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July/2000 Insane Cost State 300,000 a year The Rutland Daily Herald

December 22, 1934

 The Rutland Daily HeraldRutland, VermontDecember 22, 1934

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 December 22, 1934 WE'LL LET NANCY DETERMINE THESE Insane Cost State $300,000 a Year The Rutland Daily Herald December 22, 1934 p. 6 University of Vermont Libraries Microforms INSANE COST STATE $3OO,OOO A YEAR Dyer Reports 97 of 1200 Cases Sterilized By Law Since 1931.

The insane and feeble‐minded persons in state institutions in Vermont numbered, during 1933 and 1934, an average of 1265. They were cared for at a net cost to the state of more than $600,000 for the two years, according to the biennial report of William H. Dyer, commissioner of public welfare.

This sum, representing more than two per‐cent of the total biennial expenses of the state, is the cost of operating the state hospital for the insane at Waterbury, and the Brandon State school and its colonies for two years. Receipts of these institutions, such as those from paying patients and from the sale of farm products, have been deducted.

Increasing difficulties in meeting the growing population of insane and feeble‐minded are indicated in a statement from the report of Dr. E. A. Stanley, superintendent of the State hospital at Waterbury. "The overcrowding," be says, "at the present time is especially urgent because it has been necessary for some time to use a ward in the female wing of the hospital for male patients."

Conditions at Brandon.

"The report of two years ago mentioned the lack of room for boys and emphasized the unusual demand for the admission of boys." states Dr. T. J. Allen, superintendent of the Brandon school. "This situation has continued for the past two years."

The Legislature of 1931, with the aim of reducing the number of feeble‐minded and insane in the State, passed the "voluntary sterilization law."

"It shall be the policy of the state to prevent procreation of idiots, imbeciles, feeble‐minded, or insane persons … when the public welfare can be improved by voluntary sterilization as provided in this chapter," is the wording of the preamble to the law.

 Ninety‐Seven Sterilized.

Ninety‐seven persons have been sterilized since the passing of the law, according to information received yesterday from Commissioner Dyer. Of these, 65 have been females, and 32 males.

The majority of these cases have, according to Dyer, come from the Brandon school. Dr. Allen states in his report that "during the past two years the sterilization law of 1931 has been utilized in certain selected cases." In a table describing the condition of those admitted to the Brandon school during. 1933, the "probable cause of mental deficiency" is described as heredity in 13 of the 23 cases admitted.

The ages of those who have been sterilized runs, according to Dyer, mostly from 18 to 25, and they have come from all sections of the state.

 Operations Voluntary.

The law provides that two physicians must determine whether the operation is advisable, and whether the person concerned is able to understand the significance of the operation. If they do not consider that the person is able to understand the operation's significance, the operation cannot be performed unless it is requested in writing by the person's natural or legal guardian. It is further provided that the operation can be performed only "if such person voluntarily submits to such operation."

Dyer stated that there had been many requests for sterilization from persons who could not be considered "idiot, imbecile, feeble‐minded, or insane," "There have been requests for sterilization from people," he said, "with apparently inherited criminal tendencies, but they cannot be sterilized under the law."

The commissioner also pointed out that it is a mal‐practice to perform sterilization operations except within the definitions of the law. "Altogether," he said, "the law has worked along pretty well."

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