The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-02-22

asylumS in the various Australian
colonies, Honolulu, and from San
Francisco to Maine, and all the Brit
ish possessions of Prince Edwards
Island, and am now working back to
New York, through the southern
states, and thence l go to Europe.
i visited your institution at Austin
yesterday, on the authority of the
governor.
The day was 80 excessively cold
that no vehicles were out, and ! had
TO walk distance of three miles in
the snow storm. -
| found that the building had been
occupied since 1851, with only an area
of eighty acres. mostly in park land.
found that it was governed by five
managers, appointed by the governor;
these gentlemen visiting once each
month and once quarterly.
Hound the capacity of the present
institution Is for 365; we were advised
that the car acity will be raised to $50.
At the time of my visit there were
1854 patients; 200 males and 81 females,
at a per capita cost of S177 per annum,
including repairs. That would reduce
the per capita cost of each individual,
taking in the repairs of the old build
ing.
I further found that the history of
the patients had been kept only in a
very general manner, not in the man.
ner required by law. That the water
supply was inadequate and had run
out.
That the institution Is lighted by
simply kerosene lamps, to the danger
of the building from fire. That no
divine service was held. That there
are no amusementS or occupations.
That the building is heated through
out by simply stoves, one in the end
of each corridor, and one in the end of
each so-called sitting room. That
these stoves are fenced In by 8 feet of
wooden fences.
That the room called the sitting
room Is about Is feet square, with
about forty patients crowded into il
this piercing cold day. Those who
could not get near the fire were hud-
died into the beds, as best they could
be. That they were lying about the
floor in all directions in the sitting
room, unoccupied and unattended by
the attendants. there being only about
The corridors and rooms were in a
most disgusting and filthy state. The
walls were broken and the ceilings
down, with the exception of one cor.
ridor only; each contained few print
pictures on the wall, and strip of
mating on the floor, which composed
about all the furniture, except some
broken stools, chairs and sofas.
The bathrooms were dirty beyond
description; the closets and bathroom
in one; and the floor of the bathroom
and closet, and the hall leading to it.
was covered with at least one inch of
ice; everything had frozen up and the
odor was most disgusting.
The patients were insuficiently
clothed. dirty and untidy.
In the basement floor l found q
small room containing six large
baths, and was told that was the
general bath room for the white
female patients; that they were
brought to the bath room. eighteen
at time, three bathed at a time In
each bath. In the other corner OF
this same bath room was a heating
apparatus, used as a cooking appa.
ratus and kitchen and dining room fol
the colored women.
The general aspect of the institu-
ton was throughout of this condition
and style.
The new buildings in course OF
erection are imperfect and improper
in reconstruction for an insane asy.
lum, but may be made available fol
present use until something better is
adopted.
OF the 1854 patients, in my opinion
there were not more than about ter
that were likely to recover.
In my visit to the governor this
morning, recommended small ap.
preparation for the present superin
tendent, appointed recently, with
in the last few days, and who is not
thoroughly acquainted with the man.
agement of an insane asylum, to en-.
able him to visit other institutions in
other states of Michigan, Illinois anC
Ohio, where the best Institutions are
to be found in the United States, that
he may attain some practical knowl
edge of his duties before he enters OF
an undertaking that few experienced
men would enter on.
would suggest that closer and
more regular supervision is necessa-
~, and / consider that it is the duty
of the press to investigate and report
from time to time on such public in
stitutions. The improvement anC
benefit of the patients would be en-
HANGED very materially by such inves
tigation on the part Of the press.
The only thing 1 could recommend
with regard to the old building would
be to tear it down altogether. 1t i,
entirely inappropriate.
Reporter-What Is the proper treat
ment of the insane?
DR.. THE institution should b,
furnished in every sense in accord
ance with the home comforts
the patients had formerly been accus
toned to.
That the walls should be adorned
with objects of interest-inexpensiv,
mainly pictures, flowers and books
everything that will elevate and ere
ate desire for improvement or occu
patton of every description. For in
stance, visited one institution las
week, where 1 found rs per cent o
the patients employed usefully.
counted in passing through the ward
eighty-five women sewing and knit
ting. The consequence of that EN-
ployment was in the evidence of tn
absence of restraint; no restrain
of any description being tolerated il
that institution.
R-What is the proper mode of in
speeding an institution for the in
sane?
DR.. TIN drawing comparison
between one institution and an
other, you must consider frs
the structure and age o.
the building, with the amount of tn,
appropriation as altogether out of tn,
control of the superintendent. Tha
means that he is not responsible; tina
he cannot go beyond his .appropria
ton; that the cleanliness, order an,
quietude of the institution Is Target
dependent upon the management; an
it is on these grounds that we ma
Judge of the efficiency of one as agains
the other, considering, of course, tn
percentage of cures as of first cor
sideration.
The universal fitness of things @
! the present day, shows that no institu
| ton should exceed 800 patients, as tn
maximum number for individual car
and treatment With above ths
number the sanitary conditions al
changed, the expenditure is increased
and the individual treatment of tn
patients lost. Hence, large and over
crowded institutions throw more en-
ployment on the superintendent tina
any one mans capacity is capable G
enduring.