Twelfth annual report of the managers of the State Lunatic Asylum : made to the Legislature January, 1854 / New York State Lunatic Asylum at Utica.

  • New York (State). State Lunatic Asylum
Date:
1854 [ie 1855]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Twelfth annual report of the managers of the State Lunatic Asylum : made to the Legislature January, 1854 / New York State Lunatic Asylum at Utica. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    19/44 (page 17)
    We would not convey the idea that these were all incurable, but, on the contrary, a number of them would have been bene¬ fited by more protracted treatment, and many, without doubt, would have ultimately recovered. Insanity is a disease chronic in its nature, and therefore the more uncertain in its ultimate issues; and until serious organic changes have taken place in the brain, the subjects of this worst of human ills should not be deprived of any means cal¬ culated to restore or improve them. Jacobi remarks that “the continuance of the disease for many years is not, of itself, a sufficient reason for pronouncing insanity incurable; ” a fact fully sustained by the previous experience of this Institution; and Esquirol states that of all the recoveries under his care (2,000), more than one-half recovered after the second year. The removal of patients likely to be benefited by prolonged treatment on account of the expiration of an order of indi¬ gence, or of the same class supported by their friends, to make room for the reception of others at public charge, and of patients laboring under mental diseases of long standing, and not complicated with serious bodily affections, is one of the most painful duties we are called upon to perform; and, although sanctioned by the law governing the admission of patients into the institution, it is simply a choice between two great evils of nearly equal magnitude. The provisions for the care and treatment of the insane are, at best, more or less imperfect, even in well organized asylums, and the principle governing their removal in an “ unim¬ proved ” state, should look solely to their benefit by offering in the change increased facilities for physical comfort to the hopeless, and to the more favorable, additional means of res¬ toration. Those removed to county houses are generally cases of chronic dementia, and the more violent cases of chronic ma¬ nia ; the classes requiring the most constant vigilance and un¬ remitting attention to make them even comparatively com¬ fortable. Many of the former, as to their wants, are in the condition of children, or helpless old age. They are filthy in their habits, having no idea of personal cleanliness. They [Senate, No. 14.] 2