The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-10-15
ABOLISHING RESTRAINTS.
Superintendent Fletcher Engaged in Adopt
ing New System at the Insane
Hospital.

Hearing that great change had recently
taken place at the Indiana Hospital for the In
sane in the treatment of patients, a Journal re-
porter called to inquire what had been done and
why it had been done. He was shown into
parl0r and told that the superintendent, DR..
William b. Fletcher, would soon be at leisure.
On the west wall OF this parlor is large picture
representing DR.. Philippe Pinel, the father of
the modern asylum method of treating the in
sane, removing BELTS manacles and leglocks
from the patients of the hospital of Salpetrere,
at Paris, in 1895. Asylums date from the begin
ming of the present century. and for many years
after their founding, although based upon be-
nevolen5 views, they resemDled jails. both in
their construction and the mode in which they
were conducted, more than hospitals.
II have heard" said the reporter, as the Doctor
entered, chat you have within few days en-
tirely done away with restraints for patients"
"That is nearly but not exactly true said the
Doctor. For five years have been an advo-
cate of the non-restraint method of treatment,
having seen and studied that method in num-
Der of hospitals for the insane When 1 came
here on the 9TH of last June found every thing
in admirable condition to go ahead with
my plan. My predecessor, DR.. Rodgers, had
never given his attention to the proposed
method, and the experiment., with whatever of
praise or blame thar is to come of it, is wholly
my own in this hospital Since began here L
have, from day to day, been taking off restraints.
This has been done along with educating the at
PENDANTS to che changed state Of affairs"
"What are these restraints, and to what extent
have they been usedf"
"Here Is a list of restraints in the mems de-
partment." The reporter read, an strong
chairs these are chairs to which patients are
strapped by means of a belt, the chairs being
fastened to the floor; the belts are locked by the
attendants, and sometimes patients are left for
hours, even half day at a time, fastened in
nd nNRpfn fpl q
tom; AZ belts, So wristets, pairs anklets,
collars, IL camiSOes, 80 pairs gloves, 81 cribs"
camsole is "A tight-titting shirt, with bands,
made OF bed ticking, and used over the clothing
when patients hands are to be tied. They are
sometimes tied folded before the patient, and
sometimes behind his back
81 told the attendants all these things would
have to be abolished but it was brought about
gradually, the hitherto restrained patients being
released and let out upon ward one at time
The restraints in the mems department last
April, with belts and wristlets, averaged twenty
day, forty-one in cribs at night, and six in
cribs day and night. Restraints were more i'll
in tine womans department than among
the men. When entered the hospital, in June,
the daily average twenty three in belts and
cnmisUles, fOrty-five in cribs at night, and six
day and night. Our average in cribs day and
night is now one. Here are the belts that were
in use" The Doctor laid down an armful of
them, heavy straps over inch wide, and
strong enough TO tie IL Samson.
"Dr. Plnel there, you See," pointing 10 the
SalpetrIere picture lis removing almost 1den-
tieally the same belts. In the womeEs hospital,
III Dr. InOnaSS department., We nave done away
with thirty-two cribs, twenty-s1x BELTS two pairs
an klets eight pairs wristlets, eight pairs gloves
and eight camsoles. In DR.. j. n. Smiths de-
partment we have done away with forty cribs,
eighty-twO camisoes, twelve pairs wristlets,
seven pairs anklets, thirty nine belts and seven
teen pairs mittens. We have now but
wearing restraints. We have two cribs
that are in day and night. They not
closed, and are used because if the patients
should fall out Of bed they could not get back.
one being paralytic and the other nearly dead
with consumption We still have some cribs in
use, but not restraints. The carpenter is
max ing beds for the crib-roOms. and as he sup
plies the beds the cribs will be moved out. Not
bad showing with 482 female patients, is itf
''How is it in the mems Department.
owe have 609 male patients. We are now u.s.
restraints. Two paraytics are in cribs day and
night twenty eight sleep in cribs because
they are sometimes violent and hurt
other patients, and six wear mltteus to
run about this way since the first of October, so
that l am encouraged to believe that the nom
retraint method will be success here, as it has
been elsewhere"
The reporter was shown through the women's
department of the hospital, and particularly
noIed the absence of the strong chairs, camisoes
and mlttens which were there on previous visits.
In one OF the worst wards is young lady at
teacher with kindergarten On North Merld-
street. She is neither large apparently
strong 'These women," the Doctor explained
as went through the ward, need thorough
and careful management more than strength,
They are like little children" By the LIST of
January it is anticipated that the TWO depart
ments of the hospital will have 1,450 patients,
which, with the employees, VIII swell the number
of inmates TO 200, making the Indiana HospI-
tai for the Insane the largest in the United
States under one management
-.&s
The Evansville Hospital.