The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-05-24
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
IN FAIRNESS TO DIR. CAMPBELL.
Impressions of q Visit to the Southern
California Asylum.

To the Editor of the San Francisco CGlt-SIR:
To my report OF the case of Judge Huse against
the Southern California Insane Asylum, pub
lished by THE CALL some two weeks since,
desire to add the following reference to the
medical director, DR.. Campbell, and the asy-
lum:
Although my testimony before the court was
pointed in regard to the apparent animus
toward Judge Huse in the unexplained deten-
ton of both of his letters to me, DR.. Campbell
gave me an urgent invitation to visit the asy-
lum as his guest and spend the night and the
following day there, and gladly accepted his
courtesy on the ground, as told him, that
was always governed in all my relations in life
by a fixed purpose to do no person or institu-
ton or occupation or party any injustice and
also because was conscious OF q pronounced
bias against him and his management of the
asylum.
Accordingly went there on Saturday even
ing, after the close of the trial, and remained
TIL Sunday afternoon. In company with Dr.
Campbell went through the wards after 10
o'clock at night, including the sick wards, and
at noon on sunday we began second visit to
every ward In the asylum; and In the course
OF an hour | saw nearly every inmate (some
400 OF them, males and femalesl, most of them
while they were at the tables eating their noon
meal, aud among them my poor friend Huse,
who was seated at the table with his back
toward me and WAS unconscious of my pres
enee. also attended the chapel service at 2
O'Clock P. NJ, where about 300 were assembled,
to whom was introduced by DR.. Campbell and
whom addressed, in the absence OF the clergy
man, Tor about ten minutes
AZ Is not the place here to give an account OF
what saw in detail at the asylum, but ii Is
my duty to make general statement in regard
10 lhe character OF this great state institution
as found 1t, and of its officers and attendants.
can md no fault with anything saw, and
can give the warmest praise to DIR. Campbell as
rare and wise man for the place-a place so
luli OF perplexity and SO exhaustive OF patience
ana sympathy, which he so successfully fills.
TOT quietness, cleanliness, kindness ana SYM
patnetlc attention, this insane asylum exceeds
anything deemed possible in such an 1nstitu-
tlon. while thorough inspection OF the food
paced before the inmates, OF the storerooms
ana OF the kitchen in which the food is pre-
pared, as well as of the laundry and the clothes
on the inmates and on their beds, amply 1usti-
mes al the praise have given the asylum.
Az TINS t1me-May 2Z-l desire 10 add 10 the
foregoing reference to DR.. Campbell and the
and full conference with Judge Huse in the
asylum, and entirely alone, during which l
became fully satisfied that at the present time
ne is not likely TO take proper care OF himself
Al released from the asylum without a compe-
tent, ialthful and honest attendant when ne Is
on ms guard and his mind is not occupied
Win important business; though 1t is proDa-
ule Inas IN time, away from all associations
anu innuences OF the asylum, TO when ne mas
oeen subject for so many years, he VIII recover
entlre command of himself and shake on the
eccentricities and habits now so noticeable in
MS conduct; but there can be no question
wnsteVer that he is clearly competent TO at
lenu 70 any Dusinessor law matters which now
require MS Immediate attention.
JOSEPH AsBURY JOHNSON.
IL Esse3 street, San Francisco.