Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-12-30
The Hospital Investigation

The Hospital Investigation
The following is the report of the
senate committee investigating affairs of
the Wisconsin state hospital for the
insane
To his EroelIeacy W1I. E. SMITH gorerHoT Of the
state Of Wisconsin:
The undersigned having been selected by your
excellency pursuant to the provisions of a joint
resolution Of the Wisconsin legislature, adopted
March 10 1880 as a committee to investigate
the affairs of the Wisconsin state hospital for the
insane have the honor to submit the following
report:
DIFFICULTIES OF THE TASK.
TOUR committee at the outset of their work rec
ognized the fact that the task before them was a
difficult one. for an insane asylum is naturally a
secluded institution. the workings of which must
necessarily be smut out from the public gaze. In
der therefore, to come to a thorough acquaintance
with the condition and practical operation of the
Wisconsin state hospital, as well as for convent
ence of examination of books and accounts, one
or more members of the committee have resided
in the hospital for the greater part of the past
summer and our report is based ON what we
have seen and experienced well as on the testi-
mOny Of others.
THE AIM OF THE COMMITTEE.
The constant aim Of the committee has been to
make the investigation as thorough and complete
generating into anything less than an impartial
consideration of the case; and we take pleasure
in saying that work has progressed with great
harmony, and our conclusions nave been reached
with perfect unanimity. 1t also gives us great
pleasure to add that the hospital authorities have
cheerfully yielded US every assistance in their
power and have seemed desIrOus for the commit
tee to ascertain the exact condition Of the nsttu
ton.
THE WORK DONE.
The work of the investigation has taken US very
much longer than we anticipated at the first.
This has been due to the excel dinghy confused
condition Of the accounts, and the entire lack OF
system in the keeping of the books of the hospital.
The committee decided to go back in the accounts
to October /, 1875, the beginning Of the fiscal
year in which the present administration began,
and the examination of the books and accounts
from that date to July /, 1885, alone occupied the
attention Of at least one member Of the commit
tee and an expert in bookkeeping, three months.
Subsequently, we examined 81 witnesses, making
over 500 folios Of testimony, and heard the argu-
ments of the hospital superintendent and his coun-
sell that it was late IN the year before the work
closed.
GENERAL VIEW.
We find that the Wisconsin Hospital for the
Insane was open for patients in 1860. That it is
situated on a farm of about 400 acres, owned by
the state, and most beautifully located on the
shore of Lake Mendoza. The buildings are light,
airy and commOdiOus, and are well supplied with
domestic and hospital cOnveniences. They well
afford fair accommodation for 900 patients,
although there are now in the hospital about $50.
The farm is of good Lana and has all the CON
yeniences for farming and gardening. So far as
outward appearances are concerned, the hospital
nearly perfect, evincing the liberal policy of
the state anu justIfying the high encOmiums con-
stantly giyenit by visitors from home and abroad.
TREATMENT or PATIENTS.
W e find that the patients are humanity treated
and properly clothed. The food furnished is fair
in quality and quantity, but, In the opinion OF
your committee, there should be greater variety
in the diet list. The serving Of hash for break
fast every day in the year, should cease, even
though it should result in increased cost to the
state. The allowance of sugar to the patients,
at least in some of the wards is uncertain and in
sufficient, and its supply should be more carefully
regulated.
WATER SUPPLY.
The supply of water from Lake Mendoza, for
drinking and culinary purposes We must condemn.
Whether sickness in the institution has at any
time been caused by impurities in lake water,
we do not pretend to say, but we are convinced
that it might be so caused, we doubt whether the
lake water is fit for drinking and culinary purpos-
es in any event and we certainly feel that the hosp
tai supply is had in view of the fact that the whole
sewerage of the institution is empted into the
lake AT the distance of only third of a mile from
the point where the water is taken in. There is
NGl OII pI6ullScS - SdIu " luIIlsIl
good supply of pure water, and we think that wa
ter for drinking and cooking should be taken from
this rather than from the lake.
MEDICAL, AND SCIENTIFIC TREATMENT.
OF the medical treatment Of the insane in the
hospital we are not prepared to speak from stand
point of experts. The general health of the
patients has been 'uneXceptiOnally good, and the
percentage of deaths lower than is generally
found IN similar institutions. However we find
that the superintendent has not been in the habit
of giving his personal attention to the medical
department, and the needs of individual patients
to the extent calculated by the statutes and
which from his position and requirements he
ought to give. He has been assisted by a corps
Of intelligent, well educated and wealthy young
men, but they have had no extended pro-
tessional or hospital experience and must neccs-
sariy be incapable of originating and conducting
Investigations of brain diseases and the scientific
treatment of the same, such We ought to find in
an institution of this kind. The committee may
be mistaken, but they have very positive feel
ing that there is lack OF thorough scientific in
vestigation consideration and trea tment of indi-
vidual eases and failed to do the work for the
advancement of science and the cure of insanity,
which might, and which ought to be there done.
The superintendent claims that he is required to
take active supervision of the complicated bust
ness transactions of the hospital, and so has no
time for this work. Had we found the business
department thoroughly and efficiently, conducted
we might have deemed this excuse good, but
neither the medical nor business management
have been satisfactory to the committee.
MORAL TREATMENT.
OF what may be called the moral treatment of
the insane such as light work, pleasant conversa-
ton, lake excursions, good reading, music dan
cling and other healthfnl amusements we have
only words of cOmmendation. This department
seems to have received special attention and we
think its beneficial results very manifest. 1t
should be extended rather than curtailed.
HYGESIC CONDITION.
In order more intelligently to ascertain the by
genie condition of the hospital we took the liberty
to request the honorable state board of health to
visit the asylum examine its condition and report
to us its conclusions. The report of the board is
| hereto annexed, and made part of our report
1t contains valuable suggestions, to which we
would call the careful attention of your exceen-
| cy and the legislature; and we may add that the
Judgment OF the committee 2ntirely comedies with
that of the state board of health far rs we who
| are non-prOteSSiOnal men are capable of Judging
| ATTENDANTS AND NURSES.
| Your committee found the hospital well pro-
vided with intelligent active and faithful attend
ants and employees except there ought to be al
| least two more nurses, whose special duty il
should be to look after the sick at night and SC
| prevent the unfortunate occurrence of sick pa
tientS dying alone and unattended. as has beer
| the case heretofore.
| THE FARM AND GARDEN.
| We find the farm connected with the hospital
| n large and fairly DrOfit n HE investment Th,