The True Northerner

The Michigan Asylum.

With each recurring session of the Legislature come exaggerated, sensational and, in the main, unfounded charges against attendants at the Michigan Asylum for the Insane at Kalamazoo of alleged cruelties practiced by them upon the inmates under their care. Such charges are easily made, very generally believed, and difficult to disprove to the satisfaction of the many who seem to desire that they should be found to be true.

People, naturally dislike to send their unfortunate relatives and friends to an insane asylum, and the reputation which even baseless complaints give such an institution only intensifies the situation. This is most unfortunate.

A personal acquaintance with the officials of the asylum, visits made to it under varied circumstances, coupled with the results of past investigations, satisfy us that there is no good reason why it should be believed that anything other than the most humane treatment is or will be accorded to every patient admitted to participation in its benefits.

Every precaution is taken in the employment of attendants to secure those who are of even temper and humane dispositions. Of course, mistakes are occasionally made which cannot be rectified until discovered. It must be remembered that attendants are not unfrequently in danger of great bodily harm and even of death at the hands of the patients under their charge, and, being only human, do not always and under all circumstances maintain that equanimity of temper or conduct themselves in every emergency as is most desirable.

It is safe to say, however, that the patients as a whole fare as well, if not better, at the hands of asylum attendants than they would be likely to at home under the visitation of insanity; and a superficial examination of the institution and its regulations will satisfy any reasonable person that the great majority of the unfortunates sent to this asylum have more comforts, better care and kinder treatment than could possibly, in view of the nature of their affliction, be accorded them elsewhere.

Of course, a thorough investigation should be made of every charge of cruelty or neglect of duty brought to notice, and proper punishment meted out to any attendant or official found guilty of such conduct. We are glad to record that under the present management this is promptly done.

Daniel Nevitt, an attendant who lately confessed that he had brutally treated a patient, has been discharged from his position and will be fortunate if he escapes a criminal prosecution. If half that is charged as against him be true, he certainly should not escape severe punishment.