Semi-centennial anniversary of the Retreat for the Insane, at Hartford, Conn., January 7th, 1873 : remarks by William R. Cone, and historical address by Dr. Gurdon W. Russell ; together with extracts from the yearly report of 1870, by Dr. John S. Butler, superintendent during nearly thirty years / arranged by H. P. Stearns.

  • Stearns, Henry Putnam, 1828-1905.
Date:
1876
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Semi-centennial anniversary of the Retreat for the Insane, at Hartford, Conn., January 7th, 1873 : remarks by William R. Cone, and historical address by Dr. Gurdon W. Russell ; together with extracts from the yearly report of 1870, by Dr. John S. Butler, superintendent during nearly thirty years / arranged by H. P. Stearns. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

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    WILLIAM R. CONE'S ADDRESS. Ladies and gentlemen—We are wont to mark dates and epochs in our lives, and birthdays are set apart and observed as steps in the progress of life. Families set apart days, and note the events in family life, in the observance of their silver, golden, and dia- mond weddings. Associations, societies, and charities have their days of observation in their semi-centennial and centennial cele- brations. On the 7th of January, fifty years ago, an event occurred in this city of Hartford of no ordinary importance to the cause of human- ity, and we are here to-night by invitation to celebrate it. An event which in that day of small beginnings and small tilings shows that there were men here of forecast, who saw and fully appreciated the necessities of the case; men who were fully imbued with the spirit and principles of a true sympathy, and large-hearted Christian charity. Inquiry had been set on foot to ascertain the number of insane persons in the State, and it was found that 1,000 at least were laboring under the different phases of mental and nervous disease, and were for the most part destitute of the comforts, ease, and in- fluences needed to restore them to health, happiness, and usefulness. Application had been made to the Legislature of the State, and a charter obtained, with provision for raising the means for endowing an institution where these invalids could have the care and medical and moral treatment adapted to their necessities. This charter contained the grant of a brief, as it was called, deemed necessary in that day, authorizing contributions to be taken in all the churches in the State in aid of the object. And the object itself was deemed of such importance that the Governor of the State was charged with the duty of issuing his