The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-10-14
PUBLIC CHARITIES.
Need of More, Attention to the
Insane.
Corporal Punishment Of Conycts Should b
Regulate d"--MeckIenburg Sup ryisor
indicted.


The Board of Public Charities met in
regular session in the Senate Chamber
last week and there was present Dr.
Charles Duffy, chairman, and Commits
siouers w. F. Craig and Ed l.. Haughton.
The secretary's report for the quarter
ending October list, was read and adopted.
The homes and jais were reported rs
improved. Scotland county has completed
her Home, Arson is levying tax for a
new one: Pitt has added a chapel and
Rockingham an insane asylum. The lat
ter is brick building of six rooms, plast-
cred, heated by registers with grating over
the windows. The Rockingham County
Board of Visitors says: Frequently tine
insane have to be confined In our JAIL but
there will be no occasion now for such
a thing"
The ladies have responded promptly and
gladly to the call for voluntary service.
The County Boards of Visitors and the
Ladies Auxiliary will be influential factors
in improving the condition of the county
institutions BERTHE and Bladen have
erected new jails, those of Carteret Ons-
low and Wayne have been materially i'm
proved
The reports from the county convict
camps commend the life in the open air
with labor as being more healthful than
the idle confinement in jail. Several
camps have been reported as infictlng
corporal punishment. If this is legal and
It is questionable, this punishment should
be administered only according to strict
rules and regulations. The County Board
Of Visitors hes been investigating a east
in Mecklenburg. This has been comment
ed upon in the daily press. The super
visor has been presented by the Grand
Jury for assault and will be tried at the
next criminal court.
The report Of the secretary contains
the following in regard to the insane:
"The question Of increased accommoda-
tiOns for the insane must be again placed
before the public There is much unrest
among the county people at being forced
to maintain what are virtually county asy
lums without the expert care or treat
ment to which this afflicted class has a
sacred right. Unable to demand proper
care for themselves, they langush in
County Homes and fails and become
chronic cases through the delay necessary
TO gain admission to State Hospitals
which are already choked and burdened
with incurables
Discussing the increase of insanity, Dr.
Jas. L. Green. superintendent OF the Ne
braska Hospital, says: "There can be no
question bat that the increase in Ireland
and the Older settled States of the United
States is, real" Insanity is considered
far less durable than was supposed thirty
years ago." says another authority.
The prevention of crime and disease is
occupying students of sociological prob
lens and such students and alienists al
wise the systematic study OF insanity in
its incpient stages so that it may be
readily recognized and the patient treated
tefore the disease reaches full develop
ment. The percentage of recovery is fer
greater when given hospital treatment
at an early stage. In view of this fact
and that the asylums are full, that each
county has its quota of insane and the
light of many private fresides is darkened
by this saddest of Affections. it was
thought advisable to attempt census OF
the insane and detectives. for the infor-
nation of the next General Assembly
and the people preliminary to asking for
a discussion Of this question and a change
for the better
Circulars covering the information
sought and letters of explanation have
been mailed each Board of County Com
missioners a sufficient number for each
township Section 1889 volume 2, chapter
4. of the Code. makes it obligatory upon
County Commissioners to procure such
information for the Board of Public
Charities whenever they forward care
fully arranged circulars indicating the IN
formation desired
1t was the opinion of the Board that
there should be a separation of the I'M
curabe insane and the acute cases. As
class they need supervision and restraint,
but do not need the same amount or kind
of treatment as the acute class. Build
! ings on the colony plan with facilities for
outdoor occupations will reduce the pres
ent per capita of the chronic and harm
! less and leave the State hospitals for the
treatment of the acute cases. This would
give them the opportunity to be treated
in the first stages and would greatly IN
crease the percentage of cures.
The Goldsboro Asylum was inspected by
DR.. Charles Duffy and reported satisfac
tory. He advises an addition to that IN
stitution by which tuberculous patients
may be isolated.
! The ColoIed Deaf, Dumb and Blind in
| stitution was inspected by the Board and
| found satisfactory The Board after dis
cussion of the general work, adjourned
TO meet on the 1st Tuesday in January.
.71,1 AIr,Ir TuTTRSTON IN "POIJY