Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-11-13

cured was fully as large as at any ms tltution Of
which he has knowledge that the death rate is
considerably lower, and that the amount OF food
consumed per patient is mole than that prescribed
for an average man by the English war office.
Both DR.. Plat and DR.. Ferrln testified that they
never had reason to believe that patients were
illtreated, and that they never saw DR.. Giddings
show bad temper or disposition. DR.. Ferrn
thought that the case of the Towne woman was
fairly investigated and there was no reason to be-
lieve but that they did their full duty in the mat
ter. Mr.. Shipman and Mrs Long testified con
corning the food and clothing. Mrs. Larrabee
came from Brattleboro to Waterbury, and her
testimony related to the handling OF violent and
destructive patients like Emma Hoyt and Lucy
Williams. She said they were restrained only as
far as was necessary for their own good She
talked at considerable length OF the treatment OF
Sally Towne and others, refuting the stories of
cruel and abuse of patients by DR.. Giddings
and the attendants Of the asylum.
Several witnesses were called Wednesday on
the part of DR.. Giddings. VIM. Redmond, assist
ant engineer, said that with the present system
he had never had a complaint of GOODNESS in the
halls Mrs Larrabee, the supervisor, testified
that Emma Hoyt had been confined in base
ment room since June IS. Mrs. Larrabee said
that several patients at Brattleboro were kept in
their rooms without bedding or clothing except a
tack, which is something resembling a small
bed comforter She had never noticed marks on
the patients and never knew of the rawlings Of
Florence Mayo being stopped by jamming pill
lows into h face. She remembered only three
patients on whom the wet cloth gag had been
| used She had never seen DR.. Giddings handle a
patient more roughly than he was compelled to.
Mrs. w. r. Nash. an attendant at the asylum
three years and formerly at the Brattleboro Re
treat, named fouf patients kept 10 rooms at the
latter institution without clothes or bedding and
only blankets. She never saw DR.. Gddings strike
or i'll treat patient, and considered the food good
Dr. Grant Russell, carpenter, had never seen
DR.. GiddinRs except when he was under perfect
control
G. T. Larrabee. supervisor for two years and
before that empo ed nearly tire. years at Brat.
tleboro, testified that while at Brattleboro he saw
patients confined without clothes. He testified at
| length in regard to feeding patients who were un.
willing to take food and thought force was used
only when necessary. He remembered two pa.
| tients who froze their fingers one day. One at
lendant who kicked patient was reported to DR..
| Bidwel
| Cross. examined, Mr.. Larrabee said that he
| knew of patient kept since the middle of the
sl.mmer without clothes at night and with only
| straw for covering He wears clothes during the
| day but II given blan ket at night tears it up.
| w. r. Nash, the asylum bookkeeper, has been
| employed there three and one half years. For
merly he was an attendant at Brattleboro and
| there knew Of two patients confined without
| clothes or bed He has worked on all the male
halls at Waterbury. The rooms were always
| comfortably warmed unless some mistake was
made in the management of the heating arrange
ments The food was always good and aUunds Mt
and he never saw any bad meat. He had charge
| Of the ward where Somerville died and inquired
| into the case
James Hazen, who began work at the asylum
| in 1891 and who is now in the criminal ward
| knew Of no startling cases The food was abun-
dant and of good quality At the Taunton, Mass
| asylum, where he was formerly employed, the
| treatment, clothing and food were similar to that
| at Waterbury. Some of the arrangements were
| not as good as those at Taunton.