The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1894-08-31

peIs 1000 jnu ConuHueu ds eucH
superintendent until June 80, 1898,
He is practicirg physician of this
city and is a son-in-law of Judge
Samuel G. Parks, who was at one
time the law partner of Abraham
Lincoln, and was Chief Justice of
the Supreme Court of the Territory
of Idaho under Lincoln, and of
Wyoming and New Mexico under
Hayes and .Arthur's administrations.
DIR. WiIes is a gentleman whose
purity of character and high person.
al honor is known to every citizen
In this community. A COURIER re-
porter called upon him and the fol-
lowing interview occurred:
Reporter: Or. Wiles do you remem-
Der Will Reading, of Great Bend; John
Collins, of Eureka: Sam Dolan, of Paola;
Charles Alton, of Ottawa, and Arthur
Ctctits Va ROuhh diltyg - AVIS va
the asylum during your superintend-
ency?
DIR. Wiles: Oh, yes I remember them
very well They are among the older
inmates and three of them have been in
mates of the institution for about seven
years. The other two, l believe, were
brought in during the early part of my
administration.
Reporter: What was the general
character of these five boys?
DR.. Wiles: Well, with two exceptions
they we're very good boys. / never had
any trouble with with Alton, Steele or
Collins, but DJlsn and Reading gave me
good deal of trouble from a nameless
habit with which they were afflicted.
Reporter: How did you treat them
for this affection?
Dr.. Wiles: As soon as ! found out
they were addicted TO the habit had
them placed in charge of attendants
with instructions that the attendant
should watch them constantly. After
this had no more trouble with one OF
the boys, but with the other / found it
necessary To imprOvise what | called a
straight Jacket" but which was, in
reality, a surt of canvas bag with arms
which were Duckled together during the
night. found this Continuance did not
prevent the boy from getting his usual
-esp, while II effectually stopped the
practice. After this l had no further
trouble with either of them. or course
the inclination remained aud was ex-
hibited at every opportunity but the at
tendant was always present to repress
it and the results were entirely salts
factory. The other three boys gave me
no trouble in this line. OF course, had
them under constant surveillance, and,
as many of the inmates of this institu-
zion, being weak-minded, are liable, up
on any and every occasion, To give iulI
play to their inclinstions, it was neces-
sary and part of my duties, to see that
they were looked after properly aud that
these inclinations were repressed and
their exercise prohibited.
Reporter: lsuppose you attended the
annual meeting of the superintendepts
of the Imbeciie and Idiotic Asylums
during your charge of the institution?
DR.. Wiles: did.
Reporter: At any of these meetings
was the proposition OF castrating in
mates eyer presented or discussed?
DIR. Wiles: No, certainly not.
Reporter: In studying the history Ct
such in, titueons have you ever known
OF casu alton being advised as cure OF
such practices?
DIR. Wiles: No, sir.
Reporter: 10 NOuropinion wss castra-
tien necessary, during your supRrintend-
ency, to preserve the health and life OF
any of the inmates OF the institution
here?
DR.. Wiles: Not in the least.
Reporter: Durirg your snperinterd-
ency did you, at any time, md i; i'm
possible 10 prevent these practices?
DR.. Wiles: No sir. OF course, oc-
casionaily l would hear of these prac-
tees an would then take steps to put
the inmates under the care of a proper
attendant, and after discovering the
disposition to indulge in such practices,
them. OF course / used mo raj suasion,
and told the boys Of the distresses tina,
would result TO them from such prsc-
tees and advised them ana plead with
them, for their own good, TO abstain
Many of the boys seemed TO lie con rolf
ed by this sort of argument. With
others it was necessary To use great at
tention and give them careful watching.
Reporter: Have you ever heard OF
castration beng resortsd to'in instances
of this kind?
DR.. Niles: No sir, never.
Reporter: How do you regard cas-
,ration as a means OF preventing indul
gences of these practices among feeble
minded children?
DR.. Wiies: 1 regard 1t as inhumane
and unnecessary.
What reason DR.. Pitcher can have
for these wholesale mutilatIons is n