The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-12
CARE OF THE EPILEPTICS
INSTITUTION NEEDED IN INDIANA
FOR SUCH DEPENDENTS.
Board of State Charities Report Gives
Reasons why They Should Be
Cared fOr-Statisties.

The forthcoming report Of the Board Of
State Charities will contain an interesting
chapter regarding the epileptics OF the
State and the provisions that should be
made for their care. The board gives
reasons for the necessity of making pro-
visions for the care of such dependents.
The report says:
who are more to be pitied than the cpl
leptics? No matter what their abilities,
they are unwelcome everywhere. Except
when under the influence of their strange
malady, many OF them are rational. At
home they are a blight upon its life. They
are denied school advantage are unwei-
come in church or other public assemblages
and have few social pleasures. They can
not retain employment in store or office.
Work about machinery or trains or at an
elevation is impossible because of it's dam
ger. No matter how great the need OF the
unfortunate one, how important his edu-
cation, how necessary his care. no one
wants him.
kind friends frequently care for the cpl
leptics until strength or means fail, then
they must become public burden. Where
can they go2 Many of them eventually go
to insane hospitals, others TO poor asylums
and jails. "A number of epileptic children
minded Youth at Fort Wayne. 1t is i'm
proper 10 put them in insane hospitals.
This is not only unjust TO the epileptics,
but the effect OF their spasms upon the in
Sane-thOSe who are receiving treatment
for mental or nervous illneSS-is bad In
the poor asylums many of them do not
receive proper care. 1t is great wrong TO
confine them in jail. One has been confined
In the Benton county Jail four years, and
another in the Upton county Jail for al
most six years, Why are they, there? They
have committed crime. The State has
made no provision for them. The children
at Fort Wayne receive good care and treat
ment. II. however. they We're cared for
elsewhere. their places would be available
TO other feeble minded children.
1.-The results or the Investigations of the
cause of epilepsy at Craig Colony for Epi-
cent. of the cases the parents had the same
disease. Epilepsy is essentially disease
of early life we are told by Dr. Spratling.
The epileptic age beSlns with birth end
terminates In nearly So per cent. OF all
cases before the twentieth year We cam
not get away from the tact that We must
support our epiieptic citizens. Their pfo-
lection and care and our protection ae-
mands this. We are supporting many huh
dreds Of them now in the four classes of
institutions above mentioned. 1t would be
wise il they, or at least those who are not
absolutely idiotic or uncontrollably insane.
could be cared for in special institution.
They could there receive care, education
and training and have occupation. Since we
are now at the expense OF their support, the
chief additional outlay Will be only the cost
Vi the ms itutlon. 10 Ii then could be re-
moved those who are improperly cared Tor
in poor asyiGms and jalls. Those taken
IRON the insane hospitals and School Tor
Fee ble-m inQed Youth would make room
tor insane or feeb.e-minded cases which
NEED care. Doubtless il would be best to
provide by law that the last mentioned In
situations should be irst relieved. Inc pre-
vention of deGenerdcy is another important
reason TOR such All institution. Those VINO
become inmates will lie prevented from
bringing into the world another generation
of detectives with all their attendant Ills
Every reason impels me TO make suit
able provision for the epileptics. Justice
To these unfortunates demands II. For
our own protection-the preservation of
society bou by a ane oBypfn etb % @
stitutions would be relieved so they could
accept patients who more properly belong
therein. About the proper care of the
epileptic gathers much for the prevention
of epilepsy. insanity. idiocy. pauperism and
crime.
IAN institution for epileptics is not an
in New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania
and Ohio. We would profit by their ex-
perience. New York has doubtless been
seriously considering the question. New
Jersey, Texas and California have taken
favorable action; Minnesota. Illinois; Iowa,
Michigan and Missouri are earnestly Civ
ing attention to the matter
"In our State those who have given seri-
Gus consideration TO the subject believe
should take. proposed bill for an insti-
tuition for epileptics, carefully drawn by a
select committee OF its members, in
dCrSed by the state conference OF CnarltleS
and Correction at New Albany. This was
reiterated the largest gathering of the
kind ever held in the State at Indianapolis,
in November last. At the last annual meet
ing of the Indianapolis Charity Organiza-
ton Society, in Englishs Opera House, Off
cial approval was given the movement.
There are now. in the State hospitals
for insane 400 epileptics, 209 men and 1913
women; in the School for Predetermined
Youth. 265. 107 males and 15S females; and
in the county poor asylums. 2ss. l57 males
and 1876 females. This makes total in all
these institutions of $50, 473 males and 4S7
females Four hundred and eghfy-five of
these are insane, 40 feeble-minded and
sixty-fve have no marked mental de-
ficiency. Eightyfour are under sixteen
years of age, $50 are between sixteen and
forty-hve years, and 226 are forty-fve and
over All these are now charges upon the
public. Would Ii not be better for every
reason If they or certain groups of them
we're gathered together in an institution of
the best type for their care. treatment and
training?