New-York tribune., 1900-10-07
TREATING THE INSANE.
OCCUPATIONS OF THE PATIENTS ON
WARDS ISLAND - MUSIC AS A
MEANS OF CURING MENTAL
DERANGEMENTS.

Such pretty place is Wards Island. To reach
II one takes little steam launch called the Mer-
maid, that is duly authorized. may see by
the framed certificate in the tiny cabin, TO carry
"a full complement of officers and crew, consist
ing of pilot one engineer and one crew" which
sounds like a joke but 1t is there in black and
white.
Reaching the island one walks through an avenue
Of dismally appropriate weeping willows. Could
their selection have been grim Jest? However
that may be- the result is pleasant. the many
other hourishng trees obviate the depressing effect
Of the weeping branches Really, If the poor and
insane must be. it is comforting to see the tender
care bestowed upon them by the STATE. for here at
Wards Island is the Manhattan State Hospital for
the Insane. Al the eastern side of the island is
the mems hospital; at the western is the wOmen's
The latter is the nearer TO the city and the little
launch makes half hourly trips from the small pier
to the pier at East One-hu Observation-Disclosures.
The first characteristic that impresses the visitor
is the spaciousness IF the rooms the second is the
cheerfulness. Or it might be better to link them,
both, equally striking. Outside are flowers
and trees. Inside are flowers and pictures and
sunny windows overlooking broad stretches Of
lawn and the siIvery sweep of the river. From
beginning TO end of the large buildings and well
filed wards there is no suggestion of restraint eX
cept the quiet locking of doors the nurses pass
through and the strong wire lattice work that
guards the stairways the possibility of homi-
cidaI and suicidal mania that is latent in all de-
mentia cannot be forgotten for a moment
The main building is old fashioned. having been
erected a good many years ago an emigrauts'
hospital. but It IS roomy and light and has been
supplied with every convenience, every ward hav-
lug bathrooms with tub and shower baths. The
wards are examples of absolute neatness, and have
pictures and rocking chairs in abundance, but the
sitting rooms. Of which every ward has one,
cOstness itself. Pictures are everywhere. and all
Of the cheeriest description whether engraving
photograph water color, for Cheer IS the watch
word of the hospital II is even in the name,
for hospital is certainly a less depressing word
than asylum" Palms and ornamental shrubs
stand in bright jardinieres in every available spot
Flowers are everywhere, and the first floor and
third floor sitting rooms have pianos. as there
generally or three good musicians among the
patients
Tables have handsome embroidered covers; the
many couches are luxurious in preety pillows and
all are the work often the designs. of the inmates,
for mental occupation is the keynote of the system
and all are kept employed in congenial work
Those who like hOusewOrk are assigned 70 their
favorite branches. whether laundry, sweeping or
kitchen duties. Those who prefer ueedlework are
allowed to do it, and. if necessary are instructed
For the less skilled fingers are mat drawing and
brushmaking. and the workr0orns are an interest,"
Of flowers allowed to help in the ConserVatorles
that supply the buildings with flowers and in weed
ing and raking on the farm where the V5get&-
bles for the hospital grown.
many During the summer they have two dances
every week the platform in the CHERRY grove
and on those gala occasions the electric lights that
swung from bOugh 10 bough are covered with
Japanese lanterns to add TO the gayety- For these
dances the orchestra of nurses plays. and once
every two weeks the band from the mems hospital
comes over.
Popcorn parties d winter amusement, also
theatricas and fancy dress balls and the patients
take the greatest delight in planning and making
the costumes There are basketball teams. too. and
lessons in physical culture. that Is considered
highly important part of the tmeut. OF course,
the system is varied TO suit individual cases For
some Turkish baths found helpful. for some
massage. for others the Swedish exercises, and all
are used in certain cases. That the treatment is
wise and skilful may be judged from the fact that
fully % per cent are discharged cured in aver
age time Of less than six months. In some in
stances a few weeks suffice to restore the mental
balance.
An interesting experiment is now being made TO
test the value of music a treatment for de-