Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-11-27


How Exercise Is Provided
The facilities for and the variety of this kind
of labor at this hospital are second to more.
new farm OF upwards of one hundred anu sixty
acres has beea recently acquired and about one
hundred acres OF the original hospital grounds
are under cultivation. More than twenty acres
have been cultivated during the past season in
corn and potatoes alone. -Apother large held
was lately covered with cabbage. Near the
river some five acres Is devoted exclusively TO
the production Of melons and sweet potatoes.
considerable tract of light garden loan Is every
year planted with lima beans, peas, potatoes,
beets and like garden vegetables The orchard
contains several hundred trees OF the apple.
peach, pear and ounce. The smaller fruits as
currants. blackberries, raspberries and straw
berries are grown Ia a considerable extent. The
vineyard viii Yield, when in full bearing, about
four tons OF grapes. In addition to the care OF
these annual crops q vast amount of labor has
draining. with view both to the employment
of the inmates and the permanent improvement
OF the place. Whether the labor of an insane
person is profitable not in any individual case
is never made question, hut only whether that
labor will benefit the individual.
Exercise for Women.
No employment has yet been devised OF rs
universal application, or that affords the same
advantages for females agriculture for men;
but the sewing-room, the laundry, and the care
of birds and plants afford congenial employment
TO many. Next to outdoor labor as a cura-
tive measure, is ranked walking in the open air;
and here. i'm the varied scenery OF lawn and
river and grove, both sexes have an equal
chance for the enjoyment of this most healthful
exercise. In pleasant weather the outdoor
games of croquet and ball find place.
In-Door Amusementx.
For certain cases, and in Indictment weather
for all, indoor amusements are a valuable
means OF treatment. Billiards combine both
exercise and amusement in most admirable
manner. Table games, as cards, back CANNON
&c, are also employed. Advantage is taken of
the winter evenings for lectures ON popular sub
Iects, philosophical and chemical experiments,
exhibition of dissolving views, with the stereop-
neon, tabeauN, concerts, social gatherings, &c.
&c.
Reading for the Insane.
Two Libraries, ono for each wing, containing
nearly one thousand volumes, the books having
been mainly selected with reference to the
wants of this class of readers, afford permanent
fund of reading for those disposed TO avail them
selves Oft. Newspapers are also valuable aid
in the same direction.
Restraint the Only Punishment.
The golden rule furnishes the best guide to
the management OF the insane. Restraint NAV
and at times must be used, but as restraint,
never as punishment. Kindness is imperatively
demanded on the part of their care-takers, and
none know better than they the infinite
friend of patience and kindness required. But
II II a kindness not inconsistent with firmness,
and not to be cOuniOunded with that sort of
words and sugar .plums, and asks the discharge
of the patient from the hospital before his re-
cOvery can hardly be said to have commenced.
The Causes Of Insanity.
word regarding the causes OF insanity.
While moral causes have often much to 10 with
the immediate outbreak Of the disease its pri-
mary cause will usually be found to be physi-
cal one. The proportion of cases where heredi-
fary Predispostion can be traced is fearfully
large. The vices Of life, among which intern
perance stands foremost are universally recog-
nixed as prominent causes Of insanity. iiihealth,
from whatever cause results i'm insanity i'm those
VINO have any tendency to the disease. In more
senses IMAM one this Is a fast age; most business
men, politicians and professional men Of our
tme IN their pursuits Of wealth, Office and fame,
are trying to crowd what should he the work Of
a lifetime into few years. 1t is wonderful
now the mind bends to its Overwork, how long il
bends before t breaks. But that marvellous re-
served power Of brain and nerve, which is the
eonservator of their healthy action and should
be called forth only for some great emergency
ar eNhaisting sickness, is daily being expended:
yet the man gees on until the fever the crash
Vt business or some great bereavement comes,
then-apOpeNv. or if otherwise any OF our yr eat
hospitals can show you the end.
| The dead Beats'' who think they can
J. Manage an INSANE Asylum.
one would think position of such delicate
responsibility the management of an Insane
Asylum, rec uiring not only the highest order of
professional ability, hut peculiar mental and
physical fitness, would not be scrambled for by
the noble army OF office-seekers; but these in
1etcrate leeches have no conscientious scruples
about such matters, and the number of dead
i'eats, broken down politicians, and miscel-
iareSus loafers, who have aspired TO displace
DIR. Nichols. is amllsingiy large. Fellows who
COZ I'd not get trusted for three cent drink at
corner grocery, have made most desperate
efforts to show his unfitness for the Dost ana
their own special qualifications to take his place
Fortunately, the position is out OF the reach of
the office-seeking rabble, AZ the charter OF the
Institution requires that its Superintendent
shall be a physician skilled i'm the treatment of
the insane.
THE FORTY Hours Devotion commenced
yesterday mOrning at st. Peters Church ON
Capitol Hill, and will close Tomorrow morning
with Grand High Mass. The altar of the church
IS beautifully decorated.
HERMANN gives his last exhibition at Metre
rOtt Hall tonight, and those who have failed 10
see this great prestidigitateur during the week
should not miss this last opportunity.
The CRY TAxEs-During the past week the
Collector has received S11, S0.47 ON account OF
taxes; making q total, up to this date, of
sHS, 1125S,
Coal CONTRACT CoNPLETED.-we learn from
L. s. Senate, that the contract for 800 tons OF
coal which WaS Awarded to MeSsrs r Edward