The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1850-12-05
INDUSTRY OF TIE INSANE.

the chAngo That has taken piace OF late
years in the treatment Of insans patients,
presents ono Of the finest features in the
civilization of tho age; but the boon Of
wholesome labor i, perhaps, the gfsatsse
benefit that has ye. been conferred Upon
this class Of sufferers. The fact is striking.
" illustrated ia the annual report for the
last year Of the Royal Edinbnreh Asylum.
The number Of patients treated wss 73S,
and at the close Of the year there remained
No inmates 476. OF this latter number.
upward Of $50 were employed daily, and
spmetimes as many AZ 100 working in tho
open ale in the extensive grounds of the
asylum. "Among ihese," saws Dr. Skas.
smay be daily seen many Of the mnsi VIC
lent aud destructive Of The inmates busily
engaged in wheeling earth, manure, OF
stones, who for years hive done little else
than destroy their closhing, OF spend their
days and nights in rsstless agitation. AZ in,
coherent raving. Tho strong necessity
which appea's 10. exist, in many cases, for
continual movement, or incesssnt noise,
seems 10 find vent 40 naturally in active
mannsl labor, IL il can with any prnpriety
b substituted and regulated" And a Gu.
rio,s illustration Of this j. given in the case
Of zone Of the most violent. restless, and
unmanageabls inm,ies OF the ASYLUM du.
ring tho past year." whose calling wis that
of miner. lie was s'taIl and muscular,
and occupied himself, il permitted to mix
with others, in pursuing his fellow patients,
and fighting with them; If left alone in tho
airing cm,ris, in running round and knock
ing his elbows Violently IN the stone walls;
and il secluded, in continual yociieraiions
and incessant Knocking on The wall. di.
recied him 10 be sent 10 the grounds, and
employ ed with the wheelbarrow w--a special
attendant being in,rusted with him on the
debut. Hard work seemed 10 be all he re.
qu'red. lie spon, bi. super6nous energies
in wheeling stones he soon proved himself
10 be one of the m,st useful and able-bodi.
ed Of the awkward squad, and ere long was
restored To his natural c ndiiion-that Of
weak-minded but Industrious coal.miner."
Oakum-picking proves useful occnpa-
tinn not only for imbeciles capable Of no
higher industry, but for m.lirgers and
idiers, who are soon anxious 10 escape from
il into the s!loemaker's, tailor's, black.
smiths, or carpenters shops. .in the
same manner the females have been grad.
ually broken into habits Of industry to
degree hitherto unprecedented. Those
who have done nothing for many years but
muiter to themselves, or crouch ia corners,
nnw sew or knit from mnrning till night.
Knitting, sewing, straw bonnet making,
and other occupations, nre carried on
throughout the house TO such an extent that.
fear, in a very short time, unless some
outlet is obtained for Interpretations, We
shall be at loss to know what to do" Ia
addition 10 the usual hnndicralt employ.
men,s. which are all practiced in the es.
tnblshmenf. It is interesting To observe
that some patients occupy themselves ia
engraving, drawing and land-snrveying.
A consider sble portion Of one Of The hn,isss
has bean elegantly painted, aud 10 part re-.
furnished by the patients.