Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1886-05-22
Our Lewis County letter.

quietly in nay room this morning,
after the active duties of putting
halls to right, and seeing that each in
dividual under my immediate charge
has had proper attention, giving one
or more their room attention and
satisfying by words of encourage
ment more or less those who are de-
pendent and complaining, one will
say, Well, this is my last day. They
are going to put me through. / will
be bushwhacked. Another, will come
to you and ask without any intention
of doing; Shall go out and work
to-day. Another will say, / am
very cold. Another will tell you
confidently that we have had our
last meal; and another is very likely
to say, positively that such and such
are dead. This is about a fair en-
Enumeration of various characters to
be met with in the hall under my
charge, and they are classed as the
good or convalescent patients. TAX
ing review of an attendants duty
and qualifications, | have thought
that | could not do better in this
communication than describe what,
in my opinion, is required as essen
tial qualities of character as well as
temperament, and in SO doing would
not claim any merits to myself as a
possessor of such qualifications, but
/ certainly do ardently desire to
have them, and fill my duty to this
unfortunate class of our citizens.
Insanity is the most distressing con-
dition in which human being can
be brought to, and in its embrace
can be found subjects from every
class of society. 1t is like death-no
respeetor of person or position
all classes and conditions are repre-
sented. The most deplorabIe are
those generally being partially or
really aware of their condition, and
disposed to relieve themselves by
self destruction. The qualifications
of an attendant are various, and the
first great requisite should be self
conservation to the object in view,
ae relief Of distress and restoration
of the individual.
in the report Of Mclean Asylum,
of Massachusetts, they have train
ing school for nurses, and / copy
therefrom the following "Tt is only
just to say that weakness, infancy
and sickness excite the emotion Of
sympathy and calls out our DISPOSE
ton ofprotection and help, whereas
insanity prompts the feeling Of fear,
repugnance and contempt OH the part
of those comingin contact with such.
Hence the great importance of q
conservation of the individual filing
the position Of ward attendant from
high motive of religious sentiment,
filing as far as possible the duty of
the good Samaritan as taught by our
blessed Redeemer in one of his par
ables. They should be persons of
cultivated minds and benevolent
hearts, which act from unselfish mo-
tives-such as we see in the charac-
ter of the sisters of charity, influence
ed by the deep sympathy and love
for their fellow beings, having the
principles Of christianity fully cult
waited, as far as the grace Of God in
o redeemed sinner can be cultivated
or displayed. The problem Of this
school for training is to take com
mon, honest-hearted human beings
as they are found, with healthy self
respect and self-interest, and put
them in sympathetic relations with
those who are afflicted; and who will
by a self-consecration devote their
time and talents in aiding by careful
attention the practical physician in
sustaining physical powers, and en-
couraging any mental recovery by
judicious remarks and advice. A
woman always makes the best nurse,
but many men also prove of great
benefit, when they give themselves
up to the duty deyolying upon them.
They are taught to feel and know
that insanity is sickness, which
knowledge will soften our feelings of
repugnance, and secure our aid as
readily as if only an ordinary case of
illness. Such instruction from COM
petent medical authorities as to
treatment of cases, if taken by intel
ligent and good men and women
would add greatly to their efficiency
and result in benefit to the afflicted.
In selection of aids, both male and
female, in capacity of nurses and at
tendants, the moral qualification and
character should be closely examin-
ed, and if not possessed, it should
exclude them from such service. A
swearing, violent man, vulgar indian
guage or manner, should elways ex-