Milford chronicle., 1924-11-28
WHY DO We MAINTAIN
COUNTY ALMSHOUSES?

AlmShOuSe to care lOfj DuI, from u
letter of Dr.. Powell it appears tn
the local trustee of the County Aim
house, entertains a very wrong i'd
as to its purposes and his duties
this especial case. For general il
formation and also for benefit
those interested directly, DR.. Pow
ellis letter is reprinted as follows:
Some months ago l wrote you
in behalf of Mr.. John Old, far
mer near WilliamsVille, Kent
County, Delaware, who is un-
fortunate in giving a home to
one Samuel c. McAllister aged
about 2S years. Your reply stat
ing the rules of admittance to
State Hospital for INDECENT In
sane at Farnhurst, Delaware,
did not permit admitting an
epileptic.
Mr.. Hooper Ross, local trustee
of the Kent County Poor House,
yesterday concluded that to ad-
nit one aged % years, would
cause adverse comment; also,
that sleeping quarters had an
open stairway, into which an
epileptic might fall, etc.
Yesterday 1 wrote to John B.
Hutton, Esq, at Dover, Del, to
know if this homeless waif could
be admitted to the Home for
Feeble Minded, near Stockley,
Del.
Mr.. Old is not related to Nc
Allister and did not know that
he was an epileptic, when he
took him about eight years ago,
at solicitation of his brother;
who, upon attaining his age of
q years, left and no person
now knows where he is.
McAllister mentally now is
such, that he is eligible to either
Farnhurst, our Kent County
Poor House, or the Colony for
Feeble Minded near Stockley,
Del.
What disposition can be made
of such people?
McAllister is a native of Ches-
ter County, Penna. If we turn
him out doors, freezing would
make short work of him these
cold nights.
Very truly,
J. B. r. Powell.
Replying to DR.. Powell from the
standpoint of being a proper subject
o be admitted to the State Hospital
or the INDECENT Insane, there is
My one test to settle that question:
il; an examination by two practic-
ng physicians, resident in Kent
of whom may be the
amily attending physician, the
ther must be physician designat-
by the Trustees of the State Hos
ital for INDECENT Insane, who is
of the county wherein the
ase is located. If these two physi-
ians find that the party is insane,
nd a proper subject for treatment
t the State Hospital, then the indi-
idual can be admitted for treat
lent; but if after being admitted in
he State Hospital, the patient is
,und not to be insane, and there
,re not a proper patient to be ad-
tilted, then the superintendent of
lat hospital may discharge the case,
hen it can go to the County Aims
Duse, or other place.
From the point of being Mentally |
ETC., the Colony at Stock
y, Delaware, is not prepared to
Ike care of epileptics and it was
!, purpose of the good people who
ere instrumental in starting it.
Now we come to the County Aims
use, where a case such as this
ould be received and taken care of.
| epileptic is not an insane person
d should not be incarcerated as
1lent insane must be cared for; or
en- those less violent, but insane.
ALI the people pay each year taxes
: the maintenance of the poor and
licted who are unable to care for
emselves; but who are not insane.
that place all of the unfortunate
this class must be admitted.
How the local trustee of the Kent
unity Almshouse can fail to act on
S case and care for it, we are un-
e to understand; always provid-
, that the case is as stated by DR..
we'll, and we believe that in the
in he has briefly wrote what he
ieves to- be correct.
f the statement of Mr.. Ross cor
tly depicts the conditions exist
at the Kent County Almshouse
to sleeping quarters, and fear of
favorable criticism from some
rec is a fact, then that institu-
/ needs some very urgent inves-
ltion.
he personal acquaintance that l
-e had with the Kent County
lshouse in former years, leads to
erent conclusions as to condi-
is there, as well as the govern III
It of the institution. II
the County Poor House is not Nj
such patients as these, ll
l for what purpose is the money III
ropriated each year and expend- III
or the support of the Kent COun- III
Almshouse, intended to serve? MI
he State Hospital for INDECENT MI
inc is where the insane are Il
ted.
he Colony for the Feeble Minded
itockley is for an entirely differ III
class of people, who are doing
work and who are capable of llII
ling. I'LL
le County Poor Houses are for iii
destitute and friendless; for III
e who are afflicted and unable
laintain themselves and yet are MI
insane. W
is to be hoped that there is a II
understanding between DR.. Pow
nd Mr.. Hooper Ross in this par
ar case and that it can be sd- I'LL
d satisfactory to all concerned. lllI|
far as Farnhurst State Hospi- lIlI
l. IIIII