The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1915-02-03

CVnultiOuS or tTaQltlOnS, Dut with the
hope and determination tc see condi.
tions as they actually exist today, and
to present to you only the facts, and
to oner for your consideration n con
structive and practical plan for the
future development of this institu.
tion." says A. p. Herring. M. D., sec.
retary OF the Maryland Lunacy com.
mission. who was appointed by Gov
Richard i. Manning to make careful
and unbiased report on conditions al
the State Hospital for the Insane. The
report was completed last week by DR.
Herring and has been sent to the gen.
eral assembly. DR.. Herring was sug.
gested to Gov. Manning by Thomas w
Salmon, director of special studies OF
the national committee for mental
hygiene. Both OF these physicians
have a national reputation and their
conclusions carry weight in medical
circles.
South Has Been Backward.
In the outset OF his special report,
which was presented after several
weeks of investigation DIR. Herring
says that, taken as q whole. the South
has been backward I'm making mod
ern provision in caring for the men
tally afflicted.
This, I take" says DR.. Herring,
mas been due principally to financial
causes, and not from any want or lack
or 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 unfortunates,
who have been afflicted with the most
distressing of all diseases, namely, In
sanity. There is, am glad to say,
an awakening taking place all over
the South on this subject. Maryland
Virginia. North Carolina, Texas and
O few other Southern States, have
spent large sums OF money in erect
ing new buildings and IN raising and
maintaining a high standard OF care
equailed only by the most progress
sive States OF the North and Middle
West.
State Coming TO the Front.
south Carolina. In. the care and
treatment OF the insane, Is just about
to emerge, ! hope, from a condition
that other States have had to face for
more than 30 years. The conditions
now existing In the South Carolina
state ho3pitai were to be found in
New York and Massachusetts, and, In
iact. were more or less general
thropghout the country half century
ago.
II am firmly convinced that now ia
the opportune time, the psychological
moment, when. under your wise and
thoughtful leadership. the conditions
which We ail depiore. and should
never condone, will be abolished and
south Carolina placed In her rightful
position. The peopie of the State VIII
reel very grateful to you, and the
members or the general assembly.
VINO should give freely. after careful
consideration, OF the State resources,
so as TO: afford these afflicted wards
or the state every opportunity to re-
cover and. wehere this Is not possible,
then to make their remaining days as
happy and contented as possible un-
der the circumstances"
The Report.
The report is presented under four
heads. - -
1. The general requirements re-
garding the care and treatment of
patients suffering from mental dis
eases. = 81
2. The present conditions at the
State Hospital for. the Insane. T
3. Suggestions for Improvement.
T. Amendments to the lIRacy law.
Several pages OF the report are
given up to the general requirements
regarding the care and treatment OF
patients suffering from mental dis
eases. DR.. Herring says that In max
ing or suggesting any radical depart
ure from established custom, 1t Is Inn
portant that all have a proper eoneep-
tion OF the fundamental principies re-
gardfng such changes and ''that we
Plan wisely and and veil sasiii. and and s.:,s
plans regarding the care of the In
sane should conform to the highest
standards known 20 the medical pro-
fession." 5 ~
The report says that the dictates OF
humanity demand that the insane
shall be provided with everything
which medical science has d, farr .ir-
cd to be essential to, the recovery OF
those who ere recoverable, as well as
Tor the proper care. comfort and
amelioratioh of those who remain un-
recovered "a.
No system for the care ana treat
ment or the dependent insane SAYS
Dr. Herring. "can be successfully adj
ministered which is not sustained In
Its ordinary operations By the highest
order OF hupaaE emotions: no system
can - fairly regarded as good which
diresst or Indirectly relies upon 4
low order Of these emotions. Cupid
ypand sclf interest should have no
sway. whore suffering humanity Is
concerned" 3.
Discussins the human side ef Che
question DIR. Herring SAYS that In
saritay Is by far the most widely prav-
alent OF d;seases. TFe says that among
tie dependent insane are Il, ne found
ff-s, n Al, N s,s..,fs lf,a,