Norwich bulletin., 1911-03-24
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 m t from Name q Norwich Hos-

LssislAtivs csnnsitss. Urssd Il Elimi- n IL from Name ef Norwich Hos- Special to The Rulietip.) Hartford, March Two bills af- [ fecftng the Norwich hospital for the insane were taken up at a hearing be- fore the conlnittee on humane fnsti- tution6 Thursday afternoon. One of Iathese bills concerns a change in the name of the institution. the other be- ing relative to the cost of care of the patients within it.
 To Eliminate Word "Insans.,' In brief, the first matter is proposed that the word insane" objectionable for various reasons, be removed from l the official title of the institution and the second matter, relative to the cost of care, is presented to tho general assembly in an effort to make a cer- tain class of patients who are amply able to do so to pay the full cost Of such care as they receive at the state | institution.
 Judge Nelson J. Ayling, probate judge fer the district in which the Norwich hospital is located and also treasurer of the hospital, and Dr. H. M. Pollock, superintendent of the in stitution. appeared in favor of the two measures.
 Inmates Sensitive About Term "irsans'' Speaking relative to a change of title Judge Ayling said that patients are 1 more hostile to going to the institution because of the name insane The 1 idea is to take away the odium. To those violently insane the word means nothing, but to those suffering with a mild mental trouble the word insane Is sometimes apt to prove objectionable and might cause them to go to g prf- vatc sanitariun1. this said with refer ence to possible loss of revenue from 1 persons who can afford to pay full | title is the Norwich hospital for the 1 insane While containing the word objected to, it contains nothing to in dicate that it is state rather than a private institution. ; 1 Other institutions Doing It. | Dr. Pollock. superintendent of the |; hospital said that an investigation shows that institutions throughout the country are doing away with the word insane" from it's title. Ih the case of ! the Norwich hospital there is nothing l to indicate that it is a state institu- l ton.
 1 Judge Ayling suggested to the com | mittee that without the words Connec- l tiiut or state there is nothing in the present title of the hospital to indicate I that it is under state control. 1 Opposition to the Change.
 w W. Hyde Of Hartford trustee of | the Connecticut hospital for the insane i at Middletown. opposed the plan to l change the name, believing that it would cause confusion relative to the statutes He said he would not ob- ject to inserting the word state in 1 the title, but thought that such an in ] stitution should be known for what it was and that the words flor the fn- 1 sane" should remain.
 l Dr. Edwin A. Downs, president of the l state board of charities, also said a word in opposition to the removal Of 1 the words for the insane" mentioning 1 that it was being assumed that no ] other state hospital of a different character would ever be established at i Norwich. in which event exact defini- 1 ton of the nature of each should be 1 shown in the title. There was no op- | position to adding the word "state' to the title.
 To Make Patients Pay.
 The other bill, concerning care o1 patients at the hospital, is ainfed at a class of patients (and their relatives) who as inmates of state institutions for | the insane take advantage of weak 1 ness.es in the present law to receive l treatment at the same rate as those who cannot afford to pay, forcing or the state the necessity of meeting 3 part of the expense that they them selves are fully able to assume. As
 to the merits of the proposed bill mucf was said by Judge Aylfng and Super inte1fdent Pollock, who are sponsors for it. They freely admitted to the committee that they realized that il would if put in effect draw down upon 1 them the criticism of those whom il was aimed at but contended that il should pass, claiming that it would save the state many thousands of dol lars each year.
 Paying g and Costing $3.5o.
 The gentlemen stated to the com mittee that there are now many pa tients in the Norwich institution tha' are being cared for at the rate of g. 1 a week. whereas the cost of that care is $3.50, who have estates sufHeientls large to allow of relieving the state o. any expense for their care or who have
 relatives or friends amply able to pay the full cost of the care they are re l ceiving.
 Dr. Pollock said that he could no understand why the state should mett out charity to people who can well af- ford to pay. The intent of the bill which has the approval of the governor and the state treasurer, is to make those pay who can and thereby save the state much money each year. investigate Estates of Patients.
 The proposed bill provides for more searching investigation by selectnlen who shall report to the probate judge as to the value of the estate of q per son to be committed to the insane in stitutions of the state, and vests thu probate judge with power to fix aI
 arbitrary rate for care to those whom it is found can afford to pay for it. I Dr. Pollock told the committee tha the number of indigent patients nov ! at the Norwich hospital, if-they aver. aged payment of B instead of B Z
 week, would save the state s12.600 { ! year.
 MT Hyde thought the plan gooi one. but believed 1t would not prov, practical He thought extra off1ciall would be required to make such exact l ing Investigations of the estates O prospective patients and of the re sources of their relatives and friend