The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-11-13
AT A MODEL INSTITUTION.
NEW IDEAS AT THE INSANE HOSPITAL.
Important Innovations and Reforms Intro
duced BY DIR. wdght-Rigid System of
Discipiine-The Fire Brigade-How
Supplies Are Handled.

Have you visited the insane hospital
since the new superintendent and trustees
have had control ?" said a gentleman to
SENTINEL reporter few days ago.
"No; why? Is there anything new over
there?"
"Well, I'll not say anything about it,
but go and see for yourself"
In accordance with the suggestion, the
reporter visited the asylum to see and dis
passionately Judge whether or not the
new board and superintendent had made
improvements IN the management Of that
important state institution. There is no
other eleemosynary institution in the
management on which the attention of the
people OF the state is more intensely fixed
than the Central insane asylum, nor one
in which that interest is more generally
difused all over the state, from the lakes
10 the Ohio river. Among its sixteen hun
dred patients every county IN the state ID
represented, and these unfortunates have
friends and relatives in every township
and neighborhood, who, with fearful eyes,
scan every newspaper item that gives
them the least information as to the con-
ditions that surround their loved ones, the
usage they are subjected to, the comforts
accorded to them, and the means and
appliances used to secure their safety,
either from accidents or their own peculiar
idiosyncrasies. At the same time there 1s
not a taxpayer in the state who does
not want to know, and who has not right
81, offa Ola
is being furnished with these comforts and
this security st the least possible cost.
While cheerfully giving. in the way OF
taxes, the cents or dollars assessed upon
him as his share of the cost OF this
great state institution, he wants to know
that his hard earned dollars and cents are
used for the purpose for which they are
intended, and that everything is done as
cheaply as possibly consistent with the
well-being of the patients. The investiga-
tons and criticisms of this institution one
and two years ago, INDUCED in by the po-
litical press, has intensified this interest,
and all are now doubly anxious TO know
whether or not the treatment of these six
teen hundred patients, who are incapable
OF either righting their wrongs or COM
planning intelligently of them to others, IS
now such as to give excuse for such adj
verse criticism as was then INDUCED in.
The term ''The right man in the right
place" has been used so often as to be-
come stale; but the right men in the right
places can seldom be said when three or
four are united officially. But to satisfy
the people of the state that this is true of
the present superintendent and trustees
of the Central insane asylum, if there was
no corroborative testimony, it would only
be necessary to state that within five
months from the time they took charge
they have wiped out the debt OF over ST.
600 which they inherited from their prede-
cessors, and this too without any increase
in the appropriation, or diminution in the
comforts and luxuries accorded to, and
necessary for the patients In fact. bv
furnishing edibles Of better quality, Il CT
have materially added TO their comfort.
Probably the first thing that strikes the
average visitor is, that Mr.. Shaffer, in ac-
cord with the spirit of improve
ment and economy that prevades
the officers and employees Of the
asylum, has reduced the fare To 3
cents; and the next thing that strikes him
as new and peculiar is that the cars
turn at the entrance. having been ex-
Guided from the grounds. The reasons
for this are that while the cars excite lie
patients they also afford a convenient
means Of escape, and more than one have
svailed themselves of this means. Enter
ing the gate you discover, as you greet
Capt Kelley, two improvements adopted
by the present management. First, the
placing of guard at the main entrance to
the grounds. And, second, the attiring of
all employees and attaches Of the institu.
ton in plain, serviceble uniform The
uniform for the men is semi-military, con-
coat, the latter with brass buttons. The
women wear a plain dress made OF the
same material, and of the same color as
the suit worn by the men. This uniform
ing Of the employees is one of the most i'm
portant and satisfactory innovations made
by the present management. In the first
place it distinguishes the employees from
the patients, often very difficult to do, and
prevents a repetition of the very en-
barrassing positions In which visitors and
strangers have often been placed by mis-
taking one for the other. But a much
more important function that this uniform
performs is that patients recognize it as
an emblem of authority, even as the or
binary transgressor of the laws recognizes
the badge of the policeman, ana they will
submit to il, as does the aforesaid sinner
10 the minion of the law, without resist
ance, whereas, without this distinguishing
uniform, resistance might ensue and pa
tent or attendant get seriously hurt, as
often happened before the employees were
uniformed. This is especially true where a
patient is trying to escape, or where it
Is necessary TO call in the assistance
of some one strange 10 the patient. And
this seems to have been the line in which
the new management has most directed
Its energies-the creature comforts being
supplied, and all necessary or possible
medical appliances provided for their I'M
fortunate condition; to prevent injury,
too, and conserve the health and physical
welfare of the patients, and save them
from bodily injury either by accident or
nv the manifestation of any of the idio-