New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1905-02-18
CARE OF THE INSANE.

SHNI hNCAiNIss
There is n pitiful note in the Iharg,
of Judge Miller to the grand jury o.
Calcasiou parish. After charging tn,
inquisition on various matters. he OK
planned the presence of six insane per
sons IN the parish jail saying that
although some of them have been there
for year, there is no room in the
state asylum - Were this an isolated
case it would be sufficiently bad, bu,
the same deplorable condition exists
to n greater or less extent throughout
the State. Proper provision has not
been made by the State for the care
OF the insane. principally for financial
reasons, hut nothing as been saved,
for the cost Of improperly maintain
ing one insane person in a parish Jail
is as great as to properly and humane.
~ maintain him in an asylum. 1t is
true that the cost Of maintaining an
unfortunate who has lost his mind as
prisoner instead Of rs a ward falls
on the treasures of the parishes and
not on that of the State. busthe cost
comes from the pockets of the taxpay-
ers nevertheless. There is, then, no
financial difficulty in the way of the
pr oper treatment Of the insane The
whole problem revolves around the
agency through which the cost is dis
tributed, and has no relation what
ever to the cost itself, which must be
borne in any case.
The State government should
promptly take this matter up with
determination of solving it satisfactor-
lily. Even did not humanitarian con-
siderations demand this, financial con-
siderations should impel reform in the
interest of economy. Were the insane
now in the parish jails receiving the
treatment they could have at the
States asylum at Jackson, many of
them would recover their minds and
become self-supporting. Immured in
jails under surroundings which pre-
clude any hope of return OF reason,
they will remain burden on the
State, until death mercifully comes
to their relief
Bnt it is not the sordid considera-
ton of economy which should or will
appeal to those who bear the burden |
of the expense of government. The
States insane have right to humane
irrespective of the expense
attaching thereto. They are not only
the legal, but the natural. wards of
the people, and should receive the
very best treatment that can be given
them Every member of the Legisla-
ture should visit his parish prison
and examine into the condition of the
States wards there before the next
session of the Legislature, and should
20 to Baton Rouge with the determin.
alton 10 press legislation to correct
evils which are serious reflection on
he State and the people. Meantime
he proper State department should
ecure information as to the number
md condition of the insane in every
oil in the State for the information
If the Legislature.
Recently action has been taken to
Increase the accommodations for the
insane at the State asylums, but it is
doubtful if sufficient provision has
seen made for the employing of the
ails of these unfortunate creatures.
The coming session should make ample
provision for every insane person in
he State, with sufficient margin to
,rovide for the steady increase of the
lumber of insane which is one of the {
Unfortunate phenomena of our civil {
zation Times Democrat