The Pensacola journal., 1907-03-19

Older Buildings Reeking
With Filth and Should
b Demolished.
SPECIAL ASYLUM
FOR THE INSANE
Those Mentally Incompetent
Should Be Cared for
Separately.
PRESENT ASYLUM INEFFICIENT.
PRINCIPALLY BECAUSE OF NOM
CLASSIFICATION OF INMATES
BUILDINGS COULD BE USED AS
HOME FOR THE NEEDY-REc-
CONCENTRATIONS FOR coNsID-
ERATloN OF LEGISLATURE.

Tallahassee. Mar. 1s-The special
commission created under Section 1,
of Chapter 5454, Acts of 1905, which
provided THAT a special commission
Of six is hereby created, consisting OF
the governor. comptroller, State
Health offcer and three other citizens
OF this state, who shall be appointed
by the governor, who shall inspect, ex-
anime into, report and recommend to
the next legislature whatever in their
opinion is necessary or requisite and
best suited to the welfare of the in
sane Ia this state in every way. in
Guiding change of location in whole
or IN part. that the Hospital for the In
sane may be placed on the highest
plane and in keeping with the most
advanced and improved methods for
the care of such institutions together
with the most approved method of
treatment of insane persons" met in
Tallahassee this week to make its re-
port. The commission, consisting OF
Governor Broward, Hon A c. Groom,
comptroller. On J. Y. Porter. Of the
State Board OF Health, Dr. Louis de aI
Blocker. Of Pensacola, Mr.. s. B. Cam
0qQ4 uz 81 (<H E1d Rev. Or. ". II
BdSGs of jncksouvilI 1za{5s 8 gisH ot
inspection to the Hospital at Chatta-
hoochee early in January. Owing to
the very general interest in matters
relating to the care and welfare of
the insane In Florida the report. al
though lengthy. Is here given in full:
Reocrt of Commission
Each OF us. has personally visit
ed the Hospital for the INDECENT In
sane of Florida of Florida, at Chatta-
hoochee, and has investigated fully
the conditions therein.
2-The institution, as now main
tained by the state, Is combined
asylum or retreat for the physically
infirm, and for a variety of mentally
disturbed persons. as well as for those
who are truly and really insane.
S--f the state proposes to maintain
q hospital for the indigent insane OF
Florida. in accordance with Chapter
5454. then the legislature should en-
set laws to that effect. We, your
commissioners, are fully assured that
the best interests of the insane and
the carrying out of the purpose OF
Chapter 5z54, require the removal of
those who are insane from the pres.
ent locality 10 some other suitable
place in the state.
Buildings condemned.
4-Some.of the older buildings now
IN use, being soaked with filth, par.
ticularly in the flooring. should be con.
demned and the floors torn out to be
replaced with new material, or alto.
gether razed to the ground and Luilt
up anew and this state of facts, In our
Judgment, renders ii more ess and
more economical that the insane pa
tients should all be taken to new
locality,
@The establishment of such an
asylum for the insane as is contem-
plated in the chapter from which our
quotation is made, contemplates
changes In our present methods of ad-
judging an individual to be insane. as
well in the method of conveying him
or her to the asylum We recommend
therefore, that you require that ample
time be taken. tc thoroughly investi
gate the condition of persons who
give evidence of mental disturbance;
that the investigation be held in the
county court; that a jury of six per.
sons shall be impanelled to try the
cause and that a commission OF three
two of them being physicians, shall
be required TO examine the patient
and testify to the court with regard
to. his or her sanity or insanity, and
that the examination shall not be
deemed complete until all reasonable
doubts as to his or her condition shall
be entirely removed.
We furthermore recommend that
the county judge be empowered to
order the payment of whatever ser.
vices have been necessary in convey.
Ing the patient decently and orderly
90 the court, from such funds of the
county, as are not otherwise appro-
rriated, and the insanity of the pa.
tient having been thus carefully estab.
Hshed. we recommend that the super
intendent OF the hospital for the in
sane be required on due notification,
90 send one or more attendants from
this institution. The necessary ex-
pense for his or her transportation be-
Ing certified to the county Judge by
the superintendent OF the hospital and
'kcontinued or Second Pzue.l