The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-12-27
NEW RULEsFoR CARE OF INSANE.


NEW RULES FOR CARE OF INSANE.
Regulations ADOPTED by the State
Board OF Control.
Hereafter Decatur county hospital for
the insane and all other similar inst itu.
tionsin the state will bs operated under
new rules and regulations just adopted
I by the state board Of control. They are
intended to work important reforms in
the care of the insane by the counties
and by private institutions. At the
same time the board members say they
have sought as far as possible not to
make their regulations unnecessarily
radical. The board has not gone at
things by any means blindly. Every
county and private Institution in the
state has been given personal inspec.
| ton by one or more of the members of
the board of control. This work has
consumed much time and energy, abou.
six months having been devoted to it,
in connection with other duties of the
board. The rules are designed to COR.
rect such evils as were discovered
through this inspection, or more exact
ly, to correct the worst of the evils.
Members of the board say there are
not to exceed ten county ins titutions in
Iowa, where the insane are given such
care as should be given. There are 200
patients in the county institutions and
several hundred more in the private in
stitulions Hence, the rules will affect
large number of the insane, They.
will 60 into effect to-day, but managing
officers of institutions are given until
January l, in which to make changes
required. Boards of supervisors are
also given until February to provide for
changes. The board has the power to
remove the insane from the institutions
where they are not properly cared for.
| to be put into effect. Then another in.
spection will be made, and the insane
will be transferred from asylums that
are not living up to the rules. There
can be no considerable number of
transfers to state institutions, as these
are overcrowded. But transfers will be
made, if necessary to we'll regulated
county institutions.
In many institutions the board found
some paupers and insane patients
mingling together and being given the
same care. This is practice the
board will not permit under any cir
cumstance. The reprehensible system
i of allowing male and female patients
to intermingle, a practice followed at
many places, will be checked. More
/ over, great strictness is to be observed
in compelling male patients to be at
tended only by males, and female pa
tents only by females. 1t is said there
lis a shocking need for reform along
these lines in some institutions.
One provision of the new rule is that
beds and clothing must be kept free
Iron yermin. This might not seem i'm.
portant, but members of the board tell
of thrilling experiences along this line
in certain institutions, where great
armies of bedbugs. ara kindred crea-
lures fled ip.t,..or when the beds were
|inspectcl. The new rules provide for
! provision for fire escapes, the number of
attendants at county institutions, that
records shall be kept of all insane in
mates and that there shall be female
attendants for female inmates. The new
rules among other things say:
| l. All insane persons are to be
treated as diseased and mentally ire
sponsible for their acts. and are not to
be punished as persons of sound mind
may be for violations of rules and of
the constant aim Of all persons to induce
them to- acquire regular, cleanly and
orderly habits with respect to caring
for themselves, eating, exercising. work
ing and sleeping. Insane persons must
be clothed as nearly as is practicable
like sane persons and be encouraged to
act and control themselves in like man.
ner at the table and elsewhere.
2. Punishments are not to be iDt1ict-
ed on insane persons, but the freedom
and privileges of those who will not
obey proper rules and orders, or are
dangerous to their associates, or whose
habits are destructive, disorderly OF
filthy, may be restricted SO far as ie
necessary to prevent injury to persons
or property, to preserve good order and
cleanliness, and to avoid giving offense
to others. Corporal punishment shall
not be inflicted in any case, and only
SO much force shall be used as is neces'
sary to prevent violence, to preserve
persons and property from injury, and
to keep insane persons in proper con-
dition. Physical restraint must not be
resorted to in any case unless absolute.
lily necessary, and then it should be az
mild and of as brief duration as will
permit the accomplishing of the desired
and necessary object of the restraint.
Seclusion by continent in rooms dur.
ing the daytime should be resorted to
only in extreme and exceptional cases
and should not be continued longer than
is absolutely necessary.
3. All insane persons whose condition
permits shall be required to take reg
ular daily exercise in the open air when
the weather is suitable, and be furnish.
ed with amusements and employment
suited to their mental and physical
capacity and condition. The amuse'
ments may consist of games, musical
literary and theatrical performances
and any other harmless diversions
Suitable newspapers, magazines and
books shall be regularly supplied to al
insane persons who are able to read and
understand them, and opportunities fol
attending religious services shall bt
given as often as shall be practicable, tt
each insane person who is capable o.
being interested in and who may bt
benefited by such services, and who de
sires to attend them.
Moderate labor is beneficial to insane
persons capable of performing it anc
all such persons should be encouraged
and if possible with reasonable anl
humane effects induced to perform sucl
!: labor where practicable.
4. All insane persons must be KEEP
neat and clean and supplied with cloth
ing ample in quantity and suitable 70
the season in which it is worn. Eaci