The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-07-14
DOCTOR RUNGE'S REPORT
ON CITY INSANE ASYLUM.
Comparison Ancient Modern Treating Patients
Analysis of Hospitals Work on-Improvemens
Needed and Repairs Made-Estimate of the Cost
of a Municipal Lighting Plant.

I prevalence Of this disease in our hospital
is best illustrated by the following figures:
Of the $40 men and $40 women admitted
during the period between April !. 1885, and
March 81, 1901 is per cent of the men and 2
per cent of the women were victims Of
paresis. all doubtful cases being ruled cut
a hospital fer the acute insane. ana they "
with many other incurables, should never
find shelter under the same roof with pa
tents suffering with recoverable forms q
that no sadder task falls to our lot than to
witness the gradual decline of a strong in
tellect in the course Of this fateful mslady
TO watch, one by one. the highest attri-
butes of man give way until nothing II left
but mere she'll. The disease usually runs
its course In from three to four years. and
no human hand can stay Its tmplacable
progress. for il Is my mistaken belief that
never once has a bona.fide case OF paresis
terminated fp- recovery or been cured. It
quently interrupted by more or less pro-
longed periods Of partial or complete clear
ing-by so-calloi remissions, During salch
periods fond friends will doubt the insight
of the medical adviser and remove the pa
tient from the hospital, only to return him
In due course of time. About a year ago
of my most vigorous protest. At the time
of his admission he could not talk or walk,
presenting in every respect the picture Of q
rapidly. and finally was able to converse as
well as ever, except that he remained abb
normally emotional When he left Us he
morbid mentality found expression In xeen
hallucnations OF hearing: q threatening
voice was bounding him increasingly. He
telling me in confidence that he has wan
dered about the country. even as far as
California, in eager search Of the possessor
atone with his blood for the suffering
caused. Some day he may meet man
whose voice bears resemblance to the one
auences can be readily Imagined. As
threats ere not acts in the eyes Of The law,
1 was utterly powerless to interfere.
Social Features mt Asylum.
This panorama, though cursory, is. be-
lieve. all sufficient to prove the truth Of nv
original contention, that the sojourn and
the work among the insane do not lack in
the medical point OF view. there are social
features in the life OF our many-headed
family. the existence Of which is not
thought possible by the uniformed. A few
hours spent In the quiet wards would con-
vince them that 1t is not all gloom and
sadness within the walls of this hospi al.
scattered here and there, some playing Bill
liards cards. dominoes. chess or checkers;
others reading books or newspapers: still
raising their voices in many an old-fash-
Toned. harmonious song. At other times
they group around me, and we discuss Ques~
by such a ward is more that of a club
room than an abode OF the insane. On the
women's side, dance and song help to en-
quently practiced for the weekly entertain
ment: The important role played by cue
tertainment as means OF drawing tho
trospectfon, cannot be overestimated.
Air space and bed space do not repre-
sent all our wants: wheat We need fully as
urgently: is an abundance OF living space;
to overlooking with violent or aggressive
cases, gives at any and all times occasion
fsf So to-
moral habits and Intellectual endowments.
are as Incompatible as oil and water:
wss VIII h0B sR, sbs the day viii soon
lief to these unfortunate creatures, who are
charges on public charity, not OF their own
free will. It is society's sacred duty to COM
pensate these creatures for the oStracism
imposed upon them through no fault Of
their own.
Necessity for improvements.
THE foregoing statement was made at q
time when the daily average OF the pa
uents was $50. The institution houses to-
day isl patients. and the daily average -
ual, but certain increase and no RELIEF In
sight. What else am expected to do but
to point the finger Of Indignation at this
commissioners Of charity, city officials,
bodies of citizens Of all kinds and complex
ions. have time after time placed their seal
VA Ol Tue eAl6Iluk COuOluOuss
and still we are as far removed from the
goal as We ever were. True there Is \ GER
tain class of people stepped in utter ignor-
alce of the actual requirements Of q hos
pitai for the mentally afflicted a hospital
filled at times with wildly maniacal pa
uents whose recovery Is chiefly assured by
complete isolation in the rooms-not cells,
as popularity believed-who proclaim that q
building originally intended for not over
$50 should be prepared to take care OF $50
patients.
Some steps must he taken to give re-
lief as soon as possible. considering that the
daily average OF patients treated had been
growing steadily. as may be Judged from
the following figures Qn round numbersl:
ISss-ss daily average. $50
1Ss6-T daily average SA6