The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1884-03-22
THE INSANE ASYLUM.
Annual Report Of Inspector
higgins.

Annual Report of Inspector
Higgins.
The MANAGEMENT, Number, eto.
Of Patients.
The following very intert sting re-
port Of the management, number and
condition Of the inmates of the
Warm Springs Insane Asylum we
find ia the Herald of the 10Th inst. :
There are at present Is patients.
seven Of whom are females. The pa
tients are confined in suitable build
ings, surrounded by an ample yard
for purposes of exercise. The food of
the patients is Of good quality and
IS Well prepared. The patients doing
no work are fed two substantial
meals, one In the morning and one in
the evening, with a light lunch at
midday. Those at work upon the
place are fed three substantial meals
daily.
Those patients who are able are en-
gagged in various kinds Of work about
the farm. This plan has been found
very beneficial as a means OF treat
ment of this class Of patients, as we'll
at this Asylum as in numerous 9TH
ers of a similar kind in the East.
There are at this time nine men
whose insanity is Of a mild type at
work upon the place. The health Of
the patients is excellent, there being
none in the hospital at the present
time. They seem we'll nourished and
warmly clothed. The patients are all
bathed once q week in the water from
the springs, at which time their cloth
ing is changed.
The buildings are not built in
group, but stand isolated as a pro-
lection i'm case of fire. Should one or
more burn the others could be saved,
thus leaving sufficient shelter Cor the
patients.
The quarters of the patients are
thoroughly washed out and disin-
fected once a week. The beds are
single and supplied with suitable and
comfortable clothing. The female
ward Is isolated and is under the di-
rect care and supervision of the ma
iron, Mrs. White, and her assistants.
The clean and comfortable appear
ance of this building reflects credit
upon the management.
The drainage Of the asylum is IS
good as can be desired at present.
The punishment Of the violent pa
tients is by confinement in a cell and
being deprived Of such Iuxuries as
tobacco i'll its various forms.
The patients are somewhat crowd
ed in sic eping arrangements, but this
will soon be improved, as new
building has been built, giving 10
additional beds. This building will
he occupied in a few days
The patients at this asylum should
be separated according 60 the degree
and kind of INSANITY from which
should not live or be allowed to ex-
erciSe with those patients who are
suffering with s me of the milder
forms OF dementia, or with those
who are cOnvalescing.
Since the first Of January, 1883, So
patients have been received at the
asylum. Of this number only ten
are residents Of Montana; the others,
as far as IAN be ascertained, are from
the surrounding Territories.
This abuse. l am informed bv the
physicians in charge of the asylum,
has increased since the advent Of
railroads. Insane patients are
shipped into the Territory, turned
loose upon the community, and after
wandering about for some days are
taken to the asylum at Warm
Springs. Arriving in this
no history of themselves or of the
cause Of their insanity can be OBJ
tanned.
At the commitment Of insane pa
tients blanks, in tripiicate, should be
filled out, giving proper history of
patient and his insanity. Ore of
these blanks should be retained by
tie magistrate, M sent to the Exec
utive, and the third should accolu- !
pany the patient Il the ASYLUM
There are at present in the asylum
two patients from the penitentiary, !
both Of whom are believed TO be i'll
durable.
There is now at work upon. the
farm attached to the asylum u patient
who is rapidly improving, and who
in a few months will be discharged. !
The physicians in charge have de
posted in a bank to this patients |
order the sum OF TWENTY-FIVE dollars
monthly, aud will continue to do 80
until his release.
There is al present ia the female
ward All old woman who is blind, but
VINO, sinceherc confinement, has shown
no symptoms of insanity. She is old !
and somewhat childish, but is not u
proper person to be confined in an
asylum for insane patti hts. She has
two sons who, l am informed are
able to take care of her. Her name,
and the name of one OF her sons, /
have given you. A suitable place for
her would he the hospital Of the
Sisters at Missaala, where
she would have proper care and
In conclusion, | would suggest that
inspection of the Territorial
ASYLUM be made oitener than once q
year. An Inspection once every
months, at q time selected by the ,
but unknown to those !
charge Of the asylum. would TO a
great degree prevent the abuses that
80 often present themselves 10 insti-
lutions of this kind.
l am, sir, very respectfully, your
cbedieHt servant.
F. NJ. HIseINs, NJ. D.,
Inspector.