The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-11-21
Insane Asylums.

TO the Editor OF the Indianapolis Journal
The question is often asked, in what the
approved methods of treating the insane in
the asylums in England and Scotland con-
Ssts.
Most of the asylums in those countries are
I'm large, old buildings, originally construct
ed much like the asylums in this country;
but in many of these great changes are be-
ing made, by dividing up the long, dreary
corridors into apartments, tearing out parti-
tons so as to admit light and air more freely,
and practically dividing the patients into
smaller companies procuring attendants
who will interest and keep employed such
as are able for it, thus relieving the intense
tedium and monotony of the life and turn
ing the thoughts of the patients into more
cheerful channels. All physical restraints
have been abolished, temporary exclusion
in a private room for a short time being
used instead, in some very violent cases, and
a large restriction put upon the use of mar
cotics and sedatives simply as a quieting
remedy, outdoor air and exercise being sub
stituted for such as are able for it. In very
many instances all prison-like appearance
is removed by taking away barred windows
etc. OF course much additional labor is
thrown upon officers and attendants but as
the asylums are built for the hel p of the pa
tients not for the comfort of the officers
and as there is no difficulty in procuring per-
sons for these places, the first consideration
in every case is what will most benefit the
patients In some of the larger asylumS al
most all the restraints have been removed
except that of oversight by the officers and
attendants with the happiest results, and all
the domestic and other labor about the asy-
lum is performed by the inmates.
1t is a remarkable fact that in this enlight-
ened country, which was one of the first to
adopt the amelioratons introduced by Pinal,
in some of our asylpms they have fallen back
into the use of all those instruments OF torture
which he abandoned. Who can imagine the
intense torture of being strapped to a chair
and forced to sit for hours in constrained
position, without the power of change, mere
ly to relieve an attendant so he can read and
rest in incidence; or fastened at night in a
crib, in which the patient cannot turn to re-
lieve the pain of being long in one position?
What wonder that night is made hideous by
the howls of such poor sufererers! During
visit at our State asylum, near Indianapo-
lis, the writer was rejoiced to find that Dr.
Fletcher and his excellent wife have COM
pretended the situation, and thrown aside
all such instruments of torture, with the
very best results not only upon the patients
but on the whole institution. They are also
gradually introducing sources of
employment and amusement, giving
the patients more outdoor exercise and
in every way endeavoring to relieve their
suffering. The opening of chapel, with ap-
propriate Sabbath services for such as desire
to attend, has been a source of great comfort
to many of the inmates.
1t is greatly to be regretted that the State
ever constructed so immense pile of build
ings together. If it had been broken up
into three or four asylums and scattered
over the State. it would have much more
etfectually accomplished the object in view,
and the State would do well yet to tear down
large proportion OF the buildings; but, if
there must be an asylum for 800 persons, it
is we'll to have all the ameliorations which
modern science suggests. We hope that our
asylums will be divided into smaller build
ings, in which more of family character can
be introduced, as has been done with best
results in many new asylums. C.F.C.
RICHMOND Nov Is 1889