The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-02-06
STATES METHODS ADEQUATED.
DIR. Herring Says Methods at State
Hospital are Fifty Years Behind
Times.

cepted your kind invitation to make
this survey, as your personal repre-
sentative, and approached the task
with open and unbiased mind, with
no prcconceived ideas as to the past
or the present conditions or tradi-
tions. but with the hope and detcrmi-
nation to see conditions as they ac-
tually exist today, and to present to
you only the facts, and to offer for
your consideration a constructive and
practical plan for the future develop
ment of this institution" says a. p.
Herring, M. d., secretary Of the Mary
land lunacy commission, who was ap-
pointed by Gov. Richard /. Manning
to make n careful and unbiased re-
port on conditions at the State Hos
pital for the Insane. The report was
completed last week by DR.. Herring
and has been sent to the general as
sembly. DR.. Herring was suggested
to Gov. Manning by Thomas w. Sal
mon, director OF special studies of
the national committee for mental
hygiene. Both of these physicians
have national regulations and their
conclusions carry weight in medical
circles.
In the outset of his special report
which was presented after several
weeks of investigation, DR.. Herring
says that, taken as whole, the
South has been backward in making
modern provision in caring for the
mentally afflicted.
This, I take it," says DR.. Herring
has been due principally to finan-
cial causes, and not to any want or
lack Of sympathy or desire on the
part Of the people to do all in their
power to relieve the suffering and
promote the recovery Of these unfor-
tunates, who have been afflicted with
the most distressing of all diseases,
namely. insanity. There is. 1 am
glad to say, an awakening taking
place all over the South on this sub
ject. Maryland, Virginia, North Car
olina, Texas, and few other Southern
states have spent large sums of mon
ey in erecting new buildings and in
raising and maintaining a high stand
ard of care. eQualed only by the most
progressive State Of the North and
Middle West.
South Carolina, in the care and
treatment Of the insane, is just about
20 emerge, | hope from q condition
that other States have had TO face for
nqsss Than so years. The conditions
now existing in the South Carolina
state hospital were to be found in
New York and Massachusetts,, and, in
fact, were more or less general
throughout the country a half CEN
tury ago.
II am firmly convinced that now is
the opportune time, the psychological
moment, when, under your wise and
thoughtful leadership. the condition
which we all deplore, and should never
condone, will be abolished and South
Carolina placed in her rightful posi-
ton. The people of the State will feel
very grateful to you and the members
of the general assembly, who should
give freely, after careful consideration
of the States resources, so as to ar-
ford these afflicted wards Of the State
every opportunity to recover, and
where this is possible, then to make
their remaining days as happy and
contented as possible in the circum-
stances"
The report is presented under four
heads:
l. The general requirements re-
garding the care and treatment Of
patients suffering from mental dis
eases.
2. The present condition at the
State Hospital for the Insane.
3. Suggestions for improvement.
4. Amendments to the lunacy law
Several pages of the report are given
up to the general requirements re-
garding the care and treatmnet of pa
tients suffering from mental diseases
DR.. Herring says that in making or
suggesting any radical departure from
established custom, it is important
that all have a proper conception Of
the fundamental principles regarding
such changes and that we plan wise
ly and well. and that these plans re-
garding the care Of the insane should
conform to the highest standards
known 20 the medical profession"
The report says that the dictates
of humanity demand that the insane
shall be provided with everything