Arizona republican., 1898-08-14
THE CARE OF THE INSANE.

If ever the erroneous idea prevailed that "any old thing" was good enough to care for the insane, it passed away with the days of iron bars, chains, strait jackets, airing courts and such relics of ignorance and barbarism It is almost impossible to realize that less than fifty years ago the unfortu- nate ones deprived of reason were hudd1ed into what were rightly called ''r,ad houses" with no attempt at treatment or cure. The asylum" was | somewhat better, and a step forward but science, with rapid strides break ing down all barriers on it's evolution ary march gives us the hospital" of today.
 True, in the early days of asylums the attendants upon the insane were eound among those of a low class; so little being required, such persons could give the necessary care
 That is all changed now. Men of brains, with big hearts full of pity and zeal for the unfortunate, took up the work. and they-from Esquirol, Pinel and Tuke, down to our own Cowles and Wise-toiling and spending them selves in sacrifices and labors have raised the standard of care and cure, until today our hospitals for the in- sane are the pride and glory of our time
 | As advancement was made along all l lines of the work, it necessarily in cluded the nursing department Train ing schools were founded, and so steady has been the march of progress n this direction that we can now boast of training schools as well equipped and with instructors as capable as any in the land
 i The idea that training received in state hospitals is not equal to that given in a general hospital is fast los ing ground, for it has been demonstrat- ed that nurse carefully prepared by T two years course in general nursing with actual practice in the care of the nervous and insane. is as fully equip ped for the nursing work as is her sis ter of the general hospital. the status 'n the nurses of intelligence and educa-
 tiCn being equal We might venture
 to say that she is better prepared. as
 her constant care of those incapable of making their necessities known
 sEarpens her powers of observation
 and she brings valuable habits of pa tience and forbearance only obtained by experience among the nervous and irresponsible.
 It is fact that nursing for the fn-
 sane is becoming more pcHular witt each succeeding year, and is takine
 high rank in the profession. The re. quirements for entrance into the schools are more exacting: education refinement and strict morality are ab-
 solute requirements, and in return the nurses are given good salary anf
 T comfortable home. Tn many state
 hCSpitals-notably the St. Lawrence St. Hospital-a fine building for z nurses home is provided at shor distanc from the hospital, where nurses can enjoy rest and quiet wher
 off duty. Here they have separate idining rooms, reading rooms, etc, witt discipline appealing to the sense O. honor and tending always to eleva
 tion of character.
 With the standard for entrance raised still somewhat higher. the hour. for work shorter. making hours fol study longer, and the course extended to three years, the state hospital train
 ing school can raise aloft her banner
 on which may be inscribed, Second tt
 ncne. Nurses Journal.