The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1909-12-30
Makes A PLEA FOR
THE STATES INSANE
Medical Journal Calls on the LeqisIa-
ture To Do Its Duty.

Are the semi-civilized and bar
barous methods at present en-
plOyed in the care of the State
insane to continue, or is intelli.
gent enlightenment about to as
sert itself by decreeing the Danish.
ment of the dark cells and theil
attendant horrors?" is the question
asked by the Maryland Medical
Journal i'll the current issue. The
Journal, in an editorial, hayS the
awful conditions which now sur
round Maryland's feeble-minded
charges. Unqualifedly the paper
announces its desire for State care
of the insane and editoriaIly con-
times by asking fatty for the atti-
tude toward the question of the
new Legislature which is abo ut to
convene.
The editorial continues by pay
ing tribute to the Maryland
State LunaCy Commission and its
indefatigable and tireless secretary,
who has done 50 much toward
spreading the gospel of enlighten-
ment in connection with the in
digent and weak minded paupers
of Maryland
The editorial, in part, is as fol
lows:
The new Legislature is on the
eve Of converting for organization
What is to be its attitude toward
remedying the present glaring de-
teCts i'll the care of the States in
sane? Are the semi-Civilized and
barbarOus metho ds now in vogue
to survive, or is intelligent en-
llghtenment about to assert itself
by decreeing the Punishment of
the dark cell, the shake and
chain, the unhygienic quarters,
the lack of employment, the soil
tary confinement? In other words
is mandate to be issued that
these untortunates be handled as
other dependent sick - namely,
humanely, hygienically and ra-
tionally?
How can one expect a mind
sick man to improve if he be Sub
iected to improper treatment, or
worse, to such as would drive a
healthy individual insaneo Yet
this has been the line of treatment
of the insane in Maryland, and we
have sat ComplaCently by, never
raising our voice to the true CON
dition, and If we did, in such a
low tone that it was drowned
Physicians have for a long time
recognized that our insane have
been and are being treated little
better than beasts, and in some
instances worse They have com
planned about the barbarous and
care bestowed upon the insane,
but, alas to no avail, because the
politicians who could remedy the
evil have other axes to grind :;
their patronage must shift to where
the most returns can be accom-
pllshed; all money must be ex-
pended with this base idea in
view; the insane cannot vote,
therefore are OF no earthly import
or concern to Mr.. Political Boss.
All expenditure upon the mind
less is, according to the professional
politician, lost Get the crazy out
of the way, where they cannot be
seen; let them survive as best thew
can; the sooner they die the bet
ter, losing sight of the fact that
many are durable. Out of sight,
out of mind, is their motto.
From time to time the Journal
has presented outlines OF the mag
nlhCent work which the Maryland
State LunaCy Commission and its
active, interchangeable and energetic
secretary, DR.. A. P. Herring,
have set out to accomplish on be-
halt of these degenerates. Through
public lectures, addresses before
both city and county medical So
cieties, by the employment of the
stereoptiCon, the laity and the
medical fraternity have been
aroused to the enormity of the
cruelty attached to the handling
of the insane in our almshouses. 3"
was her deDartr1re TO that briphter