The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-08-06
TIE WESTON ASYLUM,
AN INSTITUTION TO INVESTIGATE.
The Ineonpst.uc, of the sup,rlatsudsnt Alleged
tObs the C,us,-i state OfAn4irs Highly Dis.
ersdItabls to the s.ats-InsubordIna.
tlOa of Some Of the Attendants. :

asylum needs to be investigated. ii mai
the stories told OF its management ar
true, neither ceremony or courtesy shoult
delay the prompt removal Of Its superin
tendent. So patent is the unsatisfacsor!
condition Of things, that prominent Demo
cratic physicians OF the State and seveta
well-known politicians, have and are nov
having correspondence on the subject t
devise, II possible, some way out OF tht
difficulty that will give the party credit
1t has been suggested that DR.. Bland bt
asked to resign, but the same difficulty
rses befors the board. II he resign
what reason can be given for it? Blanc
knows the storm that is brewing, and
is casting about for some means o.
escape. Just at present he Is indus
triously endeayoring to make it ap
pear tRat his assistants, at least q portion
OF them, are antagonistic to him, and
negative all efforts on behalf oi the Inst
tuition. A plan is on foot to bounce young
Dr.. Lewis at the coming meeting OF the
Directory, on the alleged ground
that he is married, but; really lsbe.
cause DR.. Bland don't like the habit
the young man has Of attending to his own
business without bearing on "grandpap"
as many OF the patients address Bland.
Towards DR.. Edmiston DR.. Bland has a
special resentment, aud carries 1t 80 far as
10 fail to introduce him TO visitors, even
when the visitor, Bland and Edmiston are
| in the room alone for considerable time
Without wasting words want to charge
DR.. Bland with utter rincompetency. Under
his superntendency the institution has do
generated into mere house OF detention,
where patients are fed on diet that has
not single variation to suit the needs OF
various inmates, unless one Of the assistant
physicians orders ESPECIALLY. DR.. Bland ls
almosta stranger in some OF the wards OF
! the asylum. So notorious is this fact that
the patients openly, in the face Of visitors,
charge him with neglect in this respect.
[ h''A NO SYSTEM. 81 >"
There is no system about the medical at.
tendance save what the assistants make for
themselves. OF every dozen cases under
treatment, selected at random, venture
the assertion that pr. Bland cannot give
any intelligent history Of two OF them,
either as to medicines or diagnosis. What
is true OF the medical department is true Of
all departments. Insubordination rules.
The attendants aud subordinates follow q
gU-as.you.please plan. So little regard have
the attendants for the authority OF DR..
Bland that they refused 10 rise for break
fast at the appointed hour, causing those
attendants who had been on duty during
the night to serve extra hours bor
to leave the patients alone while
they breakfasted.. The orders Of DR..
Bland were treated with contempt, and
finally, as q last resort, he called in the
local board, stated his difficulty and asked
Tor help. The board passed resolution.
and breakfast is still served at the same
old hour, One rule Of the Institution re-
quires that the attendants shall come in
when the 10 o'clock bell rings. They pay
no attention to this order and 1t is not in
frequently midnight before the last late
straggler gets in. It Is said the board will
be asked TO assist the Doctor enforce this
by law. lam informed by reliable parties
that not long since patient in the asylum
was made drunk by one who has at least q
quasi connection with the Institution.
TOO MANY ESCAPES:
Escapes are alarmingly numerous, run
ming as high as three aud four week. ]
know Of one patient who escaped, walked
all the way to Elizabeth, this county, and
was returned by his friends. l know OF a
dozen other cases very similar. It is boldly
charged that not few Of the attendants are
the most pronounced failures, being cross,
irritable, quick tempered, and even cruel.
Patients are frequently punished-if 1t is
desired / will particularizs, and as starter
/ will tell you Of a circumstance that oc-
tendapls is Charles Lee, q stout coloied
man Of great strength. He has charge Of q
colored ward, aflling" 1t with Q tpart-
ner." When not on duty in
the ward Lee works about the farm.
Among the patients Is one James
Price, a harmless old fellow, weak and
much debilitated, who Is crazy on re-.
ligious subjects. On certain day, date
furnished il desired, Price, who Is allowed
10 run ut liberty, was in field when Lee
was directing some work. Price is very
sensitive concerning his religious views,
and when irritated by opposition to them,
is sometimes quarrelsome, but never dam
gerous. On this occasion Lee leased and
tormented the old man into passion, and
when the imbeCile in his puerile anger at
tempted 10 strike his tormentor, Lee
seized stick and brptally. beat the old
man. FS, 4sEip aeUgIE! i.t ste
nt,.,,aTt,,p,,nr rrSS, .,,,un,s