The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1922-05-02
ASYLUM INMATES
NOT ALL INSANE
MEDICAL ADVISER SAYS MANY
PERSONS WR0NGFULLY CON-
FINED IN INSTITUTIONS

DR.. F. w. Almond, who is state
medical adviser of the department Of
public welfare, on his return to Boise
Saturday, after an investigation, in
company with other physicians, of the
Blackfoot asylum, made the following
startling statement: There are many
persons confined in the Blackfoot in
sane asylum who are no more insane
than you or T."
The same opinion as that expressed
by Dr.; Almond was expressed several
months ago by David Burrel, state
commissioner of public welfare, re-
garding both the north and south Ida
no asylums. The investigation on
the part of Dr. Almond was made at
the request of Mr. Burreu, who has
been working for some months on the
problem of clearing out the state in
sane asylums of persons who right
fully do not belong there but who have
been committed by probate judges in
the various counties of the state.
Almond Says Is Il Crime
81 tell you it is a crime said Dr.
Almond to the Idaho Statesman, on
his return to Boise, Saturday, ito see
old women any where from 70 to So
years of age confined in an institution
of raving maniacs, when they them
selves are not insane, show no signs
of it, and their commitment papers
do not show that they are insane.
Many of the patients there have ply
cal disabilities which need care and
and the patients would get
we'll if taken care of instead of be-
ing placed in an institution for the
insane, after a worthy life of useful
ness"
No names would be mentioned for
by the doctor but in the
20 cases that the examining commit
tee investigated, five were found to
have no trace of insanity, and their
papers showed no indication that they
had been committed for insanity.
Social Aspirations cause
"It is pretty hard to think that
laughter would allow her social aspi
rations to so cloud her vision that she
would send her poor, old mother off
o an insane asylum, so she wouldn't I
De ashamed Of her." said the doctor,
yet this is actually the case of one
in the Blackfoot institution.
She is old, and her memory is not as
clear as it once was, but she is not in
sane by any means"
The Idaho law covering commit
nent says:
"The person shall be so far disor-
Tered in mind as to endanger the
lealth, person and property
The report prepared by the board OF
physicians, however, says:
1--WE find that numerous commit
nents do not in any way fulfill this
and are not, therefore,
,roper persons to be confined in this
Mr.. Burrell has taken up with the
ttorney general the matter OF having
hese people returned to the places
rom which they were committed, and
as had several opinions as to the best
yay they could be freed from the in
titution.
One of the recommendations made
v the board of doctors was:
"That those persons not insane be {
e-examined by the court committing
nem, and other disposition made OF
hem. That some other disposition
e made of those cases that are in
1eir 'dotage' and show only senility, {
elieving it is not fair to them, nor to
le state, to have them terminate their
avs in an insane institution with the !
tigma of insanity placed upon lnem
nd their heirs"