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THE POPULAR FEELING TOWARDS HOSPITALS FOR THE INSANE. "On the best methods of saving our Hospitals for the Insane from the odium and scandal to which such Institutions are liable, and maintaining their place in the popular estimation; including the consideration of the question, how far is the community to be allowed acces to such Hospitals." By I. RAY, M. D., Superintendent of Butler Hospital, R.I. -- Read before a Meeting of the Association of Medical Superintendents of American Institutions for the Insane, held at New-York, May 18, 1852.

Within a few years past, no class of charities has obtained so strong a hold on the public sympathies as hospitals for the insane. Most of the States have endowed and fostered them with unusual liberality; private beneficence, living and posthumous, has showered upon them its favors, and the time has come when no community among us is supposed to have discharged its obligations to this unfortunate class of our fellow-men, that has not provided an establishment expressly for their care and protection. In the older States they are crowded to their utmost capacity of accommodation, and for a considerable period, every year has witnessed the erection of a new, or the enlargement of an old one. It is a curious fact, however, that, in connection with this general current of public opinion, there is a strong under-current of a very different character. None but those who have our opportunity of knowing, can have any adequate idea of the amount of bad feeling, gross misconception, scandalous gossip, and even fierce hostility, that quietly pervades the community, with the effect of circumscribing more or less their sphere of usefulness. The most of us, fortunately, are so much concerned with the increasing pressure upon our means of accommodation, and intent, perhaps, on schemes of enlargement, as to make too little account of this state of feeling and of its legitimate consequences. I believe, however, it will be worth our while to give this subject a thorough consideration -- more thorough than I find it within my power to give it at this time. My observations must be very brief and general rather calculated to suggest discussion than exhaust it, and while freely commenting on existing defects and errors, disclaiming all intention of a particular application.

No hospital for the insane in this country, or any other I presume, has been so fortunate as to be universally regarded, wherever known, as an honestly and kindly administered charity, fulfilling its mission of benevolence with. as little drawback as possible on the score of human infirmity. The separate counts of the indictment against them, so to speak, may be reduced to a few general heads. It is supposed that the patients are not treated with invariable kindness; that the management is harsh and cruel; that obedience is enforced by blows or rough handling; that refractory conduct, is met by the discipline of shower-baths, or confinement in dark dungeons; that they are neglected when sick; that they have improper and insufficient food ; that their friends are not allowed to visit them and finally, that to favor the schemes of interested relatives, persons are deprived of their liberty under a mere pretence of insanity. Besides all this, there exists a general and indefinite prejudice that does not pretend to any foundation in fact or reason, but, none the less, bitter on that account.

Generally, no doubt, these allegations are entirely unfounded, and it will not be difficult to explain their origin. Some of it springs, in fact, from the ordinary principles and feelings of our nature, and some from causes of a special and peculiar character. The seclusion to which patients are subjected, by withdrawing them from constant observation, involves the institution in an air of mystery which stimulates the imagination and excites the apprehensions of the ignorant and credulous. Any appearance of concealment very naturally, gives rise to the suspicion of something wrong, and thus the very measures designed to promote the restoration of the patient, are apt to be regarded as indications of a management that will not bear the light. Cooperating with this cause of ill-feeling, is the natural disposition to attribute to others unworthy motives and a readiness to abuse whatever power or confidence may be placed in them. The most prolific source of this distrust of hospitals for the insane, is, undoubtedly, the communications of patients themselves, the more effective for falling, as they generally do, on willing ears. We instinctively believe whatever is seriously related, and this disposition is increased by every appearance of sincerity and plausibility. That the stories of the insane, as well as of some who are discharged from hospitals partially restored, exhibit these qualities in a remarkable degree, is well known to us, while it is equally well known that no moral traits are so common among the insane as a total disregard of veracity, and a feeling of hostility toward those who have had any part in controlling their movements and thwarting their wishes. It is not strange, therefore, that they should abuse the institution whose benefits they enjoyed, nor is it more strange that such abuse, should be received as the honest and truthful expression of a matter of fact. It is not in human nature to listen to a coherent and circumstantial account of ill-treatment, without allowing it to make the slightest impression, even though a very large, personal experience with the author of the narrative, may have shown him utterly unworthy of credit. Such plain, deliberate, and touching statements are supposed, in spite of one's better judgment, to have some shadow of foundation in fact, and thus many a friend or relative gives a hesitating assent to a patient's abuse of others, who would consider himself hardly dealt with, if a tithe of the same person's abuse of him were supposed to be true. The friends of patients, too, are apt to be exacting and fault-finding, never satisfied that enough is done for the patient, though infinitely more, perhaps, than they ever did themselves, and are restrained by no feeling of delicacy or gratitude from free and frequent expressions of their dissatisfaction. In point of fact, however, I presume there can be no difference of opinion among us on this subject, and that all are ready to admit, that the charges above recited cannot be entirely attributed to these sources.