New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1889-10-09

the committee aere ninety Of which we find
that twenty are sustained BY evidence. The
committee can conceive Of no public good to be
accom- pl1shed by the publication of the names of
the patients whosin our Judgment, have been
1li-treated, and therefore do not specify the
same in thisreport A list OF names is herewith
furnished your exceNency In the course of the
investigation that charge that at the asylum
Improper relations existed between the sexes
was incidentally made. The committee investi-
gated such charges and find and report that
5here.is no foundation therefor.
CHARACTER OF ATTENDANTS
AS a part of the Instructions given by your ex-
ceilency to the committee is as follows: 1T will
also be the duty of the committee to inquire
Into the personal character Of the attendants
employed, and whether they are fitted by nature
mad training for their peculiar and trying Duties
II the compensation paid attendants and em-
poyes is insufficient to secure the required class
OF help, such facts should be noted and proper
recommendations made. Tothe first PROPOSE
ton contained in that instruction the committee
report that nc. evidence was introduced reflect
Ing upon it,, and the committee have no knowl-
eye OF anything that would in anv manner im-
peach the character of such attendants, ex-
ceDt in so far as ilI-treatment by certain at
PENDANTS OF patlents might be construed as
evidence OF bad character on the part Of persons
guilty of such abuse. To the second PROPOSE
ton the committee are fully convinced that but
few men or women are by nature lifted for the
complete and satisfactory performance Of all
the duties devolv1ng upon the Immediate at
tendants of the insane patients. Training for
the proper performance OF such duties consists
Of Two kinds. First, theoretical; second. prac-
tlcaL In our Judgment there has not been
enough OF the; first. The second, as the term
implies, can only be had bv long practice
and experience in the actual discharge
ment Of the committee the com
pensation paid is not sufficient to secure the
services Of thoroughly competent attendants.
state would pay would be sufficient to secure
the services OF the class of attendants who
would at all times accord to the patients under
their charge such humane carriage as Is by law
contemplated. Few persons have a correct UNI
Outstanding of the peculiar and trying duties of
such attendants In every case of abuse by
attendant Of patient which has come to the
knowledge of the committee. and of which abuse
it was shown that the superintendent had no.
tice OF, any recurrence OF similar acts by the
same attendant was prevented by in most
instances the prompt discharge of the attend
ants.
THE HOSPITALS CONDITION.
The committee find that parts of the hospital
have been kept scrupulously neat and clean,
that the clothing. bedding and food furnished
the patients have been ample in quantity proper
and suitable in quality: that the several halls
wards in which the patients spend a large part
OF their time have been and are kept in a man
ner intended to be pleasant and cheerful to the
patients; that the patients, in case of sickness,
have received competent medical attendance:
that the officers have endeavOred to provide for
the comfort of the patients. and that all routine
duties have been properly performed by the
attendants. By the term routine duties we
wish to, be understood as meaning those
duties the performance OF which is required
daily, and in which their nature might be termed
mechanical and not such as require the exer-
else of any particular tact. judgment or skill.
The hospital has been necessarily required to
accommodate larger number of patients than
could in all respects be properly cared for in the
quarters provided. There appears to have been
a practice on the part of the superintendent Of
performing certain duties MOI legitimately
devolvlng upon him as such officer. Such
duties have been performed partly at the re-
quest Of the board of trustees of the insane
hospital and partly Of his own motion.
The time required fol- the performance Of
such duties had necessarily lnterfered with the
proper and full performance of those legiti-
mately deYolving upon him as SUPERINTENDENT.
While the superintendent should be in fact
what the name implies. at the head of the instl-
tuition, its directing force, responsible for its
management and success. his primary principal
duties are the supervision of the care, manage
ment, treatment and attempted Improvement
Of that unfortunate class committed to its
charge, and he should not be required or per-
United to perform any duties which shall in any
manner interfere with such primary princi-
pal one, or which will in any manner tend or
prevent full notice knowledge on his
part of the manner in which those immediately
in. charge of his patients are performing their
duties. For the proper performance of such du-
ties he should be held strictly accountable. For
the proper performance OF the duties of every
other department the chief of that department
should be held to like accountability The
superintendent should have general knowledge
of the manner in which such department. duties
are performed but should not be required or ex-
pected to master the details. In the Judgment
OF your committee, no plan can be devised
which will entirely prevent occasional abuses
by attendants of insane persons in their imme-
date charge II we are right in this PROPOSE
ton, then the only question to be determined is
how can such abuses be minimized In the at
tempted solution of that problem the commit
tee, not being experts in the care or manage
ment OF the insane, feel great diffidence in sug-
costing remedies for acknowledged evils and
our recommendations should be considered only
the suggestions of business men, based upon
the testimony introduced during the investiga-
tion and bearing upon that subject, together
with that knowledge Of human nature. and of
the motives that usually influence the action Of
the average man; man or woman, possessed
must necessarily be men and women having the
passions, weaknesses and infirmities incident to
human nature. We can easily designate the Pc
culiar qualifications which, in our Judgment,
would characterize our conception of the ideal
attendant; we are well aware that our ideal can
not be found among mortals. Assuming that,
for at least some considerable future time at
PENDANTS must be drawn from the same class,
and be in ali respects the same average men and
women as those now employed, what measures
can be taken to prove their efficiency as attend
ants, and thereby reduce the probabilities and
opportunities for the ill-treatment by them of
those entrusted to their immediate care? The ma
jority OF mankind, even admitting that they will
conscientiously endeavor Go perform a duty, IN
such performance are, to certain extent influ-
enced by the hope OF reward to follow the faith
full performance or the fear Of punishment for
the neglect of such duties. Such hope of reward
may consist in the satisfaction which comes to
every one in the CONSCIOUSNESS that duty has
been satisfactorily performed, in the belief that
one has nearly as possible perfected himself
in his calling in an ambition to excel in such
calling, and, ii employed in public institution,
pride in the institution, desire that it shall
rank among the first Of its kind. or he may be
influenced by the lower but powerful incentive
OF hope of promotion. or Of an increase Of pay
for services rendered.
Recommendations.
II a class of attendants can be procured who,
In the performance OF their duties, would be
guided wholly by the higher incentive, they