San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1926-04-04
EXPERT SCORES
ASYLUMS Of
s I A 7 {
Declares Insane Fail to
Receive Proper Care
For Recovery.

ynary institutions of Texas are be.
coming an enormous financial bur.
den to the state, and ought to have
the immediate attention of experts, I"
said DR.. A. c. Ellis, professor Of
education in the University of Texas.
in an address at the First Congre-
gational Church here. DR.. Ellis is
the executive secretary of the com.
mission of nine Texas citizens up.
pointed by the last Legislature to
make a close survey of state institu-
tons.
In his address, DIR. Ellis outlined
the work Of the commission, gave its
recommendations, discoveries. and the
new laws of the state for which it is
responsible. The commission had 500.
600 at its disposal; it employed six
Of the best experts in the United
States, and made a survey of the
jails, poor farms, reformatories for
children, orphan asylums and insane
asylums.
The commission" said DIR. Ellis
concentrated its work on the insane
asylums of the state, and attempted
to lay before the Legislature the best
program that could be outlined. As
result of its work, the Legislature
IN It's last session enacted into law
the most important of the recommen.
cations made. The commission asked
that the names Of the institutions be
changed, because the name 1upatic
asylum was very distressing upon
some of the inmates and upon tb.ir
families. The present name is STATE
Hospital for Mental Diseases.
Formerly the method of entrance
into an asylum was nothing sho-. OF
tragic. n person could not enter the
institution unless he had been tried
before q jury of six men and convict.
ed of insanity. The ordinary man
knows little about the test of mental
normallty; hence, the old system was
totally inadequate. The Legislature
passed law which changed the metI,.
cd considerably.
PUBLICITY BANNED.
There is now no publicity attached
10 the proceeding. Any person may
nave the examination made by the
officials at the asylums on request.
A person may also be admitted 10
the asylum for temporary obserya-
ton. There are five methods in use
now, none of which are objectionable
or embarrassing.
The great defect of the Texas
asylums lies in. the fact that no Mt
tempt is being made to treat the in.
mates. There are 5000 persons in
the asylums of this state, and not
one Is being treated scientifically, "
said Dr.. Ellis. There are five nee
essary things which authorities have
recognized as essential TO the treat
ment OF mental diseases. First, the
case must be discovered early. If
cases. of mental diseases. were. reeos-
nlzed quickly enough more than half
could be cured. The poor results that
we have had in this state are largely
due to the fact that cases 90 too long
without any treatment.
DIAGNOSIS LACKING.
an the second case. the mental
disease must be carefully diagnosed.
And yet there is not a single alienist
III Texas asylums who is capable of
diagnosing mental diseases.
"ln the third place, the matter of
treatment is recognized by authori-
ties as being vital in the cure of
mental diseases. Hygiene, exercise.
and food are very important. The
state saved $250,000 the first year
it employed capable dicticians to
make out the bill of fare. 1t has
also been recognized that Occupstional
work will benefit the insane greatly.
Yet ont Of 5000 inmates only 40 are
given any occupational work. Their
utter loneliness is almost enough TO
drive sane person out of his mind.
HYGIENE NEEDED.
"The removing Of focal infections,
such as tonsils and bad teeth, is quite
important in the cure of the lunatic
and yet there is no provision made
in Texas for such work.
The commission recommended that
hospitals be built in Dallas and
Galveston for the examination of the
carly and hopeful cases. Under the
present system all are sent TO the
same asylum, are huddled together,
and there is no hope for cure even
for the mild cases.