelve months. Therefore, un
|less we are prepared to treat th'
acute cases promptly, we are con
lsigning to chronic insanity those
who come too late, and there
|by are adding to the public burden
1t is the part both Of humanity anC
of economy to provide prompt treat
ment for every insane person.
The State has assumed the dut,
Iof caring for all its insane popula
|tion. 1t has never fulfilled the oh
Iigation it assumed. Our peopl
should see that faith is kept on be
half of these unfortunates who car
lnot care for themselves. We mus
lsee that this is done, for they can
mot. Counting the 290 who ar
AWAY on furlough, there are 954 in
|sane who are not in insane hospitals
Deducting l53, who have not bee
Iadjudged insane, leaves sol.
II is agreed by all that ther
should be no substantial enlarge
Iment of any of the existing insan
hospitals. In fact the Central
large enough to be divided. Thre
propositions have been made fc
earring for the insane. One Of thes
provides for the erection of me-
insane hospital another for the e.
Establishment of colonies for the abl
coded, harmless, chronic insan,
near by and under the managemer
of existing insane hospitals; tn
third, for the establishment of
village for epileptics, to which ther
may be removed from the insan
hospitals certain classes Of epilepti
persons. This would not only pre-
vide for them in an institution b
themselves, but at the same tim
everyone removed from an insan
hospital will leave bed which ca
be occupied by one Of the insan
: who can notnow be cared for. Thus
by the construction of this institl
|tion, two classes, the epileptics an
!, = the insane, would both be provide
= for at one expense. Report Of Stat
! ! Board of Charities