The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1907-01-15
STATE HOSPITALS.

Article XI, Section 10. Of the Con
stitution, thus reads; The General
Assembly may provide that all the
INDECENT deaf mutcs. blind. ana IN
sane of the state shall be cacd FOR at
the charge Of the state.
INDECENT persons are those deSt 'ute
Of the means Of subsistence. and under
this provision may be cared FOR. Other
citizens of the state. who are INDECENT.
but who have property and by tax
alton help to bcar the states bur
dcns. are also often insane. and they
II their people desire that they
should be treated in their own State,
and not be compelled to go elsewhere
- otter Far away from home and loved
ones. Therefore. in my opinion. the
General Assembly should provide not
only suitable ana sufficient hospitals
for the INDECENT insane. but for all
giving. Of course. under the law.
the prefc cnCe 10 the INDECENT, and
requiring the n~on-indigent to pay
enough to reimburse the state for its
actual expenses n caring FOR them.
The insane are not ony INDECENT
and non-indigcnt. from the standpoint
Of wealth. but arc also durable and
inCurable, harmless and dangerous, as
we'll as those VINO arc cpiieptIcS and
idiots. Humanity demands n n thu
state should take care of all these
classes. except tho harmless IDIOTS.
CT ~ Nt N-i 'i'FN g 49, -
enacted. requiring then counties a.
properly care for them. unless provid-
ed for hv their own people. II was q
fatal mistake not to care for the cpl
ieptics for often they are the most
dangerous of all classes. Hundreds
of these unfortunate persons arc ia
durable: but this does not lessen oar
legal and moral obligat on to proVldc
for them. There are others who with
proper treatment and good surround.
ings IAN bc cured and return restored
IN mind To home and family.
Tx State can afford to lake all
insane persons out OF tEc common
iaiIs and county home. and properly
treat them in hospitals provided FOR
that and God VIII not blc-~
or ALLOW q State to proe~cr that neg
lectS to ere fer His afflicted. ! send
You the cports from all the hospitals
md -sk your careful consideration
of Their REQUESTS.
Tie State Hospital nj M0rginton
will ask for IN additional building
to furnish room for hundreds asking
adntittanCc. and for an increase In it,
yearly accounts.
1hc Central ~IIo.ritoI ut Ealcigh
will ask for more building, and a
larger appropriation. 1t has an op-
ton or I.f5O acrc- Of land adjoining
its property. al Soo.0No. This !and
il well wooded and Watcrrd. and thc~"
advantages alone could nearly pay Tor
it. The land could also Dc cultivated
% ~"dNant-oc by the inmates. ard
would he well suited for the colon
system of treating the insane. noW ~
much in use. The last Legislature APP
prOpriatcd money for "a BcV buildiii
but failed to give funds to furnish or
maintain Il. Ii Vas completed. and
one hundred and twenty patients could
be cared FOR If il was furnished. IL
-. on pyDtorODDRN and ft-fBllEfU IN
The wall of The u~nfortunatcs, the COun-
ell Of State the money To
furnish tie building. and nov ask
YOU 20 "ay the amount borrowed.
The Hospital at Go'dsboro for the
colored also had to get S3.00g under
an emergency. aud we had to supply
il. in order to avoid a heavy los and
to help 10 relieve the deTnand for room,
We rope our action will be approved,
a. il would have been inhuman not
to have granted the relief.
As 70 these Hospitals. | would make
the broad suggestion that you send
for their superintendent and find out
what is required to put them IN con
dition to receive all now applying for
admittance. or who may apply IN the
next few years. and then do what =
right for their proper support.
The platforms of all parties pledge
themselves to care for the insane. all
people of humane minds demand it,
and our duty requires 1t. Let Us, there
fore. do this duty fully and fearlessIy,
thereby caring for our afflicted loved
| ones as We would desire 10 be cared
for if this fearful blow had fallen on
US. In doing what is needed. we can
| not do too much: so let ais act az those
feeling their responsibility 10 God and
man.
II has been suggested that tiir STATE
! Prison j. not now needed for conyict-,
|, and coud he made an elegant hospital
for the epileDtic and dangerous insane:
and L would advise that you appoint d