The Duty of the State to the Insane^ etc. 25 



THE DUTY OF THE STATE IN ITS TREATMENT OF 

 THE DEAF AND DUMB, THE BLIND, THE IDIOTIC, 

 THE CEIPPLED AND DEFORMED, AND THE IN- 

 SANE. 



BY E. Z. MASON. 



In the progress of modern civilization, the state has oome slowly 

 to a recognition of certain duties and obligations to these unfor- 

 tunate classes. At present we take up the subject in the interests 

 not only of humanity and of sound political philosophy, but also 

 in the interests and light of modern science. Perhaps we shall 

 commit a grave mistake in venturing to draw our conclusions 

 solely from the cold suggestions which the teachings of the most 

 advanced investigators in science might supply. Humanity cer- 

 tainly has claims upon us which the dictates of our spiritual na- 

 tures must respect. Shall we adopt the modern theories of evo- 

 lution and the language of Herbert Spencer, " the fittest shall 

 survive," and be induced thereby to turn out the unfortunate idiot, 

 the insane or the deformed cripple, with nothing but his own 

 resources to depend upon, to compel him to struggle for a precari- 

 ous existence by battling with the relentless forces of nature, and 

 sharp competition with the fierce selfishness of individual life ? 

 Would this course be in accordance with the instincts of man's 

 better and higher nature ? Whatever theories we may adopt as 

 to our origin, we cannot ignore the fact that we belong now to 

 a cultured race, to those whose gentle humanities are to be as 

 much regarded as the mere elements of physical strength or intel- 

 lectual acumen. If we did spring from the brute, we cannot 

 afford to act quite like him. But the subject has another phase 

 which it is proper we should carefully examine. The question 

 arises, whether the state shall expend its hundreds of thousands 

 of dollars per annum in the almost hopeless effort to correct con- 

 genital malformations, to subdue the frantic manifestations of in- 



