Birmingham state herald., 1896-02-13
THE BRYCE INSANE ASYLUM
There Is Nothing to Equal It in
 All Europe,
SAYS MRS. IMPROVISATION
Who Has Just Come From Visit Of examlnl- ton Of Aabama'S Greatest llum1ne
 Institution.

Mrs French-Sheldon returned Tuesday afternoon from Tusllaloosa, whither she went last week to be the guest Of pr. Searcy, superintendent of the Bryce In- sane hospital Learning that Mrs. Shel- don had made no little study of such in- stitutions in many of the principal conn- tries of the world State Herald repre- sentative called upon the distinguished lady and found her enthusiastic over Ala bama's grand sanitarum for the men, tally afflicted.
 "Tuskaloosa certainly Is beautiful" she said, "impressing the stranger with an idea of city of comfortable homes. The Bryce Insane hospital Is by no means disadvantage to the location. To the contrary. It's management under pr. Searcy is a marvel in comparison with other institutions for the treatment of the insane In every detail the hospital reveals superior organization and the re- suits only attained by research which in vites the attention of all investigators who may seek methods and means to better the condition of the insane Dr. Searcy has the most progressive ideas, which are producing some admirable re- suits. The idea of industrial and agri- cultural training. keeping thu patients occupied and, when practicable out of doors, reveals the wisdom of the plan in the fact that straight jackets or wristlc.s are never used, and seldom Is it found necessary to seclude patients despite the original violence of the case when enter ing this institution. Once disciplined and falling into line, as all patients quickly do, matters progress with regularity and decided benefit. The interest the entire corps of attaches take in the work laid out by pr. Searcy is admirable and shows a faultess degree of loyalty and harmony
 Not a single nook or corner of the en- tire institute but can be inspected at any time. Cleanliness in the highest degree prevails, and an incumbent sanitary state that is amazing pr. Searcy's colony of the negro men patients on farm, where they do all the work, is proving n very great success, sand is certainly departure from all methods heretofore followed. The doctor has every reason to feel great satisfaction and pride, and has inaugu- rated many entirely novel methods worthy of universal emulation.
 "He has beyond doubt proven con cluSively that the violence and frequency of recurrent alterations are greatly checked by open air and outdoor life. This has suggested the Idea whether it might not be a practicable and humane act to institute interstate asylums, and removing institutions for the insane to mild climates, where the patients might have the benefit of an outdoor life, where the long months of severe cold when ar tifcial heat and compulsory confinement to the house would be removed, and where it might be possible to have a gen erous tract of land for agricultural pur- poses, as well as merely to afford an at tractive place for promenading and gen eral recreation" g
 Tn fact" said Mrs. Sheldon in her pe- culiar way of giving great emphasis to assertion "there Is nothing to equal Bryce's asylum in all Europe, and I doubt if anything can approach it In America"