The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1901-11-26

seems monstrous that they should be
compelled to associate daily with GRIM
inals, who occupy the same room, eat
at the same table, sleep in adjoining
beds, and permeate the very atmos-
phere with their impurity. Our insti-
tutions are not constructed as prisons
and It is with difficulty that these
viciously inclined patients are kept at
all. With an institution built especially
fer their care, much of the anxiety,
worry and real danger would be elm
mated. The criminal himself could be
better cared for and the honest unfor-
tunates, rendered infinitely safer and
happier by his absence.
We believe 1t eminently wise and
proper that the state should build an
institution, keeping. in view the special
| requirements of the class for which
1t Is designed, representing in Its ar
chitectural, sanitary and economical
features the highest type Of asylum
construction, and with sufficient means
Of restriction to remove any appre-
hension of danger from the inmates.
DIET FOR THE INSANE.
believe a more careful study of the
subject of diet would result in the bet
terment of the condition Of our peo-
pie. We are all aware that sugars and
starchy foods are energy producers.
What more absurd than to give one
frenzied melancholiac or cases of excit-
ed and delirious mania, food which will
surely intensity their disorder. We al
SO know that meats and eggs are tissue
builders and tissue repairers. Their
utility depends entirely upon the con-
dition of the patient. The patient who
is irritable, dry skinned, suffering from
parched lips and dessicated nerves,
needs these tissue repairers almost ex-
clusively, while the patient, whose
most prominent symptom is stu
pendous hebetude should have the ener-
gy producers to the exclusion of the It's
sue repairers. Then the melancholiac
individual should have special diet,
these patients nearly all suffer from
some form Of dyspepsia. They refuse
food, their breath is foul, the tongue
is coated and the bowels constipatel.
Now while 1t is probable that all these
dyspeptic symptoms are the result of
depressed nervous condition, yet the
diet needs be carefully prescribed in
order to obtain the best results from
treatment. Fatty foods, milk, ham and
cod liver oil, maltine, eggs, farinaceous
foods, easily digested animal foods
such as beef steak, fish and fowl can
all be used to advantage in feeding
the melancholy. Anything which will
produce adipose is indicated. Laugh
and grow fat" is an old saying, but
from an alienists viewpoint 1t were
better said grow fat and laugh" Mrs.
Carlyle after an attack of nervous
ness" wrote, Oh! thank God for the
| precious layer of impassivity which
that stone weight of flesh has put upon
my nerves.
EMPLOYMENT AND DIVERSION.
/ believe that the weakest point in
Ohio's beniicent care of the insane,
; is the lack of facilities for congenial
employment. At least rs per cent. of
, both men and women would be better
, for some kind of occupation. We
have had an unusually large number at
work on the grounds, on the farm
J about the barn, kitchen, work shops
laundry, with the painters and engi-
neers, but vast number do not work
because none Of the work which We
can find for them is congenial. Es-
pecial efforts should be made for the
: employment of those patients who
} have been business men, professional
: men, or those engaged in vocations
. other than ordinary manual labor
, Agreeable occupation is the key mote
: to Improvement in many cases. Oul
, amusements have been diversified ant
, entertaining to a large number of oul
| Wa no
/ creation grounds and field sports wer,
of almost daily occurrence. Once weel
our brass band has given a concert IL
: the grove and all patients, not other
wise employed, have been given tn,
D benefit of the ramble in the woods
D listening to the sweet strains Of tn,
. music, or the sweeter songs of tn,
4 feathered warblers. A weekly evening
r concert has also been given in tn,
Q open court between the cottages. Gu
: baseball team, composed OF employee
I and patients was successful in captur
: ing twenty-one out of twenty-fou
games played with outside teams, an
, In consequence the patients becam
exceedingly enthusiastic. Croquet an
) tennis were also much enjoyed. Their
= Is no doubt of the great utility of game
: Of all kinds as means of diversion TO
our patients.
t SOME ENTERTAINMENTS
0 The usual number of concerts, mus
= cal programs and lectures have bee
y given as a further means of diversion
y On December "a our dramatic club CAV
I. very amusing Minstrel program, thi
y was followed by the distribution G
= presents from loved ones at home,
u commemoration of the beautiful yult
, tide, where We are taught peace o
J. earth good will to men," It is pre-
u eminently the season of good will, an
= we are truly grateful to the friends {
u our charges for their liberal an
l. prompt responses to our invitation
, for contributions. It Is a really bea,
y tiful sight to see the hundreds of q,
- pectant eager and hungry eyes, 9