Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1886-09-17
IIndinnapoIia ,Ind.l Letier.l


The extraordinary spectacle OF fourteen
hundred insane people engaged In ceIe-
brating the anniversary of American in
dependence took place the 5th of July on
the grounds of the Indiana Hospital for
the Insane. Superintendent DR.. W. B.
Fletcher, who eschews the use OF mechan-
icai re traints of every description in the
management and control of the insane,
believes in giving them all the liberty and
privileges possible. The stand that he has
taken in the matter, in his management Of
the Indiana Hospital for the Insane. is far
In advance of all other institutions of the
kind in his country, or in all probability
throughout the world.
He determined tc make "the day we
celebrate" day of pleasure and jolliflca-
tion for the patients in his keeping. A
dinner becoming the occasion was spread
In the general dining at which the
inmates Jared sumptuously. At 1:30
O'Clock the entire number Of patients in
the two departments-male and female
excepting perhaps twenty, who were too
unwell to leave their rooms, fourteen hum
dred in all, neat AMI clean, in charge of
their attendants, marched to the magnifi-
cent grove in front of the department for
females, where Prof Harris band was
discoursing the National airs. After an
hour of social intercourse Superintendent
Fletcher called the peculiar assembly to
order, announcing the grafton, with the
request that silence might be observed.
He then introduced the orator of the day,
DR.. A. J. Sedgewick, patient, a gentle
man of education, a fine speaker. The
grafton was very interesting, histocal and
classical. Astounding in beautiful flights,
and was listened To with marked atten-
ton.
After the grafton the large space in
front of the stand now occupied by the
cotillion band was cleared of the seats,
and when the band struck up "The Blue
Danube" waltz the entire crowd seemed
affected. In a moment many in pairs
were whITling over the green sward in the
| dreamy maze of the waltz. Again, when
the command "select your partners for the
| quadrille" the space was again filed with
a merry throng tripping away in the
"Virginia Reel" The dancing was kept
up until i've y m, at which time the as
sembly dispersed, each ward returning tc
its respective quarters until evening, wher
they were treated to a grand display OF
| fire. works. During the evening many
Illuminated balloons were sent up floating
away on the night breeze. At the hour oil
nine the festIvities were closed, and al
went to their beds somewhat tired but
well pleased with the days doings.
When we reflect that, with the excep.
ton Of say twenty persons, invalids, tn,
entire number Of inmates of the hospita
were present, participating in the ex
ercises, 1t is certainly remarkable that no
an incident of an unpleasant charactel
occurred during the entire day. All wer,
quite orderly and well behaved; and We
many of them. If in attendance on sucl
an occasion in the butter world. would hav,
been dangerous and unmanageable. No
a restraint of any kind was used; in fact
there is not mechanical restraint of AM
kind TO be found about the institution.
The experience of this occasion, tn
only one of the kind. in all probability
that has ever taken place in this or an,
other country, shows the progress that ha
been made in the care and management O
the insane since the French philanthroriSi
DIR. PiDel, in the latter part of the las
century. undertook the amelioration o
the barbarous treatment this unforiunat
class was receiving-throwing open tn
doors o. the dungeons where they wer
confined. stripping the mo 1a>les from thei
bruised limbs, and letting Gods pure al
and sunlight into their loafhsome an
gloomy abodes- DR.. Pinel and his follow
ers deserveto be classed among the rren
benefactcrs OF the human rsre.