The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-11-04

city limits. ana on a gentle ACTIVITY. thus
furnishing an excellent view Of the city
from any portion of the grounds. The
west side of the grounds was prepared for
the building site and hundreds Of Forest
trees on the north and west Of the Duisd-
ings are making a thrifty growth, already
anerding nice shady walks. and portec-
ton as well from the winter winds. The
ground 10 the south Of the buildings is
planted in orchards. and the peach trees
bore q bounufu harvest this year. 'Ene
building site is Connected with the city
waterworks, and in addition near the
south and center are two wells Of as
clear. cold, sparkling water a. c1n tie
found in the country. The foresc trees
are mostly maple and locust-both hardy
and rapid growers. and their size ana
symmetry bespeak a dilgent, skillful cul-
tivation
THE main building is a three-story
brick structure divided into some forty
rooms. halls, wards. dormitories, etc, and
located on the west side OF the grounds
facing the city. On the right Of the front
entrance is observed the reception room
where patients who are net violent are
received and examined. on tn LETT O.. the
entrance is the Office, where me supCrin-
tendent and his medical advisers consult
each other and friends or relatives CT the
patients. Just back Of the Office is the
store rooms. a perfect emporium Of neces-
saries 70 rthe patients, including blankets
boots, shoes. hats. dress goods and every
kind Of furnishing that might be neeled
n, n h11
room and bakery are located. The upper
floors are divided into wards and dormi-
tories the principal wards being the re-
ceiving ward. where patients are receiv-
ed and held until they are classified and
assigned to their respective places, and
the convaleseent ward, where patients
are kept after they have sufficiently re-
covered to warrant a discharge at an
early date. Numerous dormitories, pro
vided with neat, clean beds and located
with view to good ventilation. occupy
the upper floors.
There is a class of patients-ncura-
bles, imbeciles, chronlcs, and those who
from the nature Of their Affections should
not be associated with others-who ere
not kept in the main building TO pro-
vide for these. other buildings have been
prepared on different parts Of the ground
at a good distance from the main build
ing. Separate buildings and wards have
been arranged for the colored patients,
which seem to form quite percentage Of
the whole number of inmates. The walls
of the front room of the building for the
colored patients are decorated with num-
erous ofchand drawings-tle work of one
of the inmates, who is evidently a toll
erably good artist The laundry house
completes the list Of minor buildings, ex-
cept two others now under course Of con-
truction, to accommodate new patients
In all there are about ten Of these out
side buildings. each furnished and ar
ranged according to the class Of in
mates. and under the cara Of skilled at
tendants.
.sOne Of the most impressive scenes
connected with the Institution is when
those patients that are allowed to Join
in the morning march, are called from
their respective wards, arranged by the
attendants In proper order and ushered
out into the open air for relief and recre-
alton. DR.. Threadgill invariably reviews
the procession, as it files away from the
main building calling out some word Of
friendly greeting to various ones, who
are ever ready, by exchange Of courtesy
and Kindness. 10 show an tachment for
their faithful guardian, that one would
scarce expect to find among the inmates
of an insane asylum. Anyone Witnessing
a scene Ike this would be thoroughly con
WINGED that the ennobung influences Of
the nineteenth century civilization have
reached their highest type of develop
ment. in the humane care of our unfor-
tlnate fellow beings, who for any cause
have lost the guide Of reason, and the
mad-house horrors Of by-gone days viii
only be remembered as mournful relics
of a cruel past
There are at present in the Oklahoma
Sanitarium and Hospital for the Insane
$50 patients. under the care of some forty
skilled attendants, and out Of the entire
number not one patient is confined In
bed because of sickness. Nothing strong
err could be said in favor Of the splendid
sanitary conditions that exist which fact
is ably sustained by the reports Of the
territorial board Of examiners at every
examination made.
"The citizens Of Norman may well be
proud Of the history of this institution.
and Dr. John Threadgiu the man who
has made this history, has Justly won for
himself the universal respect Of the PEG
pie Of oklahoma"