Norwich bulletin., 1916-05-03
MERIDEN MAN
 ELECTED PRESIDENT
fcontinued, from Page seven)

including states having special insti- tptions for ePileptics.
 Twelve states have made no special provisions for the care of either of the classes.
 I wish to draw to your attention tho for Epileptics was organized Connect ! icut had no public institution for either the epileptic or feeble minded Tho feeble minded, amongst whom were epileptics, were provided for in a private institution. Many epilep- tics were not receiving state care, and after very energetic action, continu- ed over several years, on the part of those interested, the colony at Mans field was organized in 1909. In 1913 the state of Connecticut was com pelIed to assume the care of the fee School for Imbeciles was organized, and site and equipment of the private institution at Lakeville was purchas- ed. This site is inadequate for the purpose and the last legislature, l should think without due considera- tion, passed an act requiring the set ting aside of portion of the colony land as a new site for the establish ing of the institution for feeble-mfnd- cd. This act was passed without consulting the board of trustees of the Connecticut Colony for Epileptics. The colony needs all the land it had and the contour of the land is not such that it could be divided in any satisfactory way for either instftu- tion. It does not seem to me that tutions using some things in common with two boards of trustees, two su- perintendents. etc, etc, Is @ very 1 workable scheme.
 It seems to me now that the only 1 plan is the union of the two institu- l finTe o% MoncfoId 5a,- I eyfY, ,rTIo agement do not care to advise l what policy should be followed as re- gards Lakeville but should think un- der the circumstances the best policy | to follow would be to co0tinue that institution especially as not sufficient
 room will be available for either epi- 1 leptics or feeble minded for at least l two years or more. probably four years, possibly longer. after the next legislature meets. At that time two l institutions nal be a necessity. A certain class of the Predetermined could probably be kept at Lakeville 1 with great advantage.
 1 To ascertain the views of those in
 charge of the different state institu-
 tfons in the United States for the care 1 of the feeble minded and epileptic, let | ters were sent to the different super iutendents asking them to state their
 opinion "as regards the care of the 1 feeble minded and epileptic in com bined population of epileptic and feeble minded to be cared for in an
 mates in the next 10 or 15 years or 1 longer" Also +as to placing on the same ward epileptics and feeble mind ed in whom the mental deficiency or mental deterioration was marked.' g Some of the replies received were op- posed to the combining of the two classes in 8. single institution but by far the greater number were very dis tinctIy Nn favor of such plan.
 Much has been written stating that l epileptics should be cared for in sep arate institutions It is true that
 be in separate institutions but ex- ceedingly few of this class enter pub lie institutions anywhere. What can be the object of separating the men
 tally low grade of each class? The | epileptic requires greater care and of all classes of dependents, even of the insane epileptics are the most diffl-
 cult to care for, The epi1eptic is ob- jected to in almost all kinds of insti-
 tutions, he is not wanted in the insti- 3. tutionS for the insane or the feeble
 minded, and much of the agitation for his segregation has been the result
 of this. IL is claimed that in Con- nscticut there are 5000 or more fec
 ble- minded that should be placed in
 institutions and kept there. This is
 very probably correct but does any
 one think the state can be induced to
 supply funds to care for all of this
 class It is said that there is a large
 waiting list, waiting to get into ar
 institution. I believe this is true
 Previous to the opening of the Con.
 necticut colony for Epileptics I re-
 ceived numerous letters anxiously en-
 quiring when we would be ready tC
 admit patients, but when the colony
 was opened much of this eagerness l ,7sz
 ter of the towns paying $200 a weel