Show the insane asylum the change in the board of management of the state insane asylum aad the probable change in the officers in the near future has led to a quiet discussion of the needs of finch an institution the question has been inconsiderately asked why not abolish the office of medical i and call m physicians in emergency cases they who ask that question mistake the meaning and object of an insane asylum it is not a prison or a place for the reform of its inmates where they are simply kept BO as not to be a menace to society by their possible vicious tendencies an aay binm is a hospital a place where unfortunate men and women are sent for care and treatment neither is it an infirmary as many in the past to have regarded it senile patients those grown silly by the weight of years whose memories have failed them and who have become as children again have dean sent to the insane asylum frequently in the past it is no place for them and the state should not be put to the expense of their care for snob cases are hope leea AB we understand the object of an insane asylum it is as stated before a sort of hospital and as such it should not be made a mere madhouse for the keeping of a few crazy people it should be the pride ot such an institution to point to the number of cures effected and to accomplish com that aim neither nor money should be spared to secure the best medical treatment possible within the state and that treatment should be constant for no doctor can make a success by just casual treatment it was a wise move though perhaps not economical when the present medical superintendent was required to reside at the institution and to devote hia entire time to the patients the doctor in charge should have the opportunity of daily and if nead be hourly watching cases it would hardly be worth the name of treatment for the board to say that a doctor should be engaged to maki BO many visits to the asylum in a week that would not do some patients have periodical spella of insanity and then long spells of luciae moments when their minds are as bright as the minds of ordinary people when affected they ought to have medical care whether early in the mornin glate at evening or during the night time others again are perhaps gradually on the way to recovery and by constant care may be brought to their once sober senses therefore we say any thought of abolishing theoffice of medical superintendent erin should itself be abolished unless the state simply wants to keep its insane in a place of safety and even then we doubt it good medical treatment would not in the long ran bd the cheaper it would reduce the number of unfortunates to be cared for in the institution |