The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1907-03-22

committee should sit in investigation
lof certain and particular acts and
transactions, which procedure would
state and seriously embarrass the in
ldividual members of the committee,
which the resolution did not contem-
plate or provide for and which. be-
sides, very properly pertains TO the
supervision and authority of the board
of state institutions.
The committee is of the opinion
that although these persons may be
of low order of intelligence. and may
be INDECENT. yet that they are not
properly inmates of an institution de-
signed and intended for the care and
treatment of insane persons. The com.
mittee believes that these persons
should be excluded from an insane
hospital and placed in another insti-
tuition TO be hereafter provided for by
the state for the INDECENT of that class.
The committee believes that the
scope of charitable work and the pur-
pose which the state hospital for the
insane was originally intended TO full
fiji. TO be not only the isolation of the
INDECENT insane of the state, but that
by carefully devised treatment these
patients may under improved scien-
little methods hope for permanent
cure in many instances. or at least
such improvements as may permit
wifi
homes, and thus relieve the state of
the burden of expense and care.
THE committee believes that every
care and comfort should be given to a
class of afflicted citizens whose very
hopeless and childlike dependent con-
tition appeals strongly 10 every tender
christian sentiment in the human
heart and TO philanthropic thought.
The committee believes that if the
state undertakes 10 conduct an insti-
tuition for the INDECENT insane. the
management should be liberal. and
the best that can be had should be
provided. not only the buildings and
furnishings. Slut the professional ~ad-
miniStratiVe talent should be prOcur-
ed with an especial and single idea of
competence and ability in this work
which may be claSSed as skilful and
expert in character To obtain expert
enced and Skilful administrators, those
whose training and life have been de-
voted TO the treatment of the insane,
liberal salaries must be offered and
eh 10
iStratiOn in any part of the hospital
for the states insane should not be
tolerated. Efficiency should be the
requirement. and efficient manage
ment al whatever cost.
If the state is TO maintain a char.
ity of this kind let il be conducted
right. scientifically. and remediably
that credit may be reflected on the
state or else abandon any attempt at
makeshifl or subterfuge in manage
ment. The committee finds that
that there is a lack of careful classif-
cation of the inmates of the hospital
and = separation into groups of
those suffering from different types of
insanity. from others of diseased and
feeble minds. but who are not in
sane. This fact has already been al
luded to but is referred To again be.
cause il is believed that a classified
tiun on admission would tend at once
to bring TO the notice of the board of
state institutions the commitment of
those who although disOrdered in
mind are not insane. and not properly
the wards of the state in this partic-
ular. The committee finds that the
buildings are not constructed with a
view of efficiently treating the in
sane The new structures are comfOr-
table. but that is about all that can
be said in their favor.
The committee finds that the gen
eral hospital facilities for treatment
or ordinary. acute and other ailments.
which insane persons are as liable 10
equally with persons of sound minds.
are not sufficient, nor are the wards
now used for the purpose well equipp-
ed or arranged This is due to no
fault Of the superintendent or the
physician of the hospital, but to a
lack of appropriation by the lesisla-
ture Of funds for the purchase OF in
sJrumenjs and appliances which the
committee deem absolutely needful in
q hospital of this nature.
The committee is impressed from
observation and other means which il
has acquired. that patients in the in
sane hospital are kindly ami humane
~ treated by both officers and attend
ants and that every effort is made for
comfort and happiness. therefore any
criticism of the management the COM
mttee makes. il is desired should be un-
derstOOd 10 be directed against faulty
methods which are due to the statute
laws and not against the officials of
the institution. The committee sub
mitS for the careful consideration OF
the legislature OF 1908. the following:
The committee believes that too
often. through Indifferent and care
less methods of examination a COM