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Sketch Of Legislative Proceedings, &c.

From: Reports And Other Documents Relating To The State Lunatic Hospital At Worcester, Mass.
Creator: n/a
Date: 1837
Publisher: Dutton and Wentworth, Boston
Source: Available at selected libraries

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STATE
LUNATIC HOSPITAL.

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ON the 23d February, 1829, Mr. MANN of Dedham, in behalf of a Committee of the House of Representatives, appointed to consider the subject, reported Orders for the appointment of a Committee "to examine and ascertain the practicability and expediency of erecting or procuring, at the expense of the Commonwealth, an asylum for the safe keeping of lunatics, and persons furiously mad," and requiring the selectmen of the several towns to ascertain, and make returns to the Secretary of the Commonwealth of "the number, age, sex and color, of all persons reputed to be lunatics and furiously mad belonging to their respective towns, and whether at large or in confinement, and where and how long confined," -- which Orders were subsequently adopted by the House, and Messrs. Mann, Loud of Dorchester, and Denny of Leicester, were appointed to constitute said Committee.

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On the 7th January, 1830, the Secretary communicated to the House of Representatives the returns which had been received in his office, in pursuance of the Order above stated, which returns were referred to Messrs. Mann of Dedham, Loud of Dorchester, Strong of Pittsfield, Oliver of Boston, and Frothingham of Newburyport. On the 25th January, this Committee reported a Resolve for the erection of a Lunatic Hospital, which was subsequently recommitted, and on the 13th February, Mr. Mann, in behalf of the Committee, submitted the following Report, viz:

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Feb. 13th, 1830.

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The Committee to whom was recommitted a Report on the subject of providing some suitable place for the accommodation of lunatics and persons furiously mad, with instructions, &c., having considered that subject, ask leave to

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REPORT:

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That returns have been received from one hundred and fourteen towns, comprising less than half the population of this Commonwealth, that in twenty-five of those towns there are NO persons of that description; that in the remaining eighty-nine towns there are two hundred and eighty-nine lunatics, or persons furiously mad, that one hundred and sixty-one of that number are now in confinement in the following places, viz : in poor houses and houses of industry, seventy-eight; in private houses, thirty-seven; in jails and houses of correction, nineteen; in insane hospitals, ten; place of confinement not specifically stated, seventeen; -- that in addition to these individuals, it is well known there are at least sixty confined in the Insane Hospital in Charlestown; but some of these may be inhabitants of other states; -- that the length of the time of confinement of twenty-six is not stated, but that twenty-nine have been confined less than one year.

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13 have been confined from 1 to 2 years.
19 " " " 2 to 3 "
12 " " " 3 to 4 "
13 " " 4 "
5 " " 5 "
8 " " 6 "
5 " " 7 "
1 " " 8 "
4 " " 9 "
5 " " 10 "
2 " " 13 "
2 " " 13 "
1 " " 15 "
1 " " 16 "
4 " " 20 "
3 " " 25 "
4 " " 30 "
1 " " 35 "
3 " " 40 "
1 " " 45 "

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From the best information the Committee have been able to obtain, they believe that a Centre Building, suitable for the accommodation of a Superintendent, with right and left wings sufficient for the reception of 120 inmates, may be erected for the sum of $30,000. Should a hospital be constructed on this plan, it is obvious that the wings will be capable of indefinite extension, to meet the exigencies which may hereafter exist. Your Committee were further instructed to report the probable annual expense of supporting individuals at such an institution. But as this expense must vary according to the number of attendants employed, the aggravation of the disease, and many other considerations, now impossible to be foreseen, they decline to hazard an estimate upon that subject. But they believe that proper medical treatment, kind and careful attention to the comforts, and the malady of the insane, can be furnished at an expense not exceeding the ability of the great mass of our citizens to defray.

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Your Committee therefore report the Resolve committed to them, with the following amendment, viz: -- strike out all after the enacting clause, and insert the following.

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Per Order.
HORACE MANN, Chairman.

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RESOLVE
FOR ERECTING A LUNATIC HOSPITAL.

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Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives, in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, That His Excellency the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Council, be, and he is hereby authorized and empowered to purchase a lot of land within this Commonwealth, and procure a deed thereof in the name of the Commonwealth, which shall be an eligible site for a Lunatic Hospital; regard being had, in the selection of such site, to the centre of population, and to the cheapness of labor and materials for the construction of said Hospital; and that His Excellency the Governor, with the advice and consent aforesaid, appoint a board of three Commissioners, who shall cause to be erected, on said site, a Hospital, suitable for the accommodation of a Superintendent, and of one hundred and twenty lunatics or persons furiously mad; and that said Commissioners shall have power to make all necessary contracts for, and to appoint agents to superintend the erection of the same; and shall also ascertain and report to His Excellency, a system of discipline and government therefor, at or before the time when the same shall be completed. And said Commissioners shall present all their accounts to the Governor and Council, to be by them audited and allowed as they shall deem just.

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