Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1837-03-10
Insane Hospitals.

Extract from DR. Woodpards IA annual
Report Of The Stale Lunatie Hospital al
Worcester, Mass.
The following cases are given to show the
effect OF remedies in controlling excitement
and in promoting recovery.
No. |. Was an athletic man. aged 80 /:
his habits were correct and rather abstemi.
Gus. after few days ofunusual mental effort,
ne was suddenly taken insane His excite
ment was violent in the extreme, his strength
like that ola giant; for three weeks he had
scarcely slept. 10 this state he was brought
TO the Hospital. In my experience with the
insane. had rarely seen such case. He
had at the time Of his admission, from one TO
Two hundred boils and bruises. the effect oil
the struggles and restraints he had previous
iy had, many OF them suppurated and dis.
charged purulent matter. The whole sur
face Of bis body was literally covered with
bruises and contusions His mind was
wholly chaotic, he neither knew where he
was nor who was about him, but raved and
Struggled peTpeiually. quite unconscious of
what he did. He was Immediately put upon
an active and efficient course Of remedies
IN q short time he became more quiet and
about the fifth day came suddenly to him
sell, so lar as TO inquire where he was, who
were about him, and how he came TO the hos.
ptal. From this time he convalesced rapid
ly. In week he was perfectly calm and
slept well, took his meals at the table with
others with proprety and decorum. His
remedies were gradually diminished. and at
the end Of four weeks were Withdrawn
His mind became rational. and has continu.
ed so TO this time. Previous to his coming
TO the Hospital, he was BLEED very freely,
which reduced his strength and he did not
regain it in some time.
No. 2 A female. aged twenty-five. had
been insane twelve months During the
whole Of this period she had been in the
worst possible condition Of excitement and
degradation. All efforts TO influence her 10
selfrestraint were unavailing. Alter long
time il was resolved to try the effect of active
remedies. She was almost immediately
more quiet and slept better In few weeks
there was manifest improvement OF all her
symptoms. her health was better and her
mind mostly rational Shecontinued to mend
rapidly, and in two months was fully restor-
ed TO health and sanity, and continued well
the last accounts we had from her.
No. g. Had been insane three months
trial had been made ia private institution to
remove the disease, without benefit. When
This patient came into the Hospital, her situa
lion was truly deplorable;-violent. filthy
noisy, and ill-natured in the extreme She
refused her food, and resisted every effort TO
administer il, as she did every attempt to
make her comfortable ia other respects
She had been reduced by repletion aud star
saiion. without any favorable influence upon
her mind She was Immediately placed I'M
Ter the influence OF active remedies, and ev-
cry effort was made to excite some feeling
itself respect La a few days there was man
fest amendment; her appetite improved.
md she began to give some attention to per
onal cleanliness. She exchanged her filthy
md tattered garments for decent apparel
IL two weeks she sat calmly at work; in one
month she was transformed ipto beautiful
md intelligent woman and left the Hospital
I the end oftwo months quite recovered.
No. 4. Was young man Of thirty. In
consequence OF severe mental anxiety he was
aiken insane For three months he was vi
lent and dangerous ia the extreme. After
severe and long trial with his friends, he
vas brought to the Hospital. His violence.
oise and excitement were of the worst kind.
lie was placed upon anactive course Of med
;al treatment; in few days he became |
aim and rational and his disease was ap- /
arently removed. His remedies were with I
rawn or nearly so in four or five days his
isanity returned as violent as before. The
,edicine was resumed, with the same result 4