Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-05-21

scientific principles over prayers
and incantatiOnS. the triumph OF
nursing and sanitation over orgies
and mistreatment. In this last era
the state has taken charge and has
done a great deal. What 1t has
done. however. has been somewhat
hanhazard and disorganiZed. much
after the manner in which our cities
have grown up. without plans. To-
day cities are being planned after
a definite scheme and the treatment
of all sick persons should also fol-
low definite plans
state Hospital Proposed
DR.. Turner proposed IN his adj
dress the establishment of four pSy.
copathic hospitals in Texas. north.
south. cast and west. with the best
talent available in the United States
in charge Of the institutions. In
these hospitals voluntary rs we'll rs
committed patients would be given
treatment. which would also be
available for patients in their own
homes. He cited Boston where
with 100 beds the hospital takes
care or $500 patients. and pointed
out the experience in Michigan
Massachusetts,. and Maryland where
the number of reservations averaged
80 per cent.
These hospitals for incipient cases.
which he regards as most import
ant because they are more apt TO be
cured. would be supplemented by
divisions for taking are OF sub
acute. chronic. senile. feble-mind-
cd children. and criminally insane
cases. in the plan proposed BY DR..
Turner. Chronic cases. eligible for
discharge when cured. would be
taught various industries, farming.
dairyine. manufacturing. according
to The locality. and would thus IN
a great measure become self-sup-
porting. The senilc insane would
De segregated. as would the teach
able" from the ~nOn-teachcable
feeble minded children. ~Epileptics
would be treated separately and all
insane. tuberculars would be lSol-
ated.
Perpetual Incarceration for all
who have committed murder was
recommended in the address. Such
a measure. DR.. Turner believes, will
90 away with a great deal Of eva
sion on pleas Of insanity. and would
at the same time give opportunity
for the restoration OF temporarily
insane cases as useful members Of
society. This would be accomplish
ca BY re-trials after treatment show
cd apparent restoration.
Prior 10 commitment Of insanity,
DR.. Turner recommends passing OF
judgement BY a jury or six ply
sicians. n measure which he &C
clarcd has been enacted by the lcEiS-
lature In 1911 while he was prcsi-
dent OF the state ASSOCIATION. this
measure. he said. was enacted de-
clared unconstitutional. because
physicians we're not considered q
mans peer" "A constitutional a.
mendment with his suggestion en-
bodied in ii would remedy the sit
uation. he declared.
Elimination Of the hypothetical
question if presented to a medical
expert on the witness stand was
advocated BY DR.. Turner TO be sup
plemented BY expert testimony divi-
ded into classes OF fact witnesses.
describing the physical injuries.
opinion witnesses who would be re-
tanned by either defense or prose-
cution or both. and an observing"
witness. who would not be question
cd. but who would listen TO all teSti-
mony and gather all facts and de-
liver To the Judge his opinion. which
the judge would deliver TO the jury.
This observer would be employed by
the state TO act as impartial judge
OF a defendants sanity as revealed
in criminal trials. and would not
receive remuneration from either
prosecution or defense.
What Is insanity was the sub
iect Of an address by DR.. James
Greenwood OF Houston. Symptoms.
graduations or insanity. and trtat-
mcnts were discussed.
Or. r. B. Bass. Of Abilene read
a paper on Epilepsy" DR.. Wilmer
Allison Of Fort Worth spoke on Re
peated Commissions"
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