On provision for the insane poor of the State of New York : and the adaptation of the "asylum and cottage plan" to their wants ; as illustrated by the history of the colony of Fitz James, at Clermont, France / by Charles A. Lee.

  • Lee, Charles A. (Charles Alfred), 1801-1872.
Date:
1866
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On provision for the insane poor of the State of New York : and the adaptation of the "asylum and cottage plan" to their wants ; as illustrated by the history of the colony of Fitz James, at Clermont, France / by Charles A. Lee. 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.

    14/32 (page 14)
    placing it under the care of a married couple of well tried, faithful, skillful at- tendants ; and the same also for a class of harmless, industrious incurables, &c., and then quietly and steadily persevere until the experiment shall prove a success. This, it will be seen, is the asylum and cottage plan, and 10 carry it out, Dr. B. recommends either first to lease or purchase some cottages already built in the vicinity, or second, to sell the whole hospital property purchase new grounds, and erect appropriate buildings, perfectly adapted to the wants of the insane ; third, or sell certain lands belonging to the hospital, and proceed quietly to remove the material in the present buildings, one wing at a time, to Chandler Hill, or some other good location, and there use it in the con- struction of new buildings, so far as it can be made available. Could this, or any similar plan, says Dr. B. be adopted and carried out, a wide step would be taken in advance of any existing arrangements for the care and re- covery of the insane. The following details of the plan will commend themselves to all acquainted with the subject, as in the highest degree judicious, and calculated to answer the end designed : In the carrying out of this or any similar plan suggested by the foregoing remarks, a departure would of course be made from the general style and character of hospital buildings. There would be the central edifice—the hos- pital proper—in which would be placed all the cases of acute mania, the vio- lent and dangerous, the suicidal and troublesome—having every arrangement for classification, and every convenience for the treatment of insanity, with large and airy sleeping rooms and day rooms, and with improved facilities for bathing, and a more reasonable arrangement for water-closets. There would be, on one hand, a few cottages, plain, neat and convenient, for the quiet, harmless and industrious of both sexes, with workshops, where they could fol- low such industrial pursuits as could be made available, with a laundry and bakery for the whole. On the other hand, there would be the residences of others, who would devote their time to the cultivation of gardens, in music, reading and writing, walking and riding, and such other light occupations and amusements as they were accustomed to follow when in health. Then, there would be the chapel and lecture room, in which there would be, at regular in- tervals, divine service and frequent lectures, sociable and reading-clubs. We think Dr. B. has shown a commendable degree of moral courage, in breaking over the barriers of routine, prescription and combined opposition to any innovations on the present stereotyped arrangements ; and believe he will be sustained in his laudable efforts, both by his trustees and the community generally. Long abuses and defects become at last so familiar as to blind our eyes to their magnitude and deformity, and the mind is even startled at the very suggestion of change or improvement. No one can deny, that with the arrangements suggested, patients would have all the real benefits of home treatment; all the pleasures of the family circle, with suitable occupation, recreation and amusement, and much more open air exercise than can now be enjoyed. They would enjoy the society and companionship of friends and relations with much more comfort, and would enjoy all the social ties in a more reasonable and generous manner. Above all, the restored would pass