Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-04-21
THE INSANE ASYLUM.
A Physician of Fort Worth Describes His
visit to the Austin Institution.

| Visit to the Austin Institution.
DR.. II. w. Moore. who has recently
| paid visit to the insane asylum at
! Austin, gives very pleasing descrip-
| ton of his wish, aud for the benefit of
those who have friends and acquain-
tances in that institution, THE GA
ZE1TE interview him about the
general features Of the asylum.
"This institution said the doctor,
is credit to the state. "ltis about two
and a-half miles from the capital and
situated in the center of beautiful
grounds. II is q three-stor brick
builciUg and presents an imposing APP
pearance. | was cordially received by
the superintendent, DR.. Denton, and
his assistant, DR.. Givens, and the tour
OF fnspt elton through the different
departments was a very interesting
one.
ut is Observation-Disclosures miles
through the different wards, which
are large, airy and commodious. In
answer to u question, DR.. Denton told
told me there were about $40 patients
at present in the asylum. l was as
tonished to find the place so quiet,
though there were number of very
violent patients in the various wards.
The floors, walls and staIrways were
clean to scrupulous nicely; the linen
on the beds was white as snow. There
are corps of workers whose single
duty it Is to keep the place clean.
Very little restraint Is placed over the
inmates, as the physicians soon
impress on them the necessity of be-
ing orderly. There are from forty to
nifty attendants-one attendant to
every twelve or fifteen patients.
mo one is allowed TO talk i'm a oud
voice In any of the wards and the in
mates have learned to dislike loud
talking, and are apt to resent a breach
of this rule. The majority of persons
In The asylum are females and there
are only about forty or fifty inmates
of the negro ward The females are
separated from the males in different
wards. The halls are where the pa
tients are found during the day. These
halls are wide with the bed rooms on
either side. As n means of amuse-
ment the patients have frequent pic
mics in the grounds and dances in the
halls. was invited by DR.. Den
ton toprolong my stay in Austin one
DAY IN order to attend larbecuc in
the grounds, but much as / w uld have
enjoyed 1t, | was unable to STAY. The
quiet, orderly behavior during these
amusements is woI derfnl and reflects
much credit upon the management of
the institution.
The only difference between the
pay patients and the state patients is
the manner in serving the meals; their
treatment otherwise is the same.
rhere are three ply scians in charge,
Drs. Denton, Givens and johnson, ana
they nave an almost absolute mastery
over the patients, DIR. Denton states
mat great number of the patients
are cured; some permanently, aud
DINERS only temporarily, but a large
number remain for years without re-
covering their mental faculties.
Ihe wore case saw was female
VINO was placed in u strait-jacket.
Her popularity was to tear her flesh
with her hands aud also any article
she could get hold of.
The men have male attendants and
the females have their own sex o
wait on them. These attendants are
selected with great care on the part OF
the management.
Most OF the patients have the lib.
erty OF the grounds, but the windows
all nave network of wire on them,
was informed that there are now
about 1000 insane persons in the state
OF Texas, but only little over quar-
Ter or that number are in this institu-
tion; the Others are cared for in the tails
OF the different counties. You may saw
through the columns OF The GAZETTE.
to those who have friends or ac1uaint.
ances In this asylum, that the patients
are under a rigid but kind manage.
ment, and that everything possible is
attendants"