El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-05-21

Epileptics at Sonyea, N Y, made a
careful analysis of the life lived by
the average victim of epilepsy and
urged that every state should make
adequate provision for the treatment
and humane care of this class of de-
pendents
Experience shows and humanity and
reason teach said Dr.. Munson. that
the epileptic should not be classified
with other state charges. The epIlep-
tic is invariably the most difficult of
all state charges to deal with"
The ideal institution for epilept:cs
differs very much from ideal hospitals
for the insane or the ideal home for
the feeble minded. It must be recog-
nized that epilepsy is a relatively in
durable disease Farm colonies seem
TO be ideal for their care. Outofdoor
labor is most favorable for the dis
ease and the farm itself offers
chances of profit from their work.
ImbeciIe Mothers.
Attention was called by DR.. William
y Billiard, Of Boston. Mass, in an
address on the state Care Of High
Grade Imbecile Girls before the con-
ference to the great public expense
occasioned by the lack of proper care
given to an immense number of girls
who are just below the lower grades
of normal children ard yet who ere
not clearly imbecile
According to DR.. Billiard, these girls
as a rule become mothers of at least
three children each. Most of these cnil :
dren are themselves feeble minded and
ultimately a charge on the state. the
mothers lack a sense Of responsibility
for present acts or the realization OF
Iair f.1fr1
1.-The proper method of dealing WI h
this class" said DR. Billiard. "is 70
keep them in a custodial department
of an institution for the feeble minded
and where they can be managed by
those who have experience with the
mentally defective. This care must be
exercised by the state. In exactly wfat
form this cans be done best depends
upon the special conditions in each
state, their methods of caring for pau
pers. criminals and detectives and the
special means at their disposal. These
cases should, however never be treated
or cared for as criminals. They are
usually released, only to undergo sec
ond Imprisonment and meantime to
have done much evil to society
Lunacy Trials.
The tendency of many states to dis
continue the old fashioned trial by jury
in open court of insane persons, ard
the substitution of private trial by
courts of administrative officers and
commissions, was emphasized and APP
proved in the report of the committee
on supervision and Administration"
by its chairman, Clifford s. Robinson
of Les MoineS, Iowa, this morning. The
growth and development of psychopa-
thic hospitals for the observation and
treatment of early cases of insanity
which might be cured in a comparative
" short time was given as one of the
compelling reasons for this change in
practice in commitment proceedings.
After presenting an exhaustive re-
view of the findings of courts in many
states, and after carefully analysing
those findings, the report said:
The conclusions to be drawn may be
summarized as follows:
l. The federal constitution does not
require that examinations for the COM
mitment of persons alleged to be insane
shall be, in open court or with a jury.
.. AS rule, such examinations may
be made by commission, saving to the
person accused Of insanity, the right to
a formal proceeding in court or trial
by jury.
3. An insane person may be taken into
custody without legal process, but only
temporarily, for the purpose of pro-