The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-09-25

atSus Cbnerb uau no tuOugug Oh announcer WOriQ.
None had q complaint l remember one old
man in particular who is q chronic kicker about
not getting enough tobacco. In my presence
his complaint to the doctor was more in the ma
ture OF joke than anything else. He laughed,
showed his clay pipe to the doctor, and indi.
, Gated that it was empty.
The third mems ward il what is known a. the
convalescent ward. The patients there are what
the name OF the ward indicates, getting better
and about TO be discharged. After having been
taken from the various wards on their way to
recovery they are kept there for several weeks,
more with view 70 recuperate than anything
else. Most Of the discharges are made upon q
mutual understanding between patient and
physician. The patients in this ward, however,
are utterly without restraint During the day
they can go and come when they please.
The fourth ward is rather mixed-mostly cpl
leptics. The majority of the patients here have
to be dressed and undressed. Would starve II
not fed in some cases owing to their inability
and in others to their unwillingness to use their
linba Ny first visit to the asylum was at sup
per, and large number of the patients in that
ward had to BE- protected with aprons so a. to
not soil their clothes when feeding. One young
man there. recent arrival, had concluded to
starve himself to death. and for several days he
had to be fed by means OF q force PUMP He
has changed his mind now.
The fifth ward il what is known a. the dis.
turbing ward. Most of the patients here are
vicious, noisy, and have to be watched very
closely.
The sixth is the chronic ward Few of those
In this ward will ever see the outside world
again.
The women are divided into three wards,
!, something on the same plan az the men, but
| not so distinctly classified, owing to the fact
! of there only being three different wards A
| few impressions that forced themselves upon
] my mind ~ passed through the nine wards
are worthy of note. First, the cleanliness; sec.
ond, the kind and humane treatment To give
you an ide of the interest that the attendants
take in their patients, and OF their close appli-
cation TO their duty. I only need mention tn st
both the superintendent and his sssistants
know every one of the 366 patient by name, the
date OF entrance. and the nature of their dis
ease While many angry giances were cast at
me By the various patients, being q stranger.
yet nothing bat kind and smiling greetings
were extended TO the doctor in all the werds I
spoke to ali the attendants. Every one con.
fessed to me that they expected q harder task
when they first entered the asylum than they
are now performing. None of the attendants
ever thought that kindness would have its eff.
feet upon an insane being. yet kindness Is the
only treatment that prevails in the hospital
In thu vomen's ward especially / observed
the lady attendants going about in the long
halls arm in arm with some especially afflicted
insane. converting and chatting as If there were
no mental difference between the patient and
nurse The concurrent opinion of all the at
tendsnn II that the patients know the differ
encs between right and wrong, and while many