The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1919-12-18
SANE PEOPLE KEPT IN ASYLUM
FOR THE INSANE.

If the charges made by J. X. White
commissioner Of public welfare, re-
garding the Idaho asylum for the in
sane at Blackfoot are true, there Is a
condition In that institution that Is a
disgraceful blot upon the fair name OF
the state, and one that can not be re-
moved except by prompt action by
the state authorities in righting the
wrong to unfortunate victims n in
vigorously prosecuting those respon
sible for it. According to Commits
sioner White, 10 per cent Of the in
mates of the Blackfoot insane asylum,
are not insane and will be released.
Summing up the result of his inves-
legations, the commissioner said:
Out of 800 inmates 35 are not
insane.
Counties have persisted in
palming off as state charges
feeble minded persons. who be.
long in county institutions.
Unnatural families have rail-
roaded undesirable relatives to
the state madhouse.
Proper segregation has been
rendered impossible by the flood
of patients; and
There is not even a place to die
at Blackfoot.
These facts came to light at a meet
ing of the asylum board on December
2 when the superintendent of the asy-
lum was instructed to make a careful
examination of every patient, to be
followed by a report to the board CIV
ing the names of those who should be
discharged from the institution, to-
gether with all facts in connection
with each case. Commissioner White
says there are inmates of the asylum
who are not now and never were in
sane. These are generally aged par
ents are relatives whose families OF
others responsible for their keep have
|railroaded them to the asylum on ac-
count of some popularity Of conduct,
but which by the widest stretch of
Imagination could not be called in
sanity. Besides these of sound mind,
the asylum is housing many cases OF
lidiocy or f~eebleness of mind in spite
of the fact that the law of the state
expressly says that mo case of idi-
ocy, imbecility or simple feebleness of
mind must he maintained at the asy-
lum." 1t seems singular that these
conditions could prevail in the asylum
il the superintendent is a capable man
and has been giving careful and con-
scientious attention to his duties.
Commissioner White also charges
that probate judges have been guilty
of at least neglect in the performance
of their duties in committing these
unfortunate victims to the asylum. AS
a result many patients have become a
burden to the state whose estates or
lyvhnca acpnnclhla raloti,oe ha,, .ba
means to pay for their maintenance in
the asylum, as required by the law in
such cases. No names are given at
this time, but it is announced that the
action of several probate judges is to
be investigated.
The crowded condition of the asy-
lum, as described by Commissioner
Is shocking in the extreme.
the meeting of the board four
patients in the asylum died. During
their sickness, owing to the crowded
condition, there was no place to move
them from the wards, and they pass
away surrounded by leering insane
giggles OF idiotic mirth, hyster-
cal outbursts of the innocent dement,
I'd patients about them, many of
whom gathered at the bedsides."
The people Of Idaho demand that
here shall be no delay in relieving
he horrible situation in the Blackfoot
and that those responsible
or it shall be punished.