All this constitutes a dark picture,
but that it is a true one is confirmed
by the many reports of bad conditions
throughout asylums everywhere. What
is’the remedy? Os course impartial
inspection is necessary. Not the per
functory visit of a board, whose call
is anticipuated a week.in advance and
who necessarily find all things smooth
and in order; but the wholesome in
troduction of a little secret service
method that would get at the truth
and the facts without regard to what
the patient charged, or the attendant
denied. Neither can be trusted. Un
influenced third parties, not at long
intervals, but constantly, should be
employed. The street car companies
have inspectors unknown to the em
ployes. All corporations have their
“spotters,” the possibility of whose
presence does much to promote the
good of the cncern. A detective sys
tem in the insane asylum would be a
protective one to honest officials and
careful attendants, as well as to the
patients themselves. Why does not
‘ each state employ such service?
Another thing, is that the medical
3e|'fetsontan
profession should take more interest
than it does in such sanitariums.
Most ridiculous, perhaps, if it were
not so pitiful, is the experimentation
upon living animals to obtain facts in
reference to brain workings which can
so easily and to so much better pur
pose be found from careful observa
tion of the unfortunates afflicted with
brain disease. This observation is
practically a neglected field. Unless
the young doctor takes up mental and
nervous diseases as a specialty he
never sees the inside of an asylum.
