The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-07-13
AL|ENISTS DINE
 DISCUSS BETTER
 INSANITY LAWS Dr. Pollock Declares It Crime that Thaw, Denni- son, Charlton and Muel-
 Ter Were at Large Those In Charge of Insane Persons Must Recognize Their Responsibility,
 He Says

ciety of Alienists combined business with pleasure today when they held | their regular meeting at the Indian l FIarbor Yacht Club at Greenwich. | As the meeting was followed by a | luncheon, Dr. H. H. Hitchcock of 1 Greenwich acting as host
 1 The session was one of the largest
 and most enthusiastic ever held since | the organization of the Society, every public and private institution for the care of nervous and mental diseases in the state being represented. | The chair was occupied by Dr. D. | W. Mcfarland of Greens Farms. The | usual routine business being disposed l of, Dr. Edwin S. Vail of Enfield read an interesting paper on the treatment l of the mentally unbalanced ''by sug- gestion." The subject led to a lively debate among the physicians. as this form of treatment is not greatly in vogue. It is used in many institutions
 with marked success upon all cases with degenerate tendencies. such as alcoholics, neurotics and drug habitu- ates.
 After several matters pertaining to the future welfare of the society were
 discussed, the meeting adjourned, and dinner was served upon the broad yer andas of the club house.
 Dr. H. M. Pollock. while one of the | youngest members of the Society, is | one of it's most earnest workers. Not l withstanding his age he ranks among | the first alienists of Connecticut. being | now superintendent of the State Hos- l pital at Norwich.
 When speaking about the Society and what it hopes to accomplish, Dr. Pollock:
 "A few years ago a number of Con- necticut physicians prominent in n n6 SOciQtV Today it has upon its membership rolls the name of every physician connected | with every public and private insti- tuition in the state for the care of men, tai and nervous diseases. It hopes to encourage the discussion and prOmul- gation of scientific principles and the adoption and application of the most approved methods for the care and restoratiOn of those nervously unbal- anced, whether in the inciDient or ad-
 vanced stages.
 "While the aims of the society are largely philanthropic. there is a bus mess end to the matter. We hope to have better laws passed governing the care and commitment of the insane and incompetent, and more money ap- port.
 These unfortunates, like the poor,
 are always with us: but a large per centage of the insane are not where they SHOulu- D6. lH0 SIiSHld OI luo Olu poor-house system for caring for the
 unbalanced still remains and many families are afraid to send their dear | ones to institutions where they can have rational and scientific treatment. They sacrifice their own lives by keeping the unfortunates at home and preventing all possibilities of cure by confining the patient in the same en- vironment and surroundings which have caused their breakdown. Many of the insane, privately cared for. by the false modesty and ignorance of their guardians. could be cured if re-
 moved to institutional life. To the patients it would be a welcome change and relief and afford them the possible
 road to recovery, which is their due. Another class of patients are the dangerous lunatics like Thaw. Denni- son, Charlton and the foreigner who shot Policeman Dietz in our own city.
 It is a crime that such degenerates should be permitted at large. So
 much has been written about the care
 of the insane to prejudice the public | against sanatarium and institutional life that it is as difficult to get their guardians to send them to us for treat
 ment. However. conditions are chang ing and in a few years the insane will have every chance for treatment, and
 those in charge of the unbalanced will recognize not only their responsibili
 ties toward their wards. but to the
 public at large"
 Among those who were invited to
 enjoy Dr. Hitchcocks hospitality were
 Dr. D. w. Mcfarland. Greens Farms; Dr. H. M. Hitchcock. Greenwich: Dr.
 Edwin E. Smith, Norwalk: Dr. Charles w. Jackson, Watertown; Dr. Frank
 Hazelhurst Barnes. Stamford; Dr. Henry M. Pollock. Norwich: Dr. Amos J. Givens, Stamford; Dr. Frederick D. Rutland, Westport; Dr. Alvin D. Wads- worth, South Norwalk: Dr. Henry $. Noble, Middletown; Dr. Edwin $. Vail. Enfield; Dr. William M. Thompson, Hartford; Dr. Max Mailhouse, New Haven; Dr. Gilbert T. Smith, Stam- ford; Dr. Graeme M. Hammond, New York city; Hon. Charles F. Welch, Greenwich; Dr. J. N. Nolan, West port; Dr. G. Alfred Lawrence, New York city: Dr. F. H. Maybury, East Hartford; Dr. D. T. Brothers. Hart ford; Hon. Costello Lippitt, Norwich; Judge Nelson J. Alying. Norwich; Judge Howard M. Hickox. Watertown:
 Judge Michael c. Downs, Stamford; Hon. H. M. Holman Saybrook; Judge D. B. Bradley, IT,, Westport; pr. Frederick Powers, Westport: Dr.
 James M. Brown, Westport: Rev. James M Buckley, Christian Herald, New York city; Judge c. J. Lockwood, Stamford.
 No definite date was decided for the | next meeting, but the members will be notified by the president as to where it takes place.