Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-05-20


convention headquarters.
Beginning with IN history uf I'm
sanity and Its treatment, In the
course OF which The traced what NE
described as three definite eraS. Dr.
Turner brought his discussion to
recent times and improvements
which r leading to IN large per
centage or restoration OF sanity in
seemingly HOPELESS cases. DIR. Turner
described the EZRA OF church dcmi-
nation" during which insane persons
re looked upon as bewitched or
invested with demoniacal spirits:
the -custOdfal care era during
which incarceration was only treat
ment. and the EZRA OF full reCOR-
milton" when insane persons were
first recognized aS being sick.
This era" Dr. Turner said, -of
which the present day Is "a part.
represent the triumph or hospitals
over ~monasterieS. the triumph or
scientific principles over prayers
and incantatiOns. the triumph or
nursing and sanitation over orgies
and mistreatment. I'm this last err
the state has taken charge and has
done n great deal. What III has
done. however. has been somewhat
haphazard and disorEanized. much
after the manner I'm which our cities
have grown I'D, 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 i'm his ad-
dress the establishment OF four psy-
copathic hospitals In Texas. north.
south. east and west. with the best
talent available I'm the United States
In charge OF the institutions I'm
these hospitals voluntary rs well as
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 OF $500 patients. and pointed
out the experience I'm Michigan.
Massachusetts. and Maryland where
the number OF reservations averaged
90 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 care 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 he
taught various industries, farming
dairying. manufacturing. according
to the locality. and would thus Ill
a great measure become self-Sup-
porting. The senile insane would
be segregated. as would the teach
able" from the "non-teachcable"
feeble-minded children Epileptics
would be treated separately and all
insane, tuberculars would b. isol-
ated.
Life For SIayers
Perpetual incarceration Tor al
who have committed murder was
recommended in the address Such
a measure. DR.. Turner believes, will
do away with q greet deal OF eva
sion on pleas of insanity. and would
ut the same time give opportunity
for the restoration OF temporarily
insane cases as useful members OF
society. This would be accomplish
ed by re-trials after treatment show
ed apparent restoration.
Prior to commitment OF insanity.
DR.. Turner recommends passing OF
judgement by a jury OF six ply
SicianS, a measure which ne de
clared has been enacted by the legiS-
lature in 1911 while he vas preSi-
dent OF the state ASSOCIATION this
measure. he said, was enacted de
clared unconstitutional, because
physicians we're not considered a
mans peer "a constitutional a.
mendment with his suggestion en
bodied in IL would remedy the sit
uati0n. he declared.
Elimination or the hypothetical
question III presented to a medical
expert on the witness stand was
advocated by DR.. Turner to be sup
plemented by expert testimony divi-
uEQ AAlNO dAdocGo ~ AG1N WAhhA~l1@1H
describing the physical injuries,
opinion witnesses who would be re-
tanned by either defense or prose-
cution or both. and ar observing"
witness. who would not be question
ed. 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 T. Insanity" was the sub
ject of an address bv DR.. James
Greenwood or Houston Symptoms.
graduations OF insanity. and trtat-
ments were discussed.
DR.. +. u. Bass. OF Abilene read
a paper on Epilepsy" DR.. Wilmer