Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-24

HSuleS. dUOul d IllllOn uOlldlS q yea
under the head of charities. and one-third
of this amount is devoted to the main
tenance of insane persons. 1t Will be re-
membered that some time age the Com
missloners, upon my motion, enlisted the
services of medical experts in investigat-
ing the prevalence of insanity in the Dis
trict. and one of the results of that inves-
tigation was recommendation for the
establishment of a psychopathic hospital
which should be devoted to the care of
persons who are in state of incipient
mental arrangement
In order to establish thfs hospital,
which would not receive dangerous cases,
an appropriation from Congress will be
necessary, and in the meantime an effort
is being made to equip the Washington
Asylum Hospital for the treatment of
persons who are under suspicion of insan-
ity. The surroundings at the Washington
Asylum Hospital however, are neces
sarily of character detrimental to the
cure of refined and sensitive persons. The
detention ward at the hospital is a step
In the right direction, and until other
provision is made ought to accomplish eX-
cellent results. The time must come,
however when there will be in Washing
ton an institution which will be, SO to
speak, the threshold of the insane asy-
lum. Hundreds of persons are committed
to the latter who ought never to have the
stigma of such incarceration placed upon
them, but there is no other institution to
"iiiNii eiiOS Sdii re SCIll
Action Should Be Prompt.
My belief is that persons of homicidal
Or dangerous tendencies, or persons who
have developed insanity in violent form,
ought to be placed behind the doors of
an insane asylum as quickly as the forms
of law can be complied with, but there
are many cases where incarceration in the
insane asylum develops insanity out of
mental and nervous conditions. which, un-
der other treatment might result in per-
manent cure. A case of this kind was
presented to me this morning. and there
is no recourse except to commit the per-
son to the insane asylum with the ordeal
OF appearance before marshals jury
Can the law be amended so as to meet
all the problems which present them
selves?" he was asked
Il believe it can" he replied. Il be-
lieve that all possible Safeguards ought
to be incorporated In the law so that no
person can be committed to the insane
asylum whose incarceration therein is
not matter of absolute necessity for
the protection of the public and who
ought not to be permitted to remain at
large. We have had too many instances
In the past of persons being sent to the
asylum under circumstances that speak
ing mildly. aroused serious suspicious
There ought to be no possibility whatever
of any sane person being committed to
the insane asylum: but it Is equally i'm
portant that persons who have not vet
entirely crossed the border line between
sanity and insanity should be given a
place of refuge where, if possible their
minds can be fully restored. The place
for this treatment is not an insane
persons and for none other, and it
is perfectly proper that their cases
should be passed upon by a marshars
jury. Consideration. however, is due those
persons who are on the verge, but
whose mentality might be restored by
careful observance and treatment in an
institution especially fitted for their
needs
With Funds of Public.
Ought an institution of this charac-
ter to be maintained out of public
funds?''
why not?" he said. "Indigent per-
sons who are i'll are cared for at pub
lie expense in hospitals, and INDECENT
persons who are insane are cared for
at public expense in the insane asylum.
1t is just as proper to care for INDECENT
persons who are threatened with in
sanity in an institution which is main
tanned out of the public funds"
Would such an institution sh elter in
ebriates?' was the next inquiry
An inebriate asylum" the Commits
sioner replied. lis a very different in
stitution. Personally, l doubt the pro-
priety of maintaining inebriates in an
insane asylum at public expense, which
seems now to be the case. The ques-
ton of caring for inebriates at the
public expense comes within d different
category from the care and treatment
of persons who are in a state of mental
collapse through no fault of their own"
DO you believe that any revision of
the lunacy laws will be made at this
session of Congress-" the speaker was
asked
L sincerely hope so.::' Mr.. Vest an
swered, and l would be glad to CO.
operate with any effort in this direc-
ton. a special committee of Congress
has already given the matter much
consideration AS the subject is one
to which many medical men of skill
and experience are now devoting their
serious attention, there ought to be no
difficulty in evolving a model insanity
law for the District of Columbia. There
is no question that at the present time
the conditions are as set forth in Dr.
Whites report. They are entirely out
of harmony with modern ideas, and
certainly they are not in harmony with
the everyday experiences of those who
have to deal either directly OF indi-
rectly with the care and treatment of
the insane