Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1904-06-17
PLAN TO IMPROVE
CARE FOR INSANE
Would Abolish Committing
Them to Large
Asy|ums.
JOHN COWNIt EVOLVES PLAN
Method Would Establish Detention
Pavilions in Many Towns-Cottages
at the Hospitals.

Des Moines, June ia programme
for the vast Improvement of condi-
tons surrounding the insane Of Iowa
Is under consideration by the board
of control, the insane hospital man.
agement of the state and persons in
terested in this sort Of thing.
1t was discussed at the conference
of the state institution superintend-
ents and the board of control yester-
day. 1t involves the following propo-
sltions:
First-Abolition of the present sys-
tenn of adjudging persons insane and
committing them to the insane hos
pitfalls.
Second-The establishment OF in
sane detention pavilions in towns
which are the seats OF medical
schools; eventually to be established
in every town in the state.
Third-The establishment at the
state hospitals of observation cot
tages to which persons thought to be
mentally unbalanced may be commit
ted prior to being placed in the hos
pltas or returned to their homes.
John Cownie OF the board OF con-
troll has long occupied advanced
ground on these subjects. 1t was at
his suggestion yesterday that the
observation cottage plan was discuss
ed at some length.
TO Superintendent Witte or the car
india institution, however, is due the
credit of suggesting the abolition OF
the present scheme of sending persons
| to the insane hospitals. He proposed
! that the method OF experimenting in
sane persons. issuing warrant for
their detention, incarcerating them IN
| TAIL nending examination, their eXaml-
nation by board OF cOmmiss oners,
the preservation OF a record for pub
lie examination showing that they
had been accused, examined and COM
mitted. and their delivery to state
hospitals by peace officers be sup
planted by a system by which persons
mentally unbalanced or suspected OF
alienation may be sent to the hospitals
first for examination and second for
care il found unbalanced. This would
eliminate the disgrace that inevitably
attaches to the present method. which
really, is a survival OF the middle ages
when persons OF diseased minds were
called mad and hospitals were known
as mad houses and asylums-in which
by the way, there was no effort to
care for the unfortunates chained to
| the walls as SO many beasts.
Mr. Cownie asked DR.. Witte yester
day il he thought that the scheme
would be safe. Dr. Witte thought so
The person would not be deprived OF
tne inalienable right of habeas corpus
in fact every right he now has would
! be preserved and innumerable people
who would now be disgraced by the
public method of procedure would find
in the state hospitals the refuge which
they are intended to be. With the
monthly inspection by the board OF
control all danger to liberty would be
eliminated.
| Superintendent Voldeng of the Cher
okee hospital presented a paper yes
terday on the observation cottage a,
the state hospitals, strongly advocat
ing it. Mr.. Cowrie Of the board OF
control has long insisted that this
method OF Inducing the insane into
institution life is the only humane
and sensible method.