The herald., 1895-02-03

gh:ing plant $40 900 for the purchase o
additional supply OF water and $4,000 for the
construction OF drainage and sewer syste m
general discussion followed about each
| item and the question was asked how build
| ing that was completed only three years ago
| could in so short time become entirely in.
| adequate TO its demands.
| A GENERAL DUMPING GROUND.
"When we opened here" replied Dr. Camp.
bell. ''wc received from the north loo patients
aud ever since this institution has been used
IS a dumping ground for the insane of the en-
| tire United States. We get patients here who
| have been sent out from the east on account
of our reputation us having health resort.
Only short time ago a man and his family
came from the east and the former
became evidently insane en- route The
moment he arrived in Los Angeles he was
committed to this institution and he is here
today. Similar cases are of frequent occur
renee, and believe that at least 30 per cent of
the inmates have been residents of this state
for less than year. We must take them when
committed. whether or not we have accommo-
dations, Those sent from the north are al
most all incurables, and we now receive on an
average of 200 patients per year
Another great inconvenience il the lack of a
general dining room At present the more
subdued men taken from the first and sec
ond floors an improvised dining room in
the basement, while the women eat on the
third floor, the meals being carried there by
an elevator
The sensation experienced by the members
of the committee in sleeping in little room
adjoining one OF the wards not very agree
able. One OF the patients kept up a continual
bowling all night while the screams and
noises from different parts OF the buildings
could be distinctly heard and were not pro-
ductive of sound sleep. However, only a few
hours rest could be obtained as a majority OF
the members left at o'clock for san Diego.
QUEER HALLuc1NATIoNs.
At the urgent request OF THE HERALD re-
porter he was allowed to accompany Dr. Dolan
on his daily tour among the patients Each of
the unfortunate inmates is carefully noted by
the phys clan, who makes the rounds twice a
day. When necessity arises he visits the pa
tients as often necessary, while the nurses
keep daily record OF the more important
cases.
Strange as it may seem, the inmates are al
most without restraint. They sit around til cir
respective wards, always under the watchful
eyes OF their nurses who treat them kindly,
yet strictly. Only few really dangerous
and these are locked up. Straps are never used
in the asylum.
One of the first queer characters encoun-
tered was Judge Hughes, who was district at
torney and judge i'll Santa Barbara in 1852
lie was member of the early legislature of
the state and at one time promineut
hgure in social and political spheres in this
section Al times he talks nationally and last
Fourth of July he delivered an Grafton that
had considerable merit He is very destruc-
tive to his clothes and the furniture, and is
suffering from dementia.
An Engishman with wild and glsring eyes
n n at tbotb bai q t,1,r
scian and has discovered the elixir of life
He points his fingers in every possible direc
ton, where he believes he sees persons he has
cured and given eternal life on earth. His
actions at times become violent.
man named O'Reilly proclaimed that his
name was Edison, and that he is the inventor
of the telegraph. He declare with considera-
BILE emphasis that he had sent the first mes
sage across the Atlantic to Queen Victoria and
that he had millions OF which he had been |
defrauded.
One man has a mania for breaking windows
and he is confined in q room, where the win
dows have been removed and planks nailed
in their stead
Some patients talked so incoherently that
their words were meaningless while others
SIT Tor days without articulating sound
In the female ward the most prominent pa
tient is Sister Josephine, who was committed q
year ago from this city. She was @ sister of
charity, and is such confirmed manhater
that the sight of a member of the sterner sex
throws her almost into commissions. She is
gray and emaciated, and the approach of the
phys clan was the signal for attack OF vio- !
lence that was only subdued after considerable |
coaxing OF the nurse and aft the physician |
had departed.
young girl who had been disappointed in
love hid her face, while tears were streaming
down her cheeks. She sits for days with her
arms folded, without uttering word.
Some of the women sew or do fancy work
while Others spend the time in reading. Only
one violent patient is confined in the women's
ward, and her shrieks could be heard all over
the building. Dissipation caused her to lose
her mind.
The lady attendants are kind 10 their charges
and talked in that pleasant way as only women
can. They have the confidence OF the patients
and word of warning is sufficient to make
them understand what is required.
The causes OF insanity of patients now being
treated are as follows: Epilepsy, II heredity,
%; head injury, ID; intemperance, IL; reli-
gion, IL sunstroke, 8.
REDONDO.