The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-21

back view-and it looks prison Iiks--yet this is
not the case when you get front view. DR..
John Curwin is a mild looking gentleman, whose
countenance and manners tell you at once that
he is n physician, a scholar man of genius in
his profession. and Christian gentleman. The
day WAS there he had finished forty four years
of special study and treatment Of the insane in
hospitals. The pleasing, cheerful way in which
his patients aud employees received him showed
plainly that he ruled the house through the in
fiuence of love. The wards of the Warren Hos
pital are finished in light gray plastering,
as hard as marble, which can be washed and
shows no marks The floors are of hard
maple and shine like polished rosewood.
The patients rooms are arranged with a
plain, home-like neutrality-suspicious. all clean.
The walls were hung with very choice en-
cravings and Autographs in light wood frames.
The whole structure ia re.proof DIR. Curwin
having such long experience, knew just what he
required, and the trustees had the good sense to
let him direct the work as the building was put
up. think to the thorough ventilation, perfect
heating apparatus, complete machinery in boiler
engines, pumps ETC., nothing could be added.
For all cooking, steam heating, ETC., and every
purpose for which fire is used, natural gas is the
fuel Several oil wells ON the farm furnish
revenue, FROM which an amusement hall and
chapel have been built. The latter is now more
richly equipped than any church know of in In
dianapolis
DR.. Curwin's treatment is non restraint, as
nearly AS 1t can be; that is sometimes patients
must be secluded, and sometimes long sleeves
are used; thatN. the sleeves are sewed together
and are continuous. Except farm work there is
not much exercise out DOORS and the women do
not have as much out door amusement as would
like Yet, there was kindly quiet freedom
about the whole institution, with its six hun
dred patients, that impressed me that it was
good place for diseased mind to reason In.
BUFFALO, n. z.
My next visit was to the Buffalo Hospital un-
der DIR. j. B. Andrews. This institution is stu
ated on q farm of zoo acres, and is rapidly be-
coming surrounded by che city. The ground is
fiat and the prospect is not pleasing: but in a
few years, when trees and shrubbery have
grown, it will be changed into a delight to the
eye. The hospital building was originally it,
tended to consist of a center building and two
wings, but thus far only the center building and
east wing are completed Tho structure of the
to make a design magnificent, picturesque and
useful Art and utility are combined TO make
al! pleasing and perfect. / understand the CEN
ter building, which contains the officers quar-
terS and general administration, cost more than
the entire Indiana hospital. The wards are
likewise magnificent, some of them over 200
feet long, eighteen feet wide and fourteen in
height. One most pleasing feature, carried out
more fully than at Warren, is that most of the
patients have their rooms furnished with a chest
of drawers, wash stand and pitcher, and a ward
robe. and take care Of their own clothing as far
as they are capable. It was not the expensive
and elaborate buildings that pleased me nearly
SO much as the excellent eorIs of attendants
teachers and nurses,-a thing above all others
requisite to carry On to its best purpose
hospital for insane. Every employee, except a few
men day laborers on the farm, must get
the piace by passing an examination as to quail
fcation; they must have good education in all
departments; their character must be proven be-
You'd question; they engage for at least one year;
their pay increases with length of service. The
school, which is in it's infancy, IS no as extensive
in its scope as our own The patients are better
clothed than at any hospital visited. The SUI
perintendent has now started training school
for attendants and nurses by which he will have
at all times the best skilled labor upon his wards.
The amount of restraint used is less than most
hospitals. saw but few in restrs I, and but
one covered bed.
WASHINGTON, d. G.
The Government Hospital at Washington was
my next visit. There found q hospital which
is managed on a most liberal plan, having seven
physicians, five chaplains. l, 100 patients, and
unlimited means There was nothing peculiar
about the management of patients. The diet
was unusually good and abundant Perhaps
more attention is here paid to the study of the
changes made upon the brain and spinal cord in
insanity, and pathology. than anywhere else.
The hospital buildings are of various kinds, the
old one not unlike cur own for the men, while
there are several new ones detached, for various
classes of patients, and general dining rooms. DR..
GoddIng, the superintendent, is good hearted
intelligent man, whose many years in the special
ty has made him rank with the best in Amer
lea. The Government Hospital has one Of the
most beautiful locations that could be selected
for giving a view Of the Potomac and the city of
Washington.
NORRIsTowN, PA.
A look through the hospital at Norristown,
Pa, sixteen miles out of Philadelphia reveals
some novelties. First, it has no superin tendent,
but is managed by board of trustees. Its fe-
10 dor pfp ant ic al INV Nv
Bennett, who is called the resident physican; the
male department is presided over by DIR. Chase
resident physician. Each resident physician has
two assistants, and they have one other physi-
clan, q young woman, who makes all the autop-
sizes, and does the pathological work for both de.
partments. Norrstown Hospitals-for the build
ings are detached-has carried on the matter of
mechanical labor for inmates beyond any other
institution for insane in America Brush max
ing. door mats of all kinds. chair-caning cabinet
making, printing. shoemakfng, and manufactur-
ing all kinds Of baskets are the in
doors or ward employments This work
is not considered a matter of profit,
but a curative measure. The things sold during
the last year were enough to pay expenses of
materials and purchase several pianos for the
wards The method here used, in having two
heads and one hospital, is not proving satisfac-
tory, and will undoubtedly have to be changed;
but this only pertains to the general manage
ment or administration The medical work and
attention on the wards is Of the best kind. DR..
Alice Bennett, with her two female assistant
physicians, has proven her ability by what she
has accomplished and is the equal of her male
associate.
THE KIRKBRIDE.
final grand day was spent with DIR. Chaplin
in the Pennsylvania or "Kirkbride' Hospital In
Philadelphia But this hospital is not one with
which we can compare other hospitals in general
working for it is a private institution, with
abundance of means 1t was built by the late
Dr. Kirkbride, who for many years past was at
the head of the speciality he practced, but it may
now be considered as far behind many of the
State institutions Within year Dr. Chaplin
has been called to the SUPPLEMENTARY and
within few years will bring it up to the very
best This hospital is the only one in America
except our own where there are two buildings
one for males and one for female patients
Undoubtedly the State of Pennsylvania is in ad-
vance in her hospitals for the insane, and takes
more pride in their ADMINISTRATION and success
There are no paid trustees or visitors; there is