The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-03-01

gained by actual practice and experience
in the largest asyiums In New England.
One by one these instruments of torture
and restraint have been releRated TO the
refuse heap in the basement, until to-day
not one OF them Is in use. A trip through
the most violent and criminal wards dis
closed not single patient under bodily re-
straint, and only one, gypsy, and hard
character, that It Is found necessary 10
confne In single cell like room. The at
PENDANTS could hardly explain how this
wonderful change for the better had come
about, but they all gave the credit to the
system OF treatment inaugurated by Dr.
Page.
McCaffery, the Waterbury man who
seventeen years ago murdered in cold blood
his wife and aged mother was seen in his
room In the criminal ward. He greeted his
visitors cordially, invited them to be seated
and exhibited with apparent pleasure and
pride the braided rugs he had made. His
time Is largely taken up with this work, at
which he has become an expert. He is hale
and hearty, thanked his callers in courte.
GUS way for their visit and their apparent
interest in his work, and talked lucidly up-
on the changed condition of the weather
10 all appearances he was as sane az WAS
the reporter who talked with him, but at
other times his condition is entirely diff
The pathological building, erected last
summer, Ia nearly completed, and is of
special interest to medical men who Wait
this institution 1t Is admirably adapted to
the uses for which it was constructed.
Inc scrupulous neatness that prevails in
every WARD a1d hall IL noticeable to the
most casual observer. The less violent pa
tients as they were exercising In the yard,
gave little outward indication OF the nal.
ady with which they are afflicted. In the
wards cards and checkers help while the
hours OF daylight away, and many of the
m NhA
which they are furnished.
Mildred Brewster shows little change in
her condition. Conversation with Dr. Page
In regard to her led the reporter to infer
That her moods vary greatly with different
days. During the past week she has been
unusually mOrose and low spirited.
The report that thas been circulated that
Miss Brewster had been quietly released
from the asylum and taken to her home in
Huntington Is as absurd as it is false. Miss
Brewster Is still in confinement there, and
should the supervisors ever see fit, at some
time IN the future to release her, it will be
done publicly and according to law. 1t is
highly probable that she will remain where
he is until death claims her.
After the more or less painful sights in
the main building visit to the annex, I'M
der the guidance of DIR. Upton, was refresh
ing. Here are kept eighteen mildly insane,
elderly, female patients. A pleasant faced
lady attendant, in the garb of hospital
nurse, admitted the doctor and his visitor.
and plotted them through the building
This annex was purchased and fitted up by
the State some eighteen months ago, be-
cause OF the overcrowded condition Of the
less violent female wards. 1t accommo-
dates eighteen patients and two nurses. In
every room the patients were reading mag.
azines or books, and smiled pleasantly as
the visitors passed them. Cleanliness,
good food, early retiring hours and
perfect quiet are doing much in this adjunct
to the main building to restore its inmates
to health aud liberty.
To doctors Page and Upton and attend
ant Townsend the reporters thanks are
again rendered. No notes were taken for
these random observations, which accounts
in some measure for their general charac-
ter.