The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-12-19
A Well Known Physicians Views on
the Subject
Treated in Institutions Devoted 60
Their Care-Jail and County Home
No Place for the Insane-More Ac-
Communications Should be Provided
for its Treatment.

more directly interested. as a whole
ment Ct the insane than any other sp1-
cial department Of our citizenship, .e-
cause as insanity is a disease. the rec
ognition of every thing pertaining to
it is specially in the domain Of the
physician.
Il cannot claim any more personal
interest in the existing conditions rel
alive to Our insane, and the want of
accommodations in the state hospitals
than the profession generally, but sew
eral years connection with one OF the
hospitals gave me some opportunities
Tor the study % the insane and their
treatment, which has developed a re-
gard and sympathy, that prompts nee
to speak a word in behalf Of this un-
fortunate class.
The insane ale wards of the state
and as such demand of the state the
care essential to their we'll being.
This proposition is universally ac-
cepted by al, civilized nations and
needs no argument. A qualification is
often interjected that the VeaIthier
class should not occupy room in the
state institutions to the exclusion Of
the INDECENT insane. In this state this
Will not amount 10 ten per cent. of The
insane, n even then they are no iess
wards of the state because they ml2;
lie deprived OF liberty for successful
Treatment.
The insane cannot except in rare
cases be successfully treated outside Of
an institution devoted to their cafe
This proposition is pretty generally
recognized by tte medical profession
If not by the laity. Custody and dis
cipline are essential features of tn,
treatment of insanity and these cannot
be maintained I'D the home of the pa
tient. The common Jail and the coun-
ty home are wC!se in many respects
so far as any systematic treatment is
concerned. The only redeeming fea-
ture Of a confinement in either of tnese
places is that the patient is in custody
and violence can be prevented.
The early recognition and immedi-
ate systematic treatment of insanity
are productive of the best results.
Sixty to seventy-five per cent. of
acute cases of insanity can be cured or
| the condition materially improved if
placed under custody and subjected
to treatment within the first few days
of it's outbreak. After six months per
hapS twenty-five per cent. might be
cured, and after a year without treat
ment the cures are very small indeed.
These propositions demonstrate the
necessity for state institutions for the
care and treatment of our insane. We
are confronted with the fact that Our
present hospitals are not sufficient for
our insane, The recent Investigations
Of Governor Glenn, to whom the thanks
Of this unfortunate class and their
friends are due for his lively interest
in the question. ana the board of m
ternal improvements, and the annual
reports of hospital directors, show that
there are nearly 500 insane now de-
handing admission into the hospitals.
Every days delay in giving treatment
to these patients lessons the chances
hof final Senile demeni:a,
imebcility and death are the portions
to which they are condemned.
1t would be useless to rail OF the
shortsighted policy of a Legislature
that failed to MAZE provision for these
people. That is past. The burning
question is-what is to be done now
Accommodations ought to be sup
piiCu " PEopiO 1T ohSC. ouChiSS
and humanity demand it. On this
question l expressed my views neatly
a year ago Editorial in Carolina Me l.
ical Journal, January, 'O5) advocating
a commission t; investigate the vari-
Gus plans for additional room, that
have been suggested, viz. additions to
the present Institutions, extension by
cottages and creation of new instiru
tons.
1t IS we'll known to all observers that
the rate of increase in insanity is far
greater than that of population, which
fact should not be lost sight of in any
plan Tor providing for the insane of the
state. Half way measures will meet
the requirements only temporarily, and
should not be contenanced.
While the extension of the hospitals
either by additions to the present
PLANS or by cottages contiguous to
them and under the management OF
their officers, appeals to the state on
the score of ecc nomy. The erection
of a separate institution viii better
meet all the requirements. The first
cost will of course be greater, bue in
this question he cost is not all the
consideration. The best Interests OF
the insane. and especially Of the fu-
ture increase OF insanity must be recOS-
nized. The present buildings accom-
modate in round numbers 1,400 patti
ents. The number that can be treated
to the best purpose under one manage
ment is a mootef question. 1t requires
but little consideration TO decide that
the number can be too large for sac
cessful treatment under n head.
There is already a demand for roolh
/ fnr EO0 nQfip1tS i nnnlhpT larger tnln
was received on the opening of either
of the present institutions. To go fully
into the discussion of this phaze of
the question W 'ula consume too much
OF your space. All the points connect
ed with it shou.d be well considered,
and a definite plan made solving the
difficulties of the situation.
It looks as If nothing short Of a