Norwich bulletin., 1921-02-09
OPPOSE LEGAL DEATH
FOR INCIrRARI.Y INRA

OPPOSE LEGAL DEATH
FOR INCURABLY INSANE
IF DR.. Wilcox of the Norwich State
Hospital for the Insane has told the
newspaper reporters that he believes in
mercifully ending the tortures Of hope
lessly insane people by putting them
to death, he will not find many support
ers in this state" said DIR. Whitefeld, ~
Thompson, superintendent of the Hart
ford Retreat, says the Hartford Times Of
Tuesday.
Discussion of the matter was started
anew last Saturday by the members Of
the general assembly's committee on APP
preparations, the members being divided
as to whether or not law should be
passed providing that persons in state
institutions found 70 be hopelessly in
sane and suffering mental fortunes should
be mercifully put to death. Colonel Rob-
ert o. Eaton of North Haven, house
| chairman Of the committee, says he could
| not support such a proposition. but sew
eral other members Of thsbrcommittee
were reported to- have indicated that
| they would.
DR.. Wilcox, Interviewed by several
newspaper men is quoted in brief as say
ing.
1T is for the good of the Individual to
relieve him when lie is suffering the tor
lures of the damned. 1 am firmly con-
WINGED of this after an experience of rs
years in various institutions and after
having studied large number Of cases
| of mental ailments. A tortured human
being can be mercifully put out Of exist
ence. He can be relieved of his distress
by chloroform or other means" g.
This solution may not come at pres
ent, but I believe that some day the peo-
pie will see it. We breed cattle correct
ly' and We breed dogs correctly. Why
shouldn't we tAle care OF individuals
1t is for the good of the Individual to re-
deve him when he is suffering the tor.
lures of the damned. This is not an
economic condition; it Is something fol
the human being himself.
Il make this statement after a careful
study of the situation, after an expert.
ense of twenty-five years in various in.
lstitutions and stand back Of it. l refer
of course, to chronic cases, which would
have to be passed upon by a commission
of experts"
DR.. Thompson says in differing with
DR.. Wilcox:
This subject has been dwelt upon and
dealt with improperly in the minds Of
the public. The fact is the persons suf
|
In the state institutions-they are walk.
ing right down Main street in Hartford
and down the streets Of other cities Rnt
towns. Another important fact which
should be borne in mind is there are no
very many insane people who are suffer
ing great mental tortures. 1t is mostl,
observed in their first year in the inst
buttons, but the majority of them undeI
treatment get over it in a year, and al
though perhaps hopelessly insane do ne
suffer mental fortunes.
The question appears to be merely ;
matter Of economy with the appropria
tons committee" was DIR. Thompsoni
dissertation. 81 am gratified to lear
, where Mr.. Eaton stands, but 1 wish h,
would loosen up the purse strings"
DR.. Wilcox, who is superintendent o
the Norwich institution, wanted it under
, stood he was not talking in favor Of an,
J legislative measure to end the lives o
| the hopeless sufferers. He said the tim
: for it has probably not arrived, but h
believed it would come some day.
= DR.. Paul Waterman of Hartford Al
' expert alienist and SURGEON general o
/ the staff of Governor Lake, said Tuesda
f that he believed any proposition to pu
S to death the mental sufferers was cor
trary to public policy and hardly in az
cord with the public sentiment which
to do the most it can to relieve thes
sufferings. 81 question whether the tin
has come for departing from the polio
= of having the state trying as long as
e can to make these sufferers comfortabl
! It is a fact that under treatment a m;
d iority of the cases show improvement"
n said.
s DIR. c. Floyd Haviland. superintendel
e of the Connecticut hospital for the insaI
W at Middletown, the largest institution 4
lie the scientific treatment of mental p
lie tents in the state, expressed himself
being absolutely opposed to any SUI
"a, suggestion. as that of putting the s
IT called incurably insane to death. /
lg stated that In the first place people 81
VI fering from a mental sickness were EN-
CT tied to the scientific care of a sympathet
n world secondly. that mental disease W
b. no more incurable than other forms
es sickness, many patients recovering ca
is year and many others showed relati
IN if not a complete recovery.
tie DR.. William B. Terhune, medical dire
re tor of the Connecticut Society for Mem
Hygiene. who is in charge Of clinic
psychiatry in the Yale Medical scho
said Monday that no physician worthy
~ the name would countenance the suggt
ton that mental patients be put to dea
te that anyone who made such suggetsi
OF showed that he knew nothing about
IS nature of mental disease.
M "T did not hear any such sentime
expressed by any member Of the CO
at mfttee and I am certain that the ste
IN is made out of whole CLOTH" said Rep
u sentative Sidney V. Osborn Of Branfo
ne a member of the appropriations comm
IS tee Of the general assembly, when ask
Use concerning the report that members
OF the committee were considering
ek providing for the death OF ''incurabl
en- insane patients ut certainly is news
me, and Furthermore I should not sal
nc ton any such proceeding concerning {
wv report that members Of the commit
" would do So"
he