Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-04-15
DEVILISHNDSS DEPICTED!
More Of the Brutality
OF Our Insane Asylum.
Horrors of Cold Bath.
Choking Accomplished
Without Plug or Soup.
TO the Editor of the Globe.

To the Editor of the Globe.
ST. PAUL, April 10, 1851 have read
several articles in your paper, pertaining to
the inhuman treatment of the patients in
the Insane Asylum, but so far, have not read
anything about that cold water bath in
practice at the asylum. I have read about
the feeding in the :scrib,'' choking, etc.,
but that kind Of usuage is nothing, COM
pared to the baths, in my opinion. will
partially describe it.
The patient is taken into the bathroom,
teather male or tema9e-irs practaced in all
drpurtments) all clothing is removed, hands
tied with what they call the "straps,' then
their feet are tied, generally with q towel.
Then they place the patient in
tho bath tub sitting up. One or two are
generally holding him or her from getting
out of the tub. Then the cold water is turn
ed on and let run until the tub is three
fourths full of water, then the strap around
his, or her, ankles is brought into use by
the person having hold of it. BY raising
the feet out OF water, the hands being tied,
the patient is helpless, so, as the feet 20 up,
the head goes down under water, where it is
kept until the brute having charge of the
feet thinks he or she has almost made the
last kick Then he lowers the feet and the
brute at the head raises it out Of water to
give breathing spell and ask him some
questions, and, while doing SO, he, or she
thinks Of course that is the last,
of the bath, for that time at least. But they
are generally mistaken, for while
talking, up goes their feet, and down their
head, for one more drowning.
This time the "brute'' at the feet will keep
the head under water longer than the first
time. At least that is generally the way.
Then, when the patient is apparently dead,
the "brute'' at the feet, as in the first act
lowers the feet, and the "brute" ct the head
will raise the patient up, out Of the tub,
unite his feet and hands, and carry him or
her to their bed, and s'throw him or her ON
it TO either live Or die, as they choose
Many Of those baths are fatal, for it does
not do to trouble the attendants too much
SO they make final job Of it. The female
patient, that was scalded to death,
vas, no doubt, at the time tied as
have described seeing male patients
used. havo good proof that the women
attendants use those under their charge the
Same way.
It is my opinion that what have described
is somewhat worse than anything we have
read in the papers SO far, but it is true, and
the attendants, if put under oath, cannot
deny it
I don't want the name s.B7u$e'' to be an
piled to all the attendants at the ASYLUM,
for, undoubtedly, there are some there. or
qoere few years ago, that the name would
not apply to, but they were very, very few.
What write I will swear to be the truth at
any time, end write it, not for publication,
but to assure YOU that any article you have
published SO far is comparatively nothing
to the real cruelty inflicted every
Gay upon some one OF those
unfortunate beings. Your special reporte,
at st. Peter, can find out from some of those
ex-attendants, whether what I write has
been exaggerated OF not. hope to see this
asylum investigation go ahead and don'
know OF any one who can stir it up better
than yourself.