Omaha daily bee., 1886-07-29
THE srArE1SsANE ASYLUM.
An Appeal to the People of Nebraska

An Appeal to the People of Nebraska.
A week or two ago there appeared an
article in the BEE headed "Dr Mathew
sons Mad Houset' wish to say that these
facts were written by a Seward friend,
and write few words now not to show
forth my wrongs and abuse in that inSti-
tuition, but in behalf of its much abused
inmates. Then, TO YOU, who in good
faith nave placed your friends there for
treatment, to You the honest, industrious
tax. PAYERS of the state to YOU members
of the legislature, who went there as an
investigating committee last year, as
we'll as those honorable members, who by
their vote retai2 DR. Mathewson in his
present position, these words are ad
dressed:
say to you, my friends, this asylum,
as it is now conducted. is a disgrace to
the beautiful state of Nebraska. Shame
on the political rings who uphold it, the
editor of the state or country papers who
from selfish motives refuse to publish
facts, or enlghten the public concerning
this institution.
was there five long weeks, to be
treated for nervous insanity in which the
memory was not impaired, except rs they
rendered me lnsensible by their drugs or
hard usage.
About two weeks after being taken
there | was in full possession of my men
tai faculties. remember, not by the treat
ment" which | received from these ex-
perienced physicians through their at
tendants, for it was almost Il miracle that
my reason was not entirely dethroncd.
For three weeks | was perfectly sane,
careful observer, as well as close pris-
oner in this wicked institution.
In the report of this committee of last
year they say that they do not consider
the doctors responsible for the inhuman
treatment of patients. | ask you who,
then, is responsible for hiring such Speci-
mems of humanity, unworthy the name
of woman, to take care of and watch
over the unfortunate of our states Re
member, do not include all the en-
| ployes, for some of them were very kind
| to me, for which they have my sincere
| thanks. But there are three or four
hendish creatures employed there, unless
recently removed, who revel in cruelty,
and seem to take delight i'll it at every
| opportunity
But one of the worst features of this
institution is the wretched fare of the pa
tients, which will attempt to describe,
| and for which, no one will deny, that DR..
| Mathewson is directly RESPONSIBLE. Bread
| and boiled beef, boiled beef and bread,
| alternately until the poor victims cry
out for change. Poor, black coffee with
| the faintest tinge of sugar; in fact, one
has to think twice to decide whether it
contained any sugar at all. Butter once
day, spread with the handle of tin
| spoon? Vegetables consisted of boiled
| beats, tops and dirt included. Potatoes,
| 4 luxury, lettuce without vinegar,
| fruits, dried prunes, two or three times
| per week. OF course, these being 50 eX-
| pensive, the desert must be limited and
| cheap, which consisted of Indian meal or
| oat meal mush, without sugar to make it
| palatable, and bread puddings. Now, do
not get impatient dear readers, while
| describe an excellent cake, which
am sure the Honorable Thomas Carr
and the other members of that committee
would enjoy. 1t tasted like all the filth
| of the kitchen. seasoned with rotten
| eggs and politics, stirred in one grand
| mass, and bakedby the heat of election
| day. 1t is certain, gentlemen, if on the
| occasion of your visit you had eaten at
| the hospital tables, instead of being feast
| ed at the Dr's sumptuous board, you
| would have been wiser and better men
| at the close of the investigation. 1t takes
| $4,000, according to the report, for the
support of each inmate. Allowing 81 90
| per week for this miserable
| fare, how will you account for the balance
of the money? Do you say it is the work
which takes the money? Go over there
| and see the long line of patients filing out
| to assist in the laundry and sewing room.
See them doing the dining-room and
| kitchen work, making beds, mending
stockings, sweeping, scrubbing, and do
| ing the dirty-worK OF the wards.
Women who ought to be at home taking
care of their families, who, with plenty
| of good food, and fresh air, might be re-
| stored TO health, are working there for
| their board and blue calico dress to