Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1840-10-07
mANAeEnI rsrs.r OF TIaI1 INSANE.

the State Lunat;c Asylum, occurs the fol-
lowing interesting passages:
Ofthe one thousand aud thirty four pa
tients who have been in the hospital since
It was first occupied, there have not been
tsoentg who have not taken their food at
the table with others more or less of the
time. OF these twenty, more than three
fourths were so i'll and feeble when they
arrived at-tRe hospital as to be unable to
do so, and died without amendment in a
few. days. While this sheet is being writ
ten, we have not solitary individual who
has not for very considerabletime taken.
food with others with knives and forks
No injury has ever been done by allowing
patients all the means of comfortably taks
ing their meals.
The difference between eating food in
solitude from tin or wooden dish with
the fingers or spoon. and going to a neat
" furnished table, and taking-meals from
croekery with knife and fork, is the diff
ference between a savage and a civilized
man, of brute and human being.
No one thing contributes more to awak
en- seif-respect and restrain the furiously
insane, than this indulgence at table and
the confidence which he feels is placed in
i him by those who have him in keeping.
The same is true in regard TO dress and
the treatment he receives from those whom
he looks upon as superioTs and whom he
feels bound to obey. If he is neatly and
comfortably clad, like those whom he
meets. he feels that he is as good as others
respects himself as they appear to respect
him, is careful to do nothing by which he
shall lose CASTE Ifkis garments are tat
tered and dirty, he will tear them off or
| soil them more, if neat and tidy, he will
preserve them with care and even feel
proud of .hem.
Within a few days, a patient was bro't
| to the hospital, who had been confined
three years in a cage. He had not used
knife. or fork to take his meals during this
period, and had not felt the influence of
/ fire for two winters. The gentleman who
brought him to our care manifested praise
worthy henavolenee In his efforts to anne
iorate his condition and get him into more
comfortable winter quarters, and hoped
that in few months We should be able to
improve his state, and that he would OBJ
serve the decencies of life and take his
food in proper manner; while he remain
ed converslng respecting him, the patient
beIov was quietly seated at the table taxi
ing his supper with knife and fork in hand!
| On the second Sabbath from his admission,
| be attended, chapel quietly, and gave it as
his unqualified opinion that he was s.well
off,
Another man. came into the hospital
quite recently, furious as wild beast. nois-
'ly, violent and outrageous, he was placed
4 in solitary room with wristbands upon
{ his arms to save his clothes and keep
! them on. For many days in succession
| he tore his clothes and stripped himself
I constantly. A few days ago. | found him
in a state of perfect nudity. proposed to
him to be dressed and go into the gallery
[ he promised that he would be quiet and
i fear no more clothing upon MS pledge
s ne went in-he has been quiet, he has kept
t his clothes upon him, takes his food at
i the table with others, and is quite civil.
in a state of entire contrast to what he had
been before.
IF in our daily intercourse with The In-
Esane. we should treat them as interiors or
) mass them by without notice or attention,
) refuse to hear them, and evince towards
them feeling of superiority, we should
| find them in constant state OF irritation
! and excitmeut If we treat them Kindly
[ and politely, inquire after their welfare.
f and hear patiently their story, we AWAKEN
! in them a spirit of mildness and aneenon;
2 we can control them without severity, and
; cain their confidence and esteem.
Ifthere is any secret IN the management
of the insane, ii IS tbs respect them an nc