Eighteenth annual report of the managers of the State Lunatic Asylum : transmitted to the Legislature January 16, 1861 / New York State Lunatic Asylum.
- New York (State). State Lunatic Asylum
- Date:
- 1861
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Eighteenth annual report of the managers of the State Lunatic Asylum : transmitted to the Legislature January 16, 1861 / New York State Lunatic Asylum. Source: Wellcome Collection.
19/64 page 17
![No. 13.] IT have been compelled to resort to temporary expedients, crowding the associate dormitories more than formerly, and often putting up additional beds, temporarily, in the wards. This temporary expansion has, at times, afforded great relief, where acute, mania¬ cal, or dangerous cases, were pressing for admission. The danger from this course is, that this occasional pressure may become per¬ manent, and seriously embarrass the working of the Institution, as over-crowding almost necessarily implies interference with, or disturbance of classification. Though we have endeavored to restrict the admissions to cases of insanity of recent date, yet a large proportion of those received were in the chronic, incurable stages of the disease. This, how¬ ever, may be said, that while many cannot receive any benefit in the way of cure, they are entirely fit subjects for the treatment and care of an Asylum, and their removal from home absolutely necessary for their own welfare, as well as that of others. Insanity, in the majority of cases, through its chronic stages, requires treatment out of the family, either because of the irrita¬ bility it develops, the properties and habits accompanying it, or the unhappy influence its presence exerts in a family and in a community. Further, it is undoubtedly true, that a great many persons laboring under mental disease, are far happier away from than in their homes. This is true, also, to some extent, in other diseases, especially in some forms of dyspepsia. Persons under the pressure of business which they are unable to direct, and of cares and responsibilities which they feel their strength inadequate to meet, pass into a state of unrest and disquietude, are morbidly sensitive and irritable, and often timid. They go from home, and improve at once; and if they return before they have fairly recovered their health, they often experience, at once, a return of their uncomfortable feelings. We use this familiar illustration to show that removal from home is a palliative, and often a curative remedy, and that it is known to be such beyond the limited range of mental disease. Of the 337 admitted, 86 were cases of chronic disease, and 36 were associated either with epilepsy, paralysis, consumption, or other grave bodily diseases. 21 of those admitted were between 60 and TO, and 6 over TO years of age. We would here take oc¬ casion to urge upon physicians and county officers closer atten¬ tion to the character and fitness of the cases sent by their advice and authority. It is due not less to the interest of the commu- [Senate, No. 13.] 2](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b30317587_0019.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
