The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-11-11
HOW PATIENTS ARE ABUSED
A Matron's Account Of Many 0utrages
Practiced at the Insane Hospital.
She Kept Record of Them, but Her Room
Was Searched, the Book Found and De-
stroyed-Repeated Violations Of Rules.

IN this State. showing the defeat Of the Demo
cratic party, have been instrumental in bringing
10 light sdol..cnal indispuiAbls evidence Of the
brutality practieed n. he Insane Hospital. and
the insficiency Of the present corps Of attend
ants Although the inside workings Of the in
stitution have been operated on q non-partisan
plan, ss il claimed by the authorities in charge.
10 10 . matter of record that such has
been far from the fact. On last Wednesday
Mira Mary E Hiatt, living at No. 252 South
East street. who has been employed matron
ut the asylum since March 24, 1887, was sum-
marty discharged for ''ineficiency and unduly
disturbing the patients" rs the notice Of dis
missal was worded, although Gil investigation OF
her case revealed the fact that her dismissal had
been contemplated for some months past, but it
was considered bad move to make before the
election. Accordingly, on the first day after the
election. she was notified OF her discharge. Al
her home. yesterday, Journal reporter saw the
lady and inquired as to the circumstances that
led to her discharge. The circumstances dated
back 20 far ia time that some Of tha past history
OF the hospital needed to correctly corroborate
her statements and connect them In logical
order. Accordingly Mrs. Hiatt was asked TO re-
late her experience as matron In the INSTITUTION
since the first day OF her employment, and some
of her revelations Of the inhumaniiy praetieed
were revolving in the extreme.
Time and time again her voice failed her as
she would recount some pathetic incident OF the
brutal beating Of 40 invalid imbecile. al want
20 explain in the first place." she
said. show our duties matrons were
arportioned. In the hospital there are eight
mstrons, each having under her supervision
three wards. Each floor is divided into north
-. ~x.1 fhora On
over one hundred male patients. Our duties. as
Ynatrons, were to see that no abuse was done to
the patients either on the grounds or IN our
wards, to attend TO the msnding OF their Clothes.
70 see that good food was set on the tables, and
plenty Of it. and to keep our respective wards
decorated and clean. SO that they might seem as
much like home as possible At the mead or
each ward we had an attending supervisor, TO
whom We were required TO report any violation
OF these rules on the part OF the attend
ants. DIR. Thomas WINS IN charge or the
ward where / was stationed. l soon saw
after had entered the hospital that something
was wrong, for ccntnusl violations OF the very
rules laid down for me TO preserve were occur
ring, aud not only that, but they were In almost
avery case known by DIR. Thomas He did not
raise q finger to put stop to 1t, however, ana
that was the very thing that made him 50
Wrongly opposed 20 me from the start de saw
that was not willing TO overlook the brutal
beating OF patients, or the placing OF decayed
food before them, and for the last elk months
rnew he had been fairly itching 70 SEQ my dis
charge signed by DIR Galbraith.'
"Wss any such desire evident on the part OF
DR.. Galoraithr sSe was asked.
'.No cannot say that t.ere was, md hon.
rstly believe to-day that he Is ignorant OF SONS
OF the infamous practises that resorted 10
by the attendants in sorno OF the back wards.
DR.. Galtraith is certainly a man or some heart
and feeling, AMI have considerable respect for
him for that very fact; and want to say word
abou. his wife. She is beyond suspicion OF any
A. rl,e A.slx 1r.ar
the hospital, and would not. under any consd-
Grafton mix her name with the sickening stories
hat could tell of what have seen and heard"
Would you object 10 recounting some OF these
storiesl"
II can see no reason why they should not be
published AS 10 their truth, will be ready at
any time to take an oath that what shall say to
you. i'm possibe as II may seem. has actually oc-
suvred in my presence at the hospital. was
10 shocked soon after / entered IL az matron at
what saw and heard that 4 thought the time
might some time come when would need every
detail so I Immediately began the habit OF
taking notes Whenever would see attend
ant beat or abuse patient would write their
names in n book kept for that particular pur-
pose. But about three months ego l
was taken sick, and for two weeks 1
was unable to leave my bed. During time
when was almost delirious with pain the nurse
who was caring for me took the notion into Der
head that nv room needed to be cleansd and
eve-S thing was turned upside down. i had al
WAYS feared that the other attendants bad sus-
pec.-d my keeping the notes and so Kept them
safely locked ND in drawer in my room, and
ss | have afterward learned the only object Of
the cleaning OF my room, when was lying on
my bel in q half-conscious condition, wss to Sc
rurs my writing, for upon my recovery 10 was
gone TIL notes had been stolen, and at once
began TO reproduce them as nearly as / could
refnem,er Since that time had. up to the
time Of my discharge, kept more exact set
,f notes. and at the same time guarded item
more closely"
''You have them now, thee, safely in your
possessionf'
'Yes, and let me relate some of the horrify-
ing things / met with. remember one CT the
very first incidents that happened soon after
went into employ. It was in the ward,
rs was passing through the hall
pn the way To my room heard
some scuflne not far down the corridor, and
once that there was trouble brewing As /
reached the spot was just in time TO see an at
tendant knock down patient and violently kick
him. The who ala the violence was
named Gossart, and was 80 disgusted that
reported the case TO the officers. i was COM
parativsly novice IN my place, and was not
aware of the Official carelessaess that made such
sights exceedingly common. From that day to
the time of my discharge was lowered in the
estimation of the rest OF the attendants,
the majority of whom did as
they pleased and never took the
troubls to report any inaccuracy to DIR. Gal
braith or any or the board. But was reSolute
IN my determination TO see justice done, even
AZ 10 was the carse Of my losing my position"
ibid this seem to affect the treatment you re-
eeived from other hsnds"
''Yss, was hardly recognized as possessing
any authority. whatever, although 1 was equal
20 the rest. There is sort of league at the hos
pitaj which partakss OF the nature of q mutual
sid socisty. for all she attendants stand cd
for one another. Simply because had evinced
Q desire to befriend the poor unfortnnates
h. NJ i'm had haa
helplessly incsrcerated. was snuooed every
rights that were given TO others. But was no
less earnest In my endeavors to see n change, At
least whenever I could use my influence to that
end. IL WAS not long after the Incident To which
I have referred that / discovered the fact
that the patients were being fed on
sour and dessying meat. We we're re-
required by the laws OF the institution TO make
q daily rsSors OF the condition o. tue fooG used.
but the mstrous with whom | works3 never even
mentioned the wholesome meats ana vegeta-
bies which had been often used. told them
that 10 was their duty and also Informed them
that II they did not I would, 20 which they
piled. oh, no, Mira Hiatt IL you do that you
will get into trouble. Nevertheless 1 signed the
report and was &C summoned before DIR.
Thomas. who showed me the report Of Mrs. Tai
bott. another matron. which stated that the
meat had all been satisfactory. Upon being
questioned she said that she had supposed
&c 20 be satisfactory. because the pa
tisnts had eaten il. DIR. Thomas then
informed me that the next time discovered
any diseased meat 60 bring him a sample which
did 10 the course OF few days, but that WAS