The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1885-11-06
RUINS STRICKEN VICTIMS.

RUINS STRICKEN VICTIMS.
Writing On Their Cots in UncontroIla-
BILE Agony. and Only subdued by the Use
Observation-Disclosures and ManacIes-Scenes at
Bellevue Hospital.
Down on the lower basement of
Bellevue Hospital long, low room ex-
tends from north to south. On either
side heavy oaken doors, in each of
which is a small sliding wicket, giving
it prisonlike air. To the right a
small Office looks upon the corridor,
and here was found Mr.. Connolly, the
orderly in charge. He is a slight, clean
shaver gentleman, with twinkling gray
eyes that give no token of the heart
rending scenes he has witnessed during
the nine years he has presided over the
ward.
"You want to know our treatment
of patients?" he queried, when asked
what course hefollowed ''Well, / had
better begin by telling you the story in
my own way. 1t has never been writ
ten up and | am sure will prove inter-
esting.
1--WE are obliged to receive only peo-
pie sent from the station-houses or the
police courts. Our patients are gener-
ally in pretty bad condition when they
arrive, and our first care is to see that
they are Immediately bathed. In all
cases this can not be done, but where
IL is possible we do it. ...
"What are the worst cases?'
Beer-drinkers. 1t seems to ME that
whisky does not make such a total
wreck of man as the milder stimulant
Take the drivers of brewery wagons,
who continuously dabble in beer-hu-
man sponges, in fact. We always ex-
perience considerable difficulty in get
ting them on their legs.
''Of course, the patients stomach is
disordereG, and unable to retain any
solid nourishment. The constant use
of liquor creates an abnormal action of
the nerves and craving for something
to quiet the unusual excitement Lime
water and milk is the only thing that
will rest upon the stomach after pro-
tracted debauch. To quiet the nerves
we administer bromide of potassium"
"Doyou ever give stimulants?"
Mr.. Connolly smiled at the question.
''But very seldom, and only on
doctors prescription. They beg for it,
but we can not permit them to Keep up
their spree. They come here as would
a ship to harbor until the storm
passes over.
g Some of the cases that come here
are quiet; others again require the
straight-jacket and SCI eral little appli-
ances which we keep on hand"
Hardly had the words passed She
speakers lips when a kick sounded up
on the door. When it was opened
tall, stra' ght man with a high. white |
forehead stood upon the threshold His |
hands were manacled to a heavy belt |
which encircled his waist.
"Mr. Connolly" he said, as his fin |
gers worked eonvulsiyely, "it's time |
for my medicine.
The orderly rose and took from his |
cabinet small vial containing dark |
brown fluid. With tremulous lips, his |
hands still bound. the patient swallowed |
the draught and left the room.
81 remember one case in particular
resumed the orderly. ''He was a
LnCI III Guio CIbys anu Udu Dcpn
drinking for more than three weeks. I
However, he was never really drunk
always had what the boys call "a quiet |
load This is the kind of case that |
bothers u.s. Because your cool, self |
contained men are nearer the grave |
than they think for.
"Well, we got him to bed. He hadn't
slept for more than four days, and |
when he told me that | knew his con-
dition was precarious You see, when
a man can't eat or sleep it's time for
him to seek medical attendance After |
awhile | was startled by the most blood |
curdling shrek ever heard. [ ran to |
my patients cell and found him with
ing on his cot and twisting himself into |
every conceivable shape. Two of us
were insufficient to hold him, and at in
tervals be broke out in screams that
would raise the hair uponsyour head. l
sent at once for a brother clergyman of
his, but the attempt to soothe him was
futile. He rayed and loaned and beat
the air with his hands. An injection of
morphine was used, and after awhile
he sank asleep under the influence of
the hypnotic.
Three days after we were able to
discharge him cured. Before he went
/ asked him in what his dreadful IL
lusions consisted. He told me that he
imagined a huge dog, with cleaning
teeth crouched at the foot of bis bed.
Every once in a while the brute would
spring upon Kim and bury his fangs in
his breast; then he shrieked.'
''Do you ever have the men return?'
"Why, certainly; though a man who
comes here the third time suffering from
the delirium tremens is doomed. There
is no help for him, because his system is
totally eneryated and the heart and
stomach unable to perform their usual
functions. Our deaths average about
two per cent Of the people admitted"
'sTney are searched, suppose?"
"Undoubtedly, and the examination
at times develops some curious results.
i remember once fellow came here in
Almost ragged condition. You wouldn't
give two cents for all he had on him.
Covered with filth and Yermin as he
was, we experienced considerable diff
Guilty in cleaning him. During the
process | went through his clothes.
There were a number of pawn-tickets
in his pockets, and | hardly expected | {
to find anything of value after seeing
that AS l surmised, he had moth
ing. Next day he had recuperated in !
most extraordinar manner, and asked
very solicitously where his shoes had