The herald., 1896-08-16
1E STATE OF CALIFORNIA GIVES DEAENTED AND INEBRATES

friends. The position-is no sinecure and
is poorly psid--Si0 per month.
THE INERRIATES
OF the more than $50 patients in the
asylum small proportion are commit
ted as inebriates. although they differ in
no way from the larger number who are
committed az insane, as the result Of
inebriety. Many of the inebriates are
victims of King Alcohol, but most of
them are morphine, opium. or cocaine
"fiends" so termed. The sufferings en-
dured by a "ferd' for the first month
after his admission are, to the uniniti-
ated. frightful to behold
Medical Director Campbell has f. reg
ular system of treatment which he gives
to patients of this character. Many of
them are self-committed. They come
with desire to be cured. and with the
full knowledge of what they will be called
upon to go through with before they can
break away from the drug. Their ideas
OF what they will suffer in being deprived
of the drug are, by them, said to be re-
ally greater than they actually endure
The mere contemplation of existence
without morphine. cocaine or opium
seems out of the question to them at
hrst. But in time this awful longing
passes away and the patient becomes
comparatively free from desire But
before this stage is reached the victim
appeals for just one shot" Frequent
~ one OF the sufferers is given hypo-
dermic Injection of hot water to deceive
him, and for time the fearful craving
is allayed by this deception.
The "fend" generally retains the
naoit for from three to six weeks after
MS arrival here. During this time he
cares for nothing, thinks Of nothing and
wants nothing but his favorite drug.
Then the longing gradually dies. His
appetite returns. The color comes back
into his face. His dependency ceases
and melancholia disappears. His sys-
tern begins to build up, and time is all
that is required to restore him. Com
plete recovery from the habit is not the
rule, however. Relapses are more fire.
quent with the drug victims, and then
absolute physical ruin is the end, with
all of its attendant miserles.
Morphinonania is a comparatively
new medical classification of disease.
Its general history and recognition as a
disease dates only from 1864. but the
awful harvest that it has reaped in
few short years is sad to contemplate.
THE OFFICERS OF THE ASYLUM.
The administration and general con-
duct of the asylum. with its inmates,
attaches and everything connected with
1t, is given to the the medical director,
DR.. NJ. B. Campbell. The position is full
Of responsibility and Is a trying one,
calling for the services of man of expe-
rience. ability and integrity, as well as
the possession of many minor qualitica-
tiOns. To an admirable degree DR..
Campbell seems to have them all. He
is a gentleman about go years of age.
possessed Of a kind heart and an mex
haustible fund of information as to hu-
man nature in its various forms, ac-
quired by a vast experience in public
institutions. He is an excellent discip-
linarian. He has made human charac-
ter a lifelong study. and as result it is
seldom that he errs in judgment in the
classification of the patients under his
care. The institution speaks volumes
for DIR. Campbell. A careful examina
ton will clearly and beyond question
establish this fact.
DIR. A. Stanley Dolan Is the assistant
physician, and upon him falls many Of
the arduous duties of the chief execu-
tive officer. DIR. sDolan is young man,
but his experience in handling the in
sane is varied and extensive, he hav-
ing served in hospitals in Michigan and
Minnesota and elsewhere.
The male wards are all under the di-
rection of a supervisor, f.. I. Kimball.
1t is the duty Of this officer carefully to
observe the condition and management,
and to report all cases of abuse or neg
Iect. He has the direction of attendants
and general charge, under the medical
superintendent. Mr.. kimball has de-
voted twenty years of his life to the care
of the insane, and is an expert. The po-
sition is difficult one. but he fills 1t
we'll. He Is kind. considerate, cour-
teous and accommodating. In fact
consider him., in his sphere, the most
able man connected with the institution.
GENERAL DISCIPLINE.
More or less has been written or re-
ported about the inhuman treatment Of
patients at Highlands. 1t has emanated
from various sources, and the party or
parties from whom the reports originat-
ed were influenced in giving them out
either by malice or hallucinations. Now.
I speak by the card and not from what
others have told me. There was not
one instance of brutality or inhumanity
on the part of the attaches while I was
at Highlands, either seen by myself or
hinted at by others with whom came in
contact In fact. I thought that the
greatest consideration was shown the
inmates. At times I have seen attend
ants sorely tried by the insane vagaries
of some of their weak-minded charges.
but never saw one strike blow.
have seen patients strike attendants Sc
we're blows while laboring under delu-
sions. Then it became necessary to re-
strain them by protection sheet or
otherwise, but in no instance did ever
witness a case of cruelty or the unnec-
essary use of force.
When one considers the fact that only
sick and demented people are handled
here, it is very easy to understand how
and why great many unnecessary and
unreasonable complaints as to treat
ment,i food and surroundings would be
made and would reach the outside.
Fault-finding and physical infirmity go
hand In hand. Then, too.- there are
some discharged employees who have
seen fit to discredit the institution and
the management by the circulation of
statements that were both false and
malicious. 1t is a very easy matter to
find material in an insane hospital, to
be used among those who are not posted,
to the detriment of those in charge.
There are undoubtedly instances OF mis-
management and cruelty in asylums,
but my experience and observation tells
me that they do not exist at Highlands.
1t is not to the advantage OF the med1-
cal director to restrain patients or to
keep them from home and friends for
period longer than his experience and
Judgment dictates they should be. On
the other hand 1t is to his interest to dis
charge them as soon as their condition
warrants such action, for then the aver
age of recoveries is raised, expenses
saved to the state and the reputation of
the institution and it's officers is corre-
spondingly enhanced.
JUpGE EUSE'S CASE.
T 70 the case or Judge Hust, which at
tracted more or less attention some time
fyxya tsoa inn,