New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1918-04-23
GEORGE 5. PALMER
HEADS CONFERENCE
CONTINUED from Ninth Page)


sane person as the main is
sues. 1t was seen, therefore, that the
first step towards improving the
methods should be to place the re-
sponsibilitN for the care of the
cases in the hands Of some official
who would be more likely to consider
the medical needs of the cases the
main issue. To this end, the duties Of
providin& for insane persons were
transferred Ivy statute from the poor
la,, authorities to the medical health
officers and the confinement of the
cases in jails and lockups was for
bidden. Since this change was made,
the methods have been greatly i'm
proved, though prevailing Ignorance
and low standards concerning men,
tai disorders, even in the medical pro-
feSslOn, hinder the development of the
organization and facilities which are
needed. Special knowledge, special
skill, and in many instances special
facilities must be available for the
proper understanding and treatment
of mental disorders. These are not
yet demanded by the intelligence and
interest in the subject which prevail
in any community They can be Sc
cured only through the efforts of a
few specially informed and interested
individuals. They would, however, I
am sure be acceptable to the COM
munity, and willingly paid for as soon
as their purpose and value were un
derstood. In every large center Of
population a department for nervous
and mental cases should be provided
in connection with the best general
hospital. This department should be
SO organized and equipped that the
patients would be treated by the most
l. o
specially trained and experienced
nurses and physicians. In no class of
cases is the necessity for specialists
more pressing. In fact special knoWl-
edge and skill are the only sure safe
guards against gross neglect and mis-
management in the treatment of men,
tai cases. The department should be
open not only to the patients of the
city in which it is located, but to those
of the more easily accessible smaller
communities where there are no hos
pitfalls. These communities would,
through their health officers and the
more enlightened citizens, probably
have to be educated to bear the ex-
pense of the transfer and treatment
of the patients. A comparatively few
of the cases would, however, require
hospital treatment until they could be
sent to the state hospitals. Most of
them could be cared for at home,
with attention in some instances,
from a specially qualified nurse who
ought to be Obtainable from the hos
pital And it is discreditable to the
intelligence and humanity of any COM
munity when no better provision for a
deIirious or frenzied sick person is
made than the police station or lock-
up, and no more skilled nor tender at
tention can be supplied than those
pf the constable and the poormaSter.
The communities might also use to
greater advantage the resources of
the state hospitals This is especial
ly the case in those places nearest
to the hospitals. Access to these re-
sources should be as easy as posi-
BILE and means should be taken to in
form the public concerning the
methods and advantages. The hos
pital of a district should be a center
of information and assistance in all
matters relating to mental disorders,
and the state system should provide
for state supervision and standardized
ton of local provision and methods.
/ A system of cooperation may thus
| be established which will make it pos
sib1e to secure good treatment for
i patient during the whole period of
illness. The problem of mental dis
4 orders as now understood is no long
er properly formulated by the phrase
1.-THE care of the insane" Mental
disorders of many forms and in many
stages are extremely prevalent. Those
regarded as insane are simply the
cases whose capacity for adjustment
! to the requirements of organized So
ciety has failed to such a degree that
they have become a burden or men,
III ~ vi +y-r,, t1Oor,,
and of prevention can never be solved
merely by the care of the insane.
Each community must take it up for
itself and provide such organized at
tention as is given to any other social
problem such as education, sanitation,
TRANSPORTATION, etc. This view is al
ready beginning to find practical APP
plication in the schools, in the courts,
m the prisons, in the army and navy,
and wherever departures from normal
behavior require attention.
Recommends Careful Study.
ut is of vital interest to all of us
that the means provided for dealing
with mental disorders in the COM
munity should be adequate. No one
is immune from the disorders,
and when a case occurs in
household in a community the
situation is one which demands
very special knowledge, skill and
facilities. Kindly permit me then
closing to suggest for your careful
thought and investi cation as you take
up again your contracts and interests
in your own communities the follow
ing questiOns:-
Cd IF a case of mental disorder
should occur in your household What
Il