Evening journal., 1910-10-03
NEW ERA DAWNS In
.CAREOFTHE INSANE
New York Law Provides More
Humane Way Of Hand
ling ImbeCileS
PATIENTS GIVEN OVER
TO DOCTORS AT ONCE


Legislature a new law relating to the
care of the insane which attracted
little attention was enacted. II trans
fers the care of the insane, prior TO
their commitment, from the. peace au-
thorities and the Overseers Of the
Poor to the State health authorities.
The advent of this new law is hailed
by. the New York Medical Journal as
"A New Chapter in the Care of the In
sane" The writer says, in part:
THE history of the care OF the in
sane is an inspiring story of the ef-
forts of a small number OF men 10
substitute enlightenment and Kind
ness for ignorance, fear and cruelty
in the treatment of the most unfort-
unate of all sick persons. 1t is a story
of slow and tedious progress, with
many. disheartening reverses, but II
includes few epoch-making events,
in each of which, to the lasting credit
of our profession, the central figure
has been a physician.
'The growing enlightenment of man
kind has been responsible for the
adoption of humane measures in deal
ing with the insane, but the suggestion
of these measures, and in most in
stances the uphill fight to make bad
conditions generally known and to
urge the necessity for reform. have
been the portion of medical men.
Insane's Care Province of Doctor.
"The fact upon which all recent
movements for improving the lot OF
the insane have been based is that
insane people are sick people ard theiI
care is the province of the doctor.
Just as the cruel punishments de-
signed to drive out the devils of which
they we're thought to be possessed
gave way to the care of the insane in
the madhouses, where they were at
least protected from the violence of the
public and from fanatics, so the Gus
todial asylums have given way to the
State hospitals of the present day.
when Pinel struck off the chains of
the women of the Salpetriere, in 1898,
new epoch, that of non-restraint,
was ushered in, although it was many
a long year before his teachings re-
ceived general acceptance. In 1864,
through the efforts of DR.. Sylvester d
Willard and the memorial presented
to the Legislature by the Medical So
ciety of the State of New York, the
Willard Asylum for the chronic In
sane was established and the way
prepared for complete State care,
which under the guidance of DR.. Carlos
+. Macdonald, then President Of the
State Commission in Lunacy, was
brought about in 1890, and 4200 of the
insane poor we're delivered from the
almshouses, where they had been kept
in conditions of almost inconcetvable
| ~,,4-.rrr and dnRrlri riafiOn.
New Epoch Inaugurated.
Another new epoch in the treat
ment of mental diseases opened when,
almost unnoticed in the rush of busi-
ness at the close of the last session
OF the New York Legislature, law
was enacted to transfer bodily the
care of the insane prior 10 their COM
mitment from the peace authorities
ana the Overseers OF the Poor to the
health officers of the State. This was
recognition. in the most practical way,
OF the face that those suffering from
mental disease were subjects for med
ical care in all stages of their dis
order. before the legal authorities hat
pronounced the words which ma0e
them legally insane as well as after
that important event.
How absurd It would seem If cases
Of the notihable contagious diseases
we're placed In the hands of the police
for three days or for as many weeks
while a judge was preparing the pa
/ pers necessary for their quarantine
or admission to hospital, and II dur.
ing that time only the poor-masteI
were responsible for their care! And
yet that is precisely what has beer
done in the case Of those suspected
of mental disease.
1T has been illegal in New YorI
State since 1926 to keep any person
suspected of being insane in a prison
or Jail, but the humane intent of tn,
law has been nullified by the words
unless he be violent or dangerous
and there is no other suitable plac,
for his confinement The violenc,
and dangerousness Of the patient wer,
determined by those competent au
thorities, the policeman and the. poor
master, and, Of course, there was n,
other suitable place for his confne
ment,' when TO provide such place
would cost real money.
Assured Good Treatment.
"In the new law these words ar
stricken out, and It is required tina
health officers shall see that such in
: sane person is cared for IN a suitabl
, place and is provided with prope
medical care and nursing Tn
, chance that lack of funds will pre
I vent suitable care from being provid
ed is removed by provision In tn
I new law that If there is no none
} available in the County Treasury tn
County Treasurer is authorized [
borrow a sufficient sum on the cred
? of the county and TO issue the usua
certificates of indebtedness for Il.
THE City of New York and til
q County of Albany are exempted frol
\ the provisions of the new law, for /
o the psycopathic wards of Bellevue an
of the Kings County Hospital aud I
4 Pavilion + of the Albany Hospital prs
4 vision is made for the care of the il
3 sane pending commitment.
+ The new law makes it possible
s extend humane and skilled care I
: hundreds who have suffered sorel
for the lack of it, but the benefits
r be derived will depend verify largel
!. upon the manner In which the ne
v responsibility is met by the healt
! officers of the State. The official al
n Of the insane in New York is no
Il in the hands of the medical profe,
sions, from the onset of the earli,
symptoms to the termination of ii
v disease This is where it ought
2 be. but it is grave responsible
: and it is a matter of concern 10 ,