The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-11-07
Thinks 1t Would Be Wise to
Provide Temporary Quar-
ters for a Number of Insane
at the County Infirmary.
FEW CASES MIGHT BE
KEPT AT REID HOSPITAL.
EXPLANATION as to Why Wayne
County Has More Insane
Persons Than Would Ordl-
nariIy be the Case.

Temporary care for the insane, who
are taxing the facilities of the jais
and other institutions Of Wayne coun-
ty, while awaiting admittance into
Easthaven hospital. was the problem
which was presented 70 the Wayne
County Medical societv at its meeting
Wednesday afternoon at Eastnavan,
BY DIR. Samuel f. Smitn, superinten-
dent of the local hospital. Existing
conditions demand immediate atten-
tion, as seven of Wayne county's 11S
insane patients are in jail. nine in The
county infirmary, and twelve are sus-
pended cases awaiting admission INTO
The Easthaven hospital. DIR. Smith
thinks, and SO expressed himself be4
fore the Wayne county doctors, that
the present evil conditions will within
nine months be entirely alleviated as
ut that time the new Southern Indi-
hna hospital for the insane will ba
completed and the new cottages being
added to the Epileptic village at New
Castle will be ready for occupancy.
This, he says, will materially lessen
the load on the local institution and
It can then give treatment to all those
who are now mill stones around the
heck of county officials.
Building Capacity Limited.
The Eastern Indiana district is nov
overloaded with iDsai e. Each cOr,n
fy in the district has more than its
apportionment in Easthaven, yet each
one is caring for a number of insane
patients in their respective jai!s and
other institutions. DR.. Smith says a
number OF counties now in the East
crn Indiana district VIII be incorporat-
ed in the new Southern Indiana dis
trict whe the new hospital is COM
peted. BY this, tter patients now re-
Ceiving treatment here, will be re-
moved to Madison, believing much of
the present crowdng. Many more
new buildings cannot he constructed
mt Easthaven owing to The manner in
which the hospital is built--on the
cottage Plan. 1t is probable that the
mems and womens cottages now I'M
der construction will be the last wards
TO be built, for the reason that more
cannot be heated. lighted and other
wise cared for with present facilities.
Wants Temporary Quarters.
While Wayne county is waiting the
completion of the Southern Indiana
hospital, the epilepfc village at New
Castle and the new cottages at East
haven, DR.. Smith would have the
county officials provide temporary
for or
fients on the grounds of the county
infirmary near Centerville. Further
more DR.. Smith would have temporary
provision made at Reid hospital for
persons whose mental condition has
not been fully determined upon. and
who need to be kept under medica.
supervision until definite decision
is reached. The plan Or. Smith thinks
is feasible one, and the Wayne Coun-
ty Medical society also expressed it's
belief by passing a verbal resolution,
mat such changes should be brought
ABOUT by the county commissioners.
The latter body and Reid Memorial
trustees will be asked by the me Iical
society to take some definite action
soon, as delay aggravate's conditions
discussion on DR.. Smiths paper
brought to light the fact that Wavne
county is being imposed ON In 4 way
1t was asserted that there must he
some cause for the large number of
insane In Wayne county. and - is ex-
planned, when the statement vas made
that relatives OF the insane yrneraIl,-
moved their patients to Richmond
that they might be nearer the hos,ira.
thereby securing better chance of
having the afflicted treated This
reason alone, ii is asserted. is larreIv
responsible for existing conditions
DIR. Smith said that Indiana statistics
show that for every 52S persons there
Is one insane, which would allow
Wayne county -. but instead there is
an excess of A. If Wayne co mtv
cared solely for her own patients
there would be none in excess. Wayue
county now has lis under public care
Ninety OF these are in Easthaven.
DR.. J. n. Hurry. secretary of the
state board of health. read paper on
"The Mexican General Hospital" tell
ing OF his recent trip to the historic
country to the south. Ills address was
principally descriptive and DR.. Hurty
did not attempt 10 point any morals
or draw any lessons from what rc oh.
served in the sister republic. His ad.
dress was very interesting as Well as
Instructive