Memorial soliciting a state hospital for the insane : submitted to the Legislature of New Jersey, January 23, 1845 / [signed: D. L. Dix] ; printed by order of the Legislature of New Jersey.

  • Dix, Dorothea Lynde, 1802-1887.
Date:
1845
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Memorial soliciting a state hospital for the insane : submitted to the Legislature of New Jersey, January 23, 1845 / [signed: D. L. Dix] ; printed by order of the Legislature of New Jersey. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

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    whose irresponsibility and imbecility render them objects of deep com- miseration. These, whether the subjects of public bounty or of pri- vate charity, are inappropriately treated for recovery, or injudiciously managed, through ignorance or limitation of suitable means ; thus they are left to exposures and sufferings, at once pitiable and revolting, and however in detail strongly represented, incapable of being exaggerated. I appeal to the public to sustain this strong assertion, and I appeal to medical men, whose professional duties conduct them amidst every form of painful disease, to unite their testimony with mine, and to aid in showing how great is the need, how important the demand, for a State Asylum for Insane Persons. It is my duty to speak explicitly upon this subject. I shall be sorry to wound the feelings of any individual; I disclaim all personality— calling attention to defective systems, not to those who are officially appointed to carry them out. I shall not attempt to detail full histories, nor to refer directly to all cases embraced in the class of insane and idiots ; but shall confine myself chiefly, to facts at present existing, and scenes to which I lately have been witness. Allow me, first, to refer you to the able report of your commis- sioners, who, in 1839-40, made to the Governor, by a joint resolution of the Council and Assembly, a statement of the condition of the insane, and represented the pressing want of a State Hospital—urging that the Legislature of Nciv Jersey will not be wanting in its duly to her people, nor behind the age in which ice live. She will follow the example of her sister states, in alleviating the sufferings of humanity. Four years have passed, the duty is unfulfilled—and New Jersey has been suffered to remain behind the age in this humane work. The documents above referred to, prepared with care from statistics laboriously collected, exhibit plainly your need. Dating four years back, it was found, according to the lowest computation, that there were in New Jersey two hundred and fifty-two insane males ; one hundred and sixty-three insane females ; and of idiots, ninety-three, males, and one hundred and three females. It will be found that this large number, allowed to be below the probable amount, is much increased, not lessened. Numbers are added to those who class as incurables, and recent cases are, for want of appropriate remedial care, fast falling into the same deplorable condition.