The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-08-18

80 ASAt@Ab Os0
DIR. Mckee was acting clearly within
the plain mandates of the law. But
the incident offers an opportunity and
furnishes a starting point for an exam
nation OF the condition of the outside
insane, as n may call them, under
the provisions of the act defining lu-
macy. These two old women, both be-
yond three-score years of age, are now
the inmates of the county Jail. 1t is
true, the authorities are doing all in
their power to ameliorate their condi-
tioH, by placing them on the floor occu-
pied by the jailer and his family, and
by supplying TO them what little com
forts are in their power, but, for all
that, they are under the same roof with
the worst criminal before the law.
When Cumberland county builds, as it
must build, its insane house in ccnnec-
ton with the county home, these two
women, with others, will be transfer
led to the new quarters. There they
will be under the charge Of a keeper,
but without the care of trained alien
lists, without the treatment pursued In
asylums for the victims of lunaCy and
mania. There they will pass the re-
lnainder of their benighted lives
Helpless and hopeless.
DR.. A. S. Rose, who is physician Of
10th this city IL county, standing
high in his profession, tells me of a
young man living in the western part
of Cumberland, who is IN imbecile II
idiot, really an insane idiot, and a dan
%gerously insane idiot; but he is debar-
red admission into an asylum because
his idiocy developed before he was ~
years of age. He is now more than
p years old, has sens enough to
know that he has reached his majority,
wants to be his own master, and is
very hard to control. The other day,
enraged by the crying of a child in
th ehOusa he seized the infant, and
might, perhaps, have killed it if he
had been let alone. This man, if he
lives, will inevitably come upon the
county, and will give the authorities
a great deal Of trouble.
Some time ago DR.. Rose was exceed
ingly anxious to get a female patient
into the asylum at Morganton, and he
had a conversation with DR.. Murphy at
Greensboro with regard to the matter.
The latter found it impossible to COM
| ply with DR.. Roses request. Il have
now" said DIR. Murphy, "45 applica-
tons Oh file in advance of yours, and
all these cases are equally as urgent
as yours. / have 40 vacant rooms in
the institution at Morganton, but with
out a piece Of furniture i'll any n Of
them, and no means of rendering them
h%abitable."
The above is doubtless awkwardly
put together, but it is a statement Of
plain facts, and it shows a very made
Quate provision for the maintenance Of
the insane. I think that it shows, too,
that North Carolina could do better if
it would.
1 may be permitted, in concluding
this article, and in the laudable effort
to tighten it's dullness and prosiness, to
give an incident coming within my
personal experience, showing how
closely laughter is akin to tears"
and that even around the tragedy Of
insanity are happenings to provoke a
smile.
Many years ago, when the late DIR.
Eugene Grissom was superintendent of
the insane asylum at Raleigh and the
late DR.. Fuller was the next official in
rank, 1 paid a visit to the institution,
where I was received by DR.. Fuller with
his wonted courtesy, and was shown
all over the immense pile of superbly
equipped buildings. 1t is my impress
sion that it was not customary at that
time to admit male visitors to the fe-
male department, but an exception was
made in my favor. After a o of the
different wards, [ was ushered into q
well-furnished parlor, with several in
mates sitting about, engaged in differ
ent kinds of handiwork. l do not thlnE
that anyone, not appraised beforehand
of the condition, would ave taken
that group to be made up of insane
people. DR.. Fuller formally introduc'
ed me to them in turn, n Of n OF
them he said: 'This is the grand
daughter of a very prominent man
who in his lifetime labOred nobly fol
the establishment of this institution
and now his descendant benefits by The
fruition of his labors." He then re
marked that the lady was a chess
player, and, pointing to board and mel
on a centre-table, suggested that we
take a game.
We seated ourselves, arranged thu
pieces, and I made the first move, tw'
or three of the occupants of the roo
gathered around, just as ordinary Iolk'
would do when attracted by somethln:
of passing interest. My %antasonls
certainly handled her pawns, knight
and bishops as if she had all her wit
about her, and in afew minutes [ wa
put to studying intently h was II
be nv next move. AS [ bent over tn
board in an attitude of strained atten
ion, suddenly DR.. Fuller exclaimed
"Mr. Myrover, let me see you a mo
ment." Something in the sharp, lncls
i've ring of his voice startled me,
srang to my feet, making a hasty stel
toward him, when in a fash my ches
opponent was in an ungovernable rage
. | was incontinently hustled out or tn
door, and. of course, saw nothing NOR
of her outbreak of temper.
In q short while DR.. Fuller reJoine'
me in the corridor, as quiet and com
: posed as if there were not a mania
; in the world. "Miss -" he sale
has beer nervous and out OF sort
for the past day or two; she is fond o
! company and fond Of chess, and
y - yNf0h orr q n