The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1881-03-11
THE MENDOZA HOSPITAL FOR
THE INSANE
MISS Blanche Delaplaine. In the " ilyaukee
Repubiiesr. i

III IAAAAE.
Miss Blanche Deiaplaine. IN the Milwaukee,
Republican,
1t is almost impossible to take m :
Milwaukee or Madison paper at presen
without seeing some alIuslon to The
State Hospital for the Insane Al
Mendoza, illusions of a nature anything
but c0mmendatory, and calculated K
awaken and strengthen prejudice anG
distrust in the minds of the public
and to leave a strong impression oil
want of proper care and attention tt
unfortunate inmates and the friends
who visit them. At the recent Con
vention of superintendent and Over
seers of the Poor, in Madison, meet
ing of great interest to all interested In
humanitarian efforts, the Hospital
came in for large share of attention
and it seemed at one time as if the
question under discussion-The care
| Of the Insane in poor Houses--would
be lost sight of, and the remainder oil
the time occupied with remarks upon
the extravaganza and neglect in hospi.
tails. While ! doubt not that these
remarks were made in good faith and
with the best of Intentions, and while
/ am in sympathy with all questions
and Investigations with regard to the
best and most economical method OF
caring for the insane, it seems to me
that statements so sweeping in their
character do unintentional injustice to
an institution whose good work Is
incalculable, and cast a slur not only
upon those in charge, but upon the
many humble and faithful workers
who are occupied with labors from
which the majority of people shrink In
fear or disgust.
Is it not time to present the other
side Of the picture !? Not in an effort
to distort facts, nor to whitewash errors
of judgment or action, but to remind
people that there is another side, and
to try to give clearer idea than the
one generally held of hospital life and
more than all, to assure those who have
friends in hospitals that the efforts in
their behalf are earnest, conscientious
and sympathetic, and that those in
charge have little time or opportunity
for indulgence in ease or luxury.
Concerning the Northern Hospital /
know nothing. excepting by hearsay,
but having been employed until last
October, during q period Of two and
a half years, at Mendoza, I know where
Of speak concerning that institution.
One of the physicians present at the
recent convention said that he believed
that the chronic insane would be more
comfortable and happy in the poor
houses, with proper accommodations,
than "cooped up within the walls of
large hospital" Just exactly what was
meant by that / do not know, for at
Mendoza great Importance is attached
to out of door exercise, the rule being
five hours daily, in summer, and in
winter two long walks for those not
engaged in active labor. In summer
the groves are filled with patients play
ing croquet, swinging, sewing, reading
and strolling about, while all who are
able make frequent excursions to the
woods and gather wild flowers and au-
tumn leaves. Those who are not we'll
enough to visit the grove, spend the
greater part of the day In the airing
courts-large, grassy yards containing
trees and benches. l have passed
through the wards when every patient,
excepting one cripple. was out of doors,
and the complaint Of the attendants is
that " it takes all the time to go out"
| noticed that this physician and
some of the overseers spoke Of the cells
In the poorhouses, one giving the di-
mansions, which seemed to be those of
a prison cell, (and in which under
stood that some of the patients spent
the whole time i'll winter) and referred
to the cells at the hospitals. At Men
dota there are no cells--the word is not
known there. Every room, the "strong
room included, is large enough to
contain two beds, if advisable; the
ceilings are very high, the window or
windows much larger than In an ordi-
nary house, and so arranged that ex-
cepting in cases Of extreme violence
and excitement the patient can look
through a wire screen upon the garden,
woods and lake; and the cleanliness of
the rooms Is something to which no or
binary housekeeper can attain. The
shutters, which make the room
" strong" are perforated with num-
Der of holes for the admission of light
and air, and the patients obliged at
times to Use these rooms are confined
to them for short periods only, there
being strict rules, rigidly enforced, for
taking them out at times specified by
the physicians, for air and exercise.
One oyerseer told us Of a patient in
his poorhouse who had spent thirteen
years in his cell, no one being able to
manage him, and was, naturally, in a
terrible condition. After repeated eff
forts, the overseer succeeded In clothing
and bringing him out into the sunlight
and air, and finally made of him quiet,
contented worker. These efforts, 80
brave and praiseworthy, were most
gratifying in their results, but in a
hospital, how much more easily might
these results have been attained, and
how many years of wretchedness have
been saved. Where there were physi-
clans, attendants and all necessary APP
planes, such a condition of things
would not have been tolerated or nee
essary for day.
One gentleman enquired concerning
the care of the insane in poor houses
at night, and in reply to this question
one of the physicians stated that al
though there was a night watch in the
hospital, for aught we know she sat in
the sitting room; for we we'll know
that patients often died without at
tendance. This is so grave a charge,
rejecting SO strongly upon the night
watch as we'll as others, that 1 cannot
let it pass without correction.