The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1889-07-04
VISIT
10 Our District Asylum for the
Insane,

4
sane, IL Ia only when tho terrible alllle
ton ~ brought hOme by an attack up
on u loved relative or friend, that any
one can be made TO feel what q dread
ful anllctiOn II Ia TO have reason do
throned. That disease OF the brain II
manifestly on tho increase, ia evident
to oil who have given tho subject ans
study, II the thoughtful public would
consider the reason why II Is on the In
orease-that their voluntary actions had
much TO do In tho furtheranee OF III
development, We would think that ac
tuated by the principal ofaelf'preaerya
tion, they would call halt In theindul'
gence of many pernioious habits,
spent several days lately ut the asy
lum near Toledo, Citizens OF stark
county are at a loss 10 understand why
We should have been transferred TO q
mora distant institution, The reason ID
Obvious. Newburg asylum had not the
capacity TO accommodate all for whom
application for admission was made
nor had any of the other Ave state In
attutons, They were all full, and II
became necessary TO relieve the pres
sure, The sixth institution was located
near Toledo, In re,distrlcting II became
necessary 10 remove stark from the
northern dlBtrlot aud while this mr.
rangement materially increases the
expense OF transportation OF patients
Which 10 paid by the county there can
be no relief until the Legislature sees
| no 10 provide seventh asylum, winch
win undoubtedly be located In one or the
eastern counties.
The Toledo Asylum 10 constructed
upon what 10 known rs the cottage
system, a comparatively recent plan OF
ieeOmmOdAting tho insane, The build
luQB arc isolated what constitutes q
oWard" In other institutions, 10 here
termed cottage" Each cottage VIII
accommodate from 20 10 40 patients
The internal arrangements are much
liEO Il dwelling, except that the hall or
ittmg room 10 larger, The patients eat
ina common dlnlng room when ~ u
building by itself, one Tor eh0h sex
THOSE unable, from bodily sickness, TO
walk out are kept IN the "lnllrm' or
hospital, where they 01e waited upon by
trained attendants, Patients In going
10 ana from the dining hall, are 0s or
derry aa the operators Of tho Dueber
works, the sexes walking by themselves,
ln the dining hall They are seated ~
Hblpa accommodate ten or Twelve,
rhey conduct Themselves Just as do u
pr0miscuous crowd M u large hotel IA
ldci, one ignorant Of the character of the
place, would hardly suspect That he was
q nOng q lot OF lunatc5.
There IA at present In the institution,
1855 patient8-53l multandb2l females.
,tarl, county has lU3, though the quota
tl which we are entitled ig only 81, The
reason we are allowed q surplus Is be-
cause they have the room 10 spare,
other counties not reaching their ap
portionment, met several from Col
umbiana county that | formerly knew
at Newburg.
A feature Of this institution not com.
mon TO others, 10 That many OF the cot
tagea aro kept with open doors, patients
being allowed 10 so out and
In 10 pleasure under proper 70
8trIctIOng. Az a substitute FOR
an Amusement Hall, they have u
large tent, with substantial floor, seats
all around aud an elevated platform for
the band. Here they have their weekly
dances, concerts ana the Ike.
But the great advancement made In
tho treatment Of tho insane, 10 IN dis
penslng with restraints, Twenty years
ago, substituting the crib and nuns IN
the control Of violent patients, for close
imprisonment and chains, was thought
n wonderful Improvement, but now
there are alienists who have no use for
them whatever, and employ no form of
restraint more than would u mother use
upon the hands OF q child 10 prevent II
from scratching q sore head. ~ 10 true
that maniaCa patients are olttimes
destructive Of their clothing, which give
tho friends occasion 10 complain OF the
extrayagant demands for more clothing,
but the advantages gained In the treat.
ment by non restraint, compensates for
the additional expense.
The public often hear and read In the
papers of the abuse Of patients by at.
tendants. That patients have been
abused, ard will be, have not q doubt,
and until mankind and w0mankind be-
come immaculate, abuses will come, but
am quite confident that offences OF the
kind ARE never toolated by an officer
Of the institution. Their instructions
to attendants are strict. Under no cir.
TO forget that they are with
nm insane person, and not 10 resent any
abuse heaped upon them. Instances
have occurred where 10 was necessary
for an attendant TO handle n patient
roughly TO save themselves
from injury Both physicians and at.
tendants have been killed. and MANNED
by violent patients.
Natural gas piped about thirty miles,
supplies all the heat necessary for warm.
ing the buildings, making steam and
cooking. and to fully appreciate the nd
Of gas over coal for these pur-
poses, you must have experience In It's
use. An artesian well furnishes an
abundant supply Of excellent water
for all purposes. The Edison
electric light Is the one In common use
in all the buildings and over the
grounds.
The superintendent, DIR. II. A, Tobey
has been long In the special service and
proved himself well qualified for the
varied and perplexlng duties devolving
upon him. There are four assistant
who give their entire time
TO the study, watohful care and treat
ment of patients that they may be re-