Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-02-13

large mass of inmates is understood the
results of overcrowding must seem to be
inevitable.
THE COMMON IDEA OF A MAD HOUSE
Is of dark, gloomy prison building,
where hundreds of raving maniacs are
placed under control, and where all the
appliances of art and the constant exer-
lions of the attendants are necessary to
prevent them from destroying one another
or themselves. This popular idea is very
far from being real. 1t is the exception.
and not the rule that the insane are vio-
lent. None are constantly so, and the in
tervals when others are is, In the majority
of cases, rare. The masses are by reason
of their malady helpless physically as we'll
as mentally, and require constant care and
attendance. The aim of the management
of our Minnesota hospitals is to provide
| light, cheerful apartments for their
| patients where they may be surrounded so
far as possible with cheerful atmosphere
and with unremitting care and exertion
endeavor to attract the shattered mind
from whatever themes it has been brood
ing on. During the late inspection by the
legislative committee every patient in both
hospitals who was able to be up and
dressed was found either seated or stand
ing in the corridors as the committee
passed in review, not a single
patient being under restraint of any kind.
Their sleeping apartments where not over
crowded are neat and pleasant, their beds
and bedding comfortable and their cloth
ing clean, warm and substantial Each
bed is provided with woven wire and good
cotton mattresses and the most complete
sanitary measures that could be imagined
are constantly and rigidly maintained.
The actual cost per capita per week
during the past year for
the maintenance of those com
mitted to the two hospitals has been as has
been already stated, 1891. 1t will be
readily seen that in communities of the
extent of those at Nos. and 2, where
buildings have been provided which are
adapted especially to the purposes for
which they are intended, patients can be
cared for at much less expense than IN
der any other circumstances, and the only
thing to be done is to provide
ample room and supply all nee
essary furniture and materials, and with
skillful and experienced physicians in
charge, trust to nature and proper treat
ment to restore as many as possible to
home and friends.
From the report of the superintendent
it will be seen that during the biennial
period just elapsed there have been re-
ceived for treatment at No. l, at ST. Peter,
439 patients. Total number under treat
ment during that period, 1,051. Number
discharged cured, 106; discharged i'm
proved, ninety six. Number discharged
| rofi
eight.
Hospital No. is under the following
management who are subject to the con-
troll of the board of trustees.
, RESIDENT OFFICERS.
Superintendent and Physician-Dr. C. K.
| Bartlett.
First Assistant Physician-Dr. John H.
| Jones.
Second Assistant Physician-Dr. W. A.
| James.
Steward-George W. Dryer.
! The board of trustees who have the man
| agement of No. 2. at Rochester as we'll,
are:
Hon. Burr Deull, Winona, president.
Hon. A. L. Sackett, ST. Peter, secretary.
Hon. William Schimmel, st. Peter, treasurer
| Hon. Fl. B. Strait, Shakopee.
Hon. NJ J. Daniels, Rochester.
| Hon. John +. Meagher. Mankato.
I Rey. ]. D. Cavalier, Moorhead.
! Attached to the hospital at st. Peter are
forty acres of land composed of tim
| Der, meadow and arabic land, which
acreage it is proposed to increase
by the purchase of 200 acres of lands this
coming season. In the
CULTURE OF THE GROUND
a large class of patients may be proftably
employed in pecuniary point of view,
and to their great physical advantage.
The proposed erection of detached ward
at cost of $4,000, will add 100 to the
present capacity of the in
stitution, and will enable the
management to test the ad
vantages of the cottage system while still
having the building near enough to be
supplied with food, heat and light from
the main plant and not nominate a new
corps of officers. The amount asked for to
defray the current expenses for the ensu-
ing year at No. 1 is S131 ,625, while total
| appropriation for improvement is $751;
400, which has been explained previously
by the GLOBE.
The gentlemen who composed the legis-
lativs committee who have Just concluded
the biennial examination of the two hos
pitfalls have most thoroughly conducted
their work and will be able to make most
complete report showing the exact status
and the real wants of both institutions.
It is to be earnestly hoped that such
action may be taken by our Legislature as
to prevent the overcrowding of the st. Pc
ter hospital as has sometimes been the case
in the past.
The resident officers of No. at Roches-
ter are:
Superintendent and Physician-Dr. Jacob E..
Bowers FirstAssistant Physician William A.
Vincent Steward-Rev. A. H. Kerr.
The original building here was built for
an inebriate asylum, but was afterward
transformed into Insane Hospital No.
p. II is located in the beauti-
full valley in which Rochester
is built, one mile east of the city proper,
but still within the city limits.
The ground is sufficiently sloping to give
good drainage, while the bluff some half
mile in the rear furnishes the necessary
elevation for reservoir for supply of
water for sanitary and fire purposes. The
original building is two story brick with
mansard roof, surmounting stone base
vA-- L 49,