The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-10-20


related in a simple. straightforward way
by Mrs. George ]. Smith. of Deer Park.
Wash, formerly teacher in the public
schools OF Seattle.
A nervous collapse, superinduced by
long Illness and the burden of household
cares. caused Mrs. Smiths physician to
advise a short period of confinement and
treatment in the Medical Lake hospital.
where she was received November rs.
1899. Ten weeks later. February 3. 1900.
she was taken home by her husband. re-
stored to comparatively good health.
II will be seen from Mrs. Smiths mar
ration of her experiences that she was
not considered by the hospital authorities
as an ordinary patient. and her personal
treatment was far better than that ac-
corded to scores of helpless and friend
less unfortunates who are dependent. in
the fullest sense. upon the state for
support and care. Mrs. Smiths story,
told in a letter to the Post-Inteligencer
follows:
Mrs. Smiths Letter.
Deer Park, Wash, Oct. Ie. 1900.
TO The Editor: have been much In
terested In the recent numbers of your
paper in which some of the many faults
In the management of our public state
institutions have been brought TO light.
ana feel 1t my Christian duty to add a
chapter from my own painful knowledge
OF how the hospital at Medical Lake
Having made Washington my home for
the past ten years, and having taught
In the city schools of Seattle the three
years previous to my marriage in 1892
and that city being my home until 1885,
do not feel that l am addressing
strangers, but old friends.
In September OF 1892 l resigned my
position in the Seattle schools under SUI
perintendent Barnard. and salary Of
SS month. to marry Mr.. George j.
Smith Our home was built at l13 High
land drive, Queen Anne hill. where we
home and took our two daughters and
went to Chatffeld. Mimi. to attend my
sisters wedding and visit my people,
while Mr.. Smith settled up his business
and later went to Atlin.
For some years past my health has
not been the best. and the severe win
ter of 1898 In Minnesota, followed by the
Intense heat and severe electrical storms
and floods of the summer of 1892 made II
q hard strain upon me, and on July 3d.
1899. was taken severely III The local
doctor said an abscess had broken upon
the left lung. and all despaired of my
life. However, | soon rallied. and fol-
lowing the advice of my physician, took
the daughters and a nurse and came on
to Spokane In the latter part Of August
1899. Mr.. Smith had been sen; for. and
until he returned from Alaska I stayed
three weeks with relatives at Rose
Prairie, whore I gained rapidly. and on
September IL came up here to Deer Park
and purchased cottage and moved In
When Mr.. Smith came. the first of Oc-
tober he found us cozily settled
Suffered Nervous Collapse.
MY recent Illness. the long trip from
Minnesota. the excitement and extra la
Dor In settling the new home, visits from
strangers, and business. were all too
much for me. and In November I suf-
fered complete collapse Of body and
mind The local doctor was away, and
IT, Erx< Ia
He made one visit here and insisted up
on my being moved to Spokane. where
he could see me oftener. Mr. Smith
took me 20 Spokane. and DIR. SempIe ex-
nerves. and while my bodily strength
seemed 10 partly return. my mind was
far from normal. DR.. Semple insisted
that the hospital at Medical Lake was
November Is I was taken there and placed
under the care Of Or. J. - Mclean and
the matron. Mrs. Jackson Harr.
while my snfferings there were beyond
description. have since felt II blessing
and privilege TO have been permitted to
see and know how such places are man.
aged. and feel that II can use my tongue
or pen TO help bring better things ard
kinder treatment 20 our suffering brothers
and sisters In that and similar institu-
tons. my ten weeks NJ Medical Lake
will have been better than wears spent
as a missionary in some foreign country.
The patients at Medical Lake are
often most unkindly and cruelty treated
by the attendants, called most insulting
names, locked into fall rooms. made to
go without meals for trivial offenses.
abused in all ways imaginable.
THE lady patients are driven into the
bath room nv SKIES and tens and made
to ha;he and dress before others. and
Ones own oiothing Is taken away at
least mine wasl and I was made to wear
any old rags 7 had never seen before.
and when I asked for my good. new. wool
10 shut 40. ard wear the old cotton
clothes or so without.
"Thc dining rDam was infested with
reaches which ran over the food tables
ana walls. The food r. far from pure
and clean, az the law requires, ard the
food given 20 the women in close conhne-
merit was only suitable for strong men
IL digest working IN the onen air,
The ventilation, nesting and lighting
are most effectively and ignovsrtly mar
aged. siv or ten natients Nieep IN one
room with one window open perhaps two
inches. and generating enough cavhnrie
gss IN one niSht 90 suli the suteliectx
81 twenty hfirht peonle
These are only = few plain. truthful
facts ~ 7 fstsna fhsnws theYe from No
varnher ri isse ~ r4hrtiary 3 100
when Mr. Smith took me horne Feb
rusry :. was obliged 20 take such cloth
ing as the matroa gave ne, while my own
tr0n Insisting 7 sld uat know enough 20
know nv neFu clothing
wrote To the Governor.
AFTER I haa been home some GAYS
wrote 70 Gov Ruz~es ans United States
Judge Hanfar6 telling th@sn 81 facts Elk.
isrlrR there ard pskgng them 10 iuveEts-
gAt~
Gov Rogers rriiiied re- should make
speedy au8 careful Investigation Haw
much has been Some for The hetteSm%nt
~ ere patients ! know not huf 40 know
that my clothing as beer sent home. a
piece So A time. untN row they nnly
have ore rev ffe&s ~ mine. which rr
Mclean was - anxious 20 make good
that NJ Rad q new cns made and Sant
ne ~ the exuemEe - The state
we have maid taxes many wears. nnf
are glad - 90 our part to helr dnfysy
the expenses ~ anv worthy state object.
bat asd ret feel u was right Or necss-
sary for the taxr&vFrx 70 cictNe me, 81
returned fha new dre&s the sunarintsnG-
ent 81 Medical Lake Rad 50 kindly cent
me- together with other things which tif
not belong 90 ne fhut which had been
sent home with RE bv the rnafFon) and
asked the superintendent - please use
thorn wisely.