Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1896-03-13
A COMFORTABLE HOME
AMPLE PROVISION MADE FOR THE
INSANE.
Report OF One Who Has Been an
Inmate of the Fort SteilacOOm
Asyium-What He Thinks of Its
Discipline ana the Results.

Discipline ana the Results.
ED. Standard:
The Western Washington Hospital
for the insane is situated ut old Fort
Steilacoom, on gravelly prairie, in a
fine location, with the Cascade noun
tains to the east and Mt. Rainier in
sight from the lawn. The hospital
building is OF brick, with all OF the
modern Improvements; is supplied
throughout with pure spring water
cold and hot; is warmed by steam and
lighted by electricity. The institution
is divided into ten wards. The wards
for women are under the charge OF one
head matron, with assistants, the
mems wards each have head warden
with two assistants. The duties OF
these assistants is to look after patients
of their respective wards and its do.
mestic affairs.
The institution is managed with
system and regularity, and the patients
are treated kindly and accorded every
privilege consistent with their condi-
ton and which is in accord with safe
ty. The internal affairs are managed
very much as those of large family
Everything is kept scrupulously clean.
The rooms are we'll ventilated. The
beds are clean and comfortable, with
an exchange of sheets ard pillow-slips
every Saturday and oftener if soiled.
The patients are required to battle
and change under-clothing once
week, regularly, and the wardens are
kept busy attending to the bathing
and shaving of the patients of their
respective wards. Each patient who
shaves takes his seat after the bath
and the rules of a regular barber shop
are observed-he takes his turn. The
help of the patients is utilized as far as
possible, in the work OF the institution.
One part OF the treatment being to
keep the patients busy and their
thoughts off from themselves. II they
are sick they are not required to work.
When the weather is pleasant, all who
are able, of each ward, take a walk in
charge of the wardens. They form in
line and march in military style. No
patient is allowed TO go out for a walk
alone, unless permitted by the Sup
erintendent. and it is through his
leniency that sometimes patient es-
capes. He is allowed the freedom of
the grounds, or trusted in other ways,
and runs away. The object of the
management of the asylum is the cure
of the patients and not to keep them
prisoners. No one is discharged I'M
less pronounced cured by the Super.
intendent and physician in charge,
and every precaution is taken to pre-.
vent escapes.
When a patient enters the asylum,
if not violent, he is taken to the re.
ceiving ward, is given bath, and if he
has no clean clothes they are given to
him and he is made comfortable as
possible. Three good meals day
Except Sunday, when there are but
two) are given and if a person goes
hungry it his own fault. One OF the
rules is to eat, and if stubborn they
are fed. was patient for three
months, and often when sitting down
to my dinner OF good beef and vege-
tables, would think if was sure my
family had as good, would have been
happier. | cannot say l was happy
under my afiliction, but | can truth.
fully say everything was done by those
in charge to make me happy, and l
could see no partiality shown to any.
| will never cease thanking my friends
in this city for sending me to this asy-
lum, for there received the treatment
| needed, and to the medical skill of
the physicians in charge and the kind
ness of all, both employees and patients,
| owe my present good health and
happiness.
There is nothing so pitiable as a
person being deprived of reasoning
faculties, and every one shrinks from
the thought OF going to an insane asy-
lum. 1t Is looked upon by some rs
almost the same as punishment for a
crime. This feeling should be dispelled |
as far as possible, and nothing will do
this So we'll as institutions of the kind
referred to in this article, where, no
matter how poor or unfortunate, the
man, woman or child, can find q
home, with every help to recovery
that science and kind treatment can
furnish.
In the way OF recreation and amuse.
ment OF patients dance is given
every Saturday night, which lasts
abont two hours. Good music is fur
nished by the asylum and all patients
who are able are allowed to attend,
and take part in the dance.
Sunday afternoons are chapel services
are held, which are unsectarian. They