The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-11-16
FULL INFORMATION WANTED.

There was a conference yesterday
between the Governor and the o1lclals
of hospitals for the insane upon the
situation, and il developed that there
is quite a number of insane people
in private homes county homes ana
in jailS who ought to receive treat"
ment i'm the hospitals. Inquiries have
been sent out to the various counties
to get the actual number. We sup
pose the names are to be sent in, too;
otherwise it will be impossible to make
the necessary investigation.
There is certain other information
needed in order to get at the real
needs:
l. How many insane persons are
in the hospitals who are not ''indi-
gent?" The Constitution forbids the
acceptance of any insane person unless
he is INDECENT" and every sucl- per-
son cared for in the hospitals is
violation of the State Constitution
and wrong to every insane INDECENT
person denied admission.
?. How many insane persons are III
the hospitals who pay, how much
they pay, and whether they receive
the same service or better than given
to those who do not pay? And how
many INDECENT insane could be ac-
commodated if no pay patients We're
received?
). How many inepriates have been
received in the past year and how
many rooms are set apart for their
care, if any?
1t is said that pay patients are
ceived when 'indigents" are knocking
in vain at the doors for admission. If
this is true, it is a great wrong and
the officials who permit it are guilty
of violating the Constitution of the
State. 1t is said that patients other
than ''indigent' are taken to the ex-
clusion Of ''indigents" who do not
pay II so, that is likewise a course
that is legally and humanely wrong.
1t is not always easy to determine
who is INDECENT" but certainly, as
long as there are very poor people,
denied admission. none should be ad-
mitted whose people could care for
them or pay for them at a private
sanitariam. These who are INDECENT
IN the strictest sense of that word and
whose relatives are ''indigent" should
be admitted before any who might
ordinarily be deemed not able to
pay. The person who would be sent
to county home or Jail should be
received first and careful investiga-
ton made next as TO the comparative
'indigent condition of the insane.
and the poorest cared for first.
The State should care for all its
insane. Those who have property
pay tax and ought not to be eXclud-
ed, says one. Very we'll Let US
then agitate for Il change in the Con-
stitution of the State to permit that
course, but until the Constitution is
changed by the people every time any
person other than 'indigcnt insane"
is received into a hospital, the State
Constitution is violated.
All the information suggested above
should be obtained: the Governor and
the officials should strain every point
to care for all the INDECENT insane"
and no others. and then the people
should be given the facts. If they
wish to strike out the word ''indigent"
in the Constitution and care for ALI
the insane" they can amend that in
strument TO that effect but dntil they
do so amend public officials should
obey its strict letter and spirit III
people of North Caroline are ready
to be taxed to care for all the INDECENT
insane. When the additions to the
North Carolina Hospital at Raleigh
are completed, a portion of the strain |
can be relieved, but there will still be |
need for additional accommodations |
which must be provided But until !
that be secured no person should be |
received unless in dire poverty or |
as long as any really ''indigent" in |
sane person is confined at home, in |
a county home or in Jail.