West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1900-09-13
OUR PARIS LETTER.
TIKI GOOD WORK OF SOME OF THE
EMINENT FRENCH PHYSICIANS
They Seem 10 Lead the World in Some
Things.
From our Regular Correspondent.

1 tne itOSpl(al Ia oatpetrlcre. II is
think, the largest and most widely
known asylum for the insane in the
world. Immediately on our arrival
one Of the distinguished physicians
in charge, DR.. Voisin, showed us
two patients who had been singu-
larly benefited by hypnotism. One
was a woman of forty years of age
who was attacked in 1850 with a
walking mania. She was thrown
into hypnotic condition and it
was suggested to her that when she
awoke she would no longer have a
desire to walk, and she has remain
ed two years without recurrence
of the malady and without the ne
cesslty of further hypnotic sugges-
ton. Then there was young girl,
a worker in a printing establishment
who was affected in way that
made it impossible for her 10 con
tinue working. She also was cured
by hypnotism, and now works ten
hours day.
DR.. Voisin and DIR. Montreuil, a
director of the hospital, introduced
us to DR.. Raymond, the successor
of the illustrious Charcot. NJ.
Philippe, the chief of the labratory,
showed and explained to us the
working rooms, the solutions, the
instruments, the microscopic prep.
arations, and NJ. Cestan, the chief
of the clinic, conducted us through
the halls of interchangeable. We
were also shown the Charcot muse
UNI, where we saw anatomical col.
lections and documents and draw
ings. There was also large por-
trait of Charcot, painted to 'rofano
in 1881.
Then some one said "Will we
not be permitted to see the pa
tients ?" The reply was "There
are truly too many of you. 1t
would be contrary to humanity.
If you were only small number
you would have a glance at the in
sane patients, even the most violent
of them" The rule here is evil
IDENTITY not to trouble those who
would be agitated by visit.
But we now enter another hall,
that of M. Raymond, and walk
through the rooms devoted to cleo
tricity. They are full of ingenious
apparatus in which electricity re-
places simple hydropathic appli-
ances. Here we see a very inter
esting spectacle. M. Cestan show
ed US the objects which had been
discovered by the means of the
Photograph, disclosing morbid or
gans, Lessons and deformities, and
by means of the cinematograph the
nervous movements and spasms and
hysteric cries of the patients were
also shown.
Then we arrived at another large
and open court. "You will not be
able to see the right hand side of
my department." said the doctor,
con account of an epidemic of
mumps," but will show you all on
the left hand side. M. Voisin
stopped at door and gave us some
interesting explanations concerning
his treatment of children and of
adults of retarded development.
The less intelligent are put under
the charge Of those who are more
intelligent, to each one, one or two,
and by this system of exciting their
responsibility, they finally under
stand little by little, and they are
greatly benefited. Hydropathic
treatment is resorted to to produce
cleanliness and at the same time
strengthening of the muscles. 1t is
school, but it is also school
where the poor little undeyeloped
ones, and even idiots and maniacs
are given a degree of instruction,
and they understand sometimes. and
some of them make considerable
progress. NJ. Voisin and his assist
ants, both male and female, have
interchangeable patience. They begin
by making each one prepare his bed,
and afterwards little by little, they
are required 70 make their under
clothes. Improvement is the law
in this island Of misery progress
i've improvement, sensibly pro-
gressive and morally and physically
benehcient.
But we have not seen anything
yet. We are now in a large hall
occupied by children sitting down,
some Of them against the wall in a
long row. while the others play or
talk or walk, some Of them quite a
distance, but always under the eye
Of Guardians It is sad picture
l but il is diflcnlf 10 Gee anuihinn