Daily globe., 1878-03-30

they say, is none of the best-not nearly as
good g they had at their own homes, and
theirs was very much better than what the
patients get The meat, they say, they sell
dom touched; the coffee and tea were very
poor; and their assertions confirmed those
already given by many others on the same
subject; they also said the employees were
supposed to have book of rules, but neither
OF them wee supplied with one
! Ihe first one mentioned said
she asked for one, and was shown one by
another employe. She then said to Mrs.
Dunn: IF these rules were carried out we
should all be dismissed p for no one OBJ
served the rules at all, excepting the one not
IN the book, but strictly enforced-that
nothing transpiring in the hospital should
seen patients fed in s'crib." The tyrant
at the upper hospital, they say, is French
man, former patient, who drives the wagon
which takes patients out for an airing. He
domineers over the other employees, like
Belts, at the lower hospital; they had seen
him throw plate of soup in girls face.
Mrs. Bartlett is greatly disliked, and spoken
OF as being very arrogant.
DON'T OBEY THE RULES.
From these witnesses it appears that the
principal fault in the management of the
main hospital is laxity of discipline. They
all seem to think if the rules were carried
out the asylum would indeed be model in
stitution as far as the management is con-
cerned, bat every one, they say, is left to do
just about as they please. IF the doctor
knows of any ill-treatment of patients he
either reprimands or discharges the delin-
quent, but it is not often he is told about
them. One girl said she had seen some very
severe treatment of patients; attendants lose
their temper, and sometimes, in defiance of
rules and oftener in ignorance of them, they
hit, kick and drag the patients about.
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES.
Notwithstanding the testimony advanced
10 proye that Davis supplies the choicest
meat the market can afford to the asylum,
there are scores of people in st. Peter out
side the hospital, and as many inside, who
aver that the general quality of the meat is
bad; some have told your correspondent that
they have seen meat not fit for food sent to
the hospital. Three men stated that only
last week Davis bought pair of steers one of
which had it's head half eaten away by a
large cancer, and they have no doubt the
latter would never have been bought
if Davis had not the contract for the
asylum.
One of the employees had stated that the
girls were in the habit of going out at night
without leave and contrary to rules Thi S
was denied by two others testifying before
the senate committee, but the GLOBE investi-
cation proved the allegation to be based up-
on facts. One of the girls who had testified
SO much in favor of Belts, and was SO
anxious to volunteer statements, present
employe says, was known on one oc-
casion to have kept man two days in her
room. She would take him down to meals
and then send him up again. It is said that
once DR.. Bowers saw this man sitting in the
kitchen, and asked his business. He said he
came to see the girl. (Which way did you
get in?' said the doctor. 1'By the back
way was the reply. The doctor ordered
him out, with the admonition not to come
there again unless he got permission at the
Office.
Several women confirmed this statement,
and said it was true that the attendants
would sometimes leave their patients and 20
there was no one to do their duties.
The attendants interviewed were Of the
general opinion that there were not enough
attendants in the worst wards; that the at
tendants are not sufficiently instructed
in their duties; and that they are
not furnished with rules; and that the
rules are not vigorously enforced. That
there will continue to be bad meat, they
think is certain: the cook and his wife, con-
trary to rule, accept silk dresses and the like
from the butcher.
The employees spoken to.were surprised
that an investigation has not been made in
to the management of the Institution and
the way patients are treated long before this.
They think that every casualty, suicide or
natural death should be published, and an
inquiry made fully into the circumstances.
Having gone through all the evidence obtain
able upon the management of the insane
hospital, the GLOBE will rest it's investigation
till the Senate committee commences its in
quiries into it's domestic and financial econ
omy.
A Cardtron the Insane Asylum Employees.
To the Editor Of the Globe.
| MINNESOTA HOSPITAL, ST. PETER, March
28, 1878.-Seeing in the columns of your
valuable paper of yesterdays edition, an
article in regard to the investigation into the
management of the hospital for insane, in
which you refer to, and somewhat severely
comment upon, the action of DR.. G. K. Bart
lett superintendent of the hospital, in dis