St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1896-11-27

find that ON one occasion patient, named
Grace Wright having become insubordinate,
DIR. Giddmgs, was called and directed that she
should be placed under restraint, by putting
straps upon her with which to c0nfne her
hands; the patient resisted and struggle en-
sued during which the doctor was assisted by
two of the female attendants. In the course
of the struggle the patient was struck several
blows by the doctor across her legs with u
strap used for the purpose of fastening her
hands. She wore at the time skirt and long
waist that buttoned down the shoulder and
arm.
This strap was of leather, about an inch and
half in width and had buckle at one end.
Upon the following day there were marks upon
the patients limbs of the blows and in one
place there appeared to be IA mark where some
part of the buckll had broken the skin and the
wound had bled Ii was stated by one of the
attendants, who " Us present at the time, that
DIR. Giddings was enraged at the patients con-
duct. We consider the circumstances of this
transaction so fal rs the striking is concerned,
as entirely unjus.liable,
HATTIE Jackie CHOKED.
On another occasion patient named Hattie
Lackey, became violent in the evening and by
the attendants wa, locked in her room and DR..
Giddings notified If the fact. He came to the
room and upon opening the door she trew a
It chamber at BIN. Whether it hit him or
not is not known He entered the room and a
struggle between Them ensued during which
she was thrown down across the foot-board of
the bed, and afterwards removed to the hall
struggling all the time. While in the hall she
was laid down upon the floor and DR.. Giddings
with the attendants attempted to restrain her
hands and feet with straps, she resisting, and
was choked by the doctor into submission. Her
feet were fastened together, her hands placed
behind her and fastened together with con-
trivance similar tt hand-cuffs, and in that con-
dition she was taken to another room, placed
upon a woven wire bed, fastened there lying
upon her back and allowed to ROMAN there
during the night.
The witnesses to the transaction testified
that at the time the doctor manifested con
siderable degree Of anger TO the patient, and a
majority Of the committee find that more force
and violence was exercised by the doctor Oh the
occasion than was lUstihable under the circum-
stances. As before stated, various other
occasions where Olence was exercised upon
the patients by lr Giddngs were stated by
different witness.-, rs to whether the violence
was in fact exercised, and if exercised, whether
justifiable, the con nrttee are not agreed.
We have made 10 attempt to examine the
financial TRANSACTIONS of the management fur.
ther than we have already stated. We dc
not consider it coed business system to place
in the hands Of Oh person the disbursement Of
us large sums OF money as the maintenance Of
the asylum requires, and make the same person
purchasing agent and general manager of all
business transactions, and we consider the
requirement of Dee. $3.50, Vermont Statutes
that rules "Eor conducting in n proper man
ner the business OF the institutions" if obeyed
would provide some method better calculated
to protect the financial interests of the State
The findings OF facts reported herein have
been made upon what we consider full proof
and with "A consciousness that important inter
ests are involved. In view of the facts we dc
not deem it necessary to make any suggestion
of what should be taken.