The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-02-02
Vein OF CENSURE In IT.
SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT OF THE
INVESTIGATION INTO THE ST.
PETER HOSPITAL
BASED ON THE BAUER CASE


per Tact and Consid GRAFTON a Ger
tain Scene Would Not Have o.
cured-Need of Remembering
That Insane People Have Friends.
There is a little sidelight in the re-
cent investigation of the charges of ILL
treatment of Mrs. ]. G. Bauer, a patient
in the st. Peter state hospital, which
has never been published, and which
bears some significance. 1t will be re-
membered that at the investigation
Rev. MIR. Bauer testified concerning a
scene which had occurred between him
and Supt. Tomlinson, when he remon-
strated with the latter because Mrs.
Bauer had not been fed as promised
by DR.. Chilgren. This led to a warm
exchange Of words in which the super
intendent threatened to expel the anx-
iOus husband from the building. DR..
Tomlinson's testimony of this episode
did not differ materially and 1t was APP
parent that he had displayed q degree
Of temper hardly compatible with the
delicate position he holds.
Realizing this. and aware Of the
necessity that there should be no
grounds for suspicion against the In
situations, the board Of trustees has
made a supplemental report as follows:
While fully generating the superintendent,
officers and nurses OF the St. Peter state hos
pital from all charges Of Entertainment OF
Mrs. Bauer. still there are things in this
connection which l think ought to receive the
careful attention of this board. do not be-
lieve it is possible for the abuse of patient
in any of the hospitals to continue for any
considerable length OF time without discov-
cry. The admirable system adopted and the
stringent rules against maltreatment OF pa
crtoh hiuc N
sible. No breach Of duty will 30 promptly
cause the discharge of a nurse as abuse OF
patient. Notwithstanding this, we are not
ignorant OF the general ru1nors and frequent
direct charges OF such abuse against some OF
OUT hospitals and more particularly that at
st. Peter These rumors and charges have
become 30 frequent as to create In the minds
of many who are disposed to be friendly to
these institutions a distrust and q fear that
there may be some foundation for them.
Every charge of this nature spread broadcast
over the state under flaming headlines OF
our newspapers Is very detrimental to the
institutions and to the people who read them.
interested In the management OF the hos
pitals They have immediate friends or &C
quaintances in the institutions. and these
charges of abuse create fear in their minds
as to the treatment of inmates. They know
nothing of the facts themselves and are
easily-and naturally so-frightened into the
condition makes it all the more important
that the superintendents and officers in
charge use. at all times, the utmost care,
tact and consideration in their treatment OF
people who have friends in the hospitals.
The success OF the institutions depends upon
the confidence the people have in their man
upon impressions people receive who come In
contact with the superintendent and officers
in charge. am greatly impressed with the
the charges Of Hl-treatment in this case.
have no doubt that he was actuated by q
spirit of fairness and a desire for the good
}i<N,r, hci, hmm, ofH1
further believe that If he had received the in
formation he now has, and which might well
have been given him. that he never would
eating. 1 think that proper tact and con-
sideration a: the time Mr.. Bauer complained
to the superintendent that meals had not been
gren. would have prevented the scene in the
superintendent Office scene that was I'M
proper and should not receive the sanction OF
the board That transaction cannot be 1usti-
fed. whether we credit DR.. Tomlinson's or
Mr.. Bauer's version Of it. To my mind, the
two accounts Go not vary very much.
parties as to the condition and progress of
friends IN the hospitals q ay Eeem frivolous
and Of little Importance, but 1t should always
be rem embered that such questions and In
quiries arising from anxiety of friends, are
or mey be very important to those making
them. and should always be answered eourte-
done with Mr.. Bauer, have MO doubt that he
would now be thanking the officers and
nurses of the institution for the kind treat
n,ent OF his wife, instead of charging them
with Ill treatment.
These are matters that have long thought
Of and which have been thought Of by the
individual members of the board, and can
not let this incident pass without giving this
formal expression of my views.
Mr.. Bauer's belief that the superintendent
was not fit man to have charge OF the I'M
fortunate and helpless insane arose from the
Impressions he received from his treatment
by the superintendent Putting those impress
ID % he cto of 1u-iPo
as to her ill-treatment, he naturally with the
light he had, concluded that his wife had been
abused, and SO believing. made complaint.
What say here Is not so much in the
spirit OF censure for the past as caution for
the future and l hope the suggestions will
be considered and followed.
j. w. Mason
President Board Of Trustees.
We concur in ths above: