New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1910-09-17
The Texas Oil Co.
NEGLECTING A SACRED
TRUST.

DR.. Ferris. of New York. an eN-
pert n diseases of the mind, who
IaS shown himself to be a firm
>ympathizer with he mtortunataS
who have become mentally dis
eased, is working to the extent OF
his ability to overcome the I'M
reasoning and almost brutal pref
udice and fear that commonly
dictates the policy to be pursued
when an individual shows signs
Of mental alienation. His address
10 the mayors and city officers.
should be read by every one. for
any Of us may have some day a
close friend or "A relative thus I'M
fortunately situated. II we re
alize that subjects of mental dis
ease still have . Alind. and that
they are sometimes even more
keenIy sensitive t. any indignlty
than a normal person: If we re-
alize that the treatment in the
early stage may effect favoraI,y
or unfavorably the patients re
covery we will understand the i'm
portance of the warning by DR..
Ferris.
The State undertakes to pro-
vide adequate and humane treat
ment for all its mfortunateS Two
splendidly equipped institutions
are maintained for the care and
treatment Of those mentally de
ranged. and we rejoice that so
many have taken advantage of the
hospitality offered and are today
enjoying pleasures, comforts and
privileges that go to make their
lot less uncomfortable. Taking
broad and humane view of the
matter, we cannot believe that
the lawmakers ever contemplated
holding IN jails the unfortunates
who have been interdicted. They
are not criminals. and certainly If
was never anticipated that they
would be treated as common Grim
mails. A night or two in Jail is.
perhaps, unavoidable. and few will
seriously question the propriety
If placing the most inoffensive
interdict behind the prison wa''s
for brief period. But there are
interdicts over the State who
have been in the parish jail for
months. and many of them are
Likely to remain for months to
come. Necessarily, they are close
ly confined with individuals
charged with all manner of
crimes, and must come in contact
with disreputable crime-stained
prisoners. That this is a mon-
strous outrage none will deny, but
few citizens ever have the hardi-
hood to protest against such treat
ment.
We seriously question the au-
thority of an officer to hold an n
terdict in jail. We admit that
the institution provided for the
care of such unfortunates may be
overcrowded. and the officials of
these asylums may refuse to ad-
NIT patients. but that does not
relieve the officers from the re-
sponsibility7or justify the keeping
Of interdicts in prisons. This IS
by no means a local affair. and
must not be considered locally,
but must be viewed in the broad
light of Statewide question, AT
fecting vitality many unfortunates
who are unable to help thems elves
BY what authority does an offic al
hold a man who has been inter
dicted in the parish iailg As we
view the matter it is neither ..:5;ht.
humane. nor legal. Within lea
sonable time after the legal for
malities have been complied v'th.
the sheriff is expected to deliver
the interdict to the asylum off
cials. and then his. connection with
the matter terminates. If the of
ficials cannot provide accommo-
dations for the patient, it is the
States business to remedy the
matter. 1t is not legal. lust or
humane to confine these unfort-
unates in jails. no matter how
comfortable or sanitary the sur
roundings They are not Grim
inals. but are often people of in
telligence. capable of comprehend
ing and conversing intelligently
upon any subject. Frequently
they are men and women of re-
finement and to -be forced to
come in contact with criminals OF
all grades is enough 20 completely
unbalance their impaired minds
and make them raving maniacs.
In the name of humanity and jus
tice, we plead for better and
more reasonable treatment of the
insane people of the entire State.
II is a monstrous outrage to con
fine them as common criminals.
forcing them to share the prison
fare and treatment accorded a |
sneak thief. common burglar or
murderer-Monroe News-Star.