St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1901-02-09
THE HOSPITAL HARIT.
a Queer aspe of Character the Ply
sician Sometimes Meets.

4 ASlOlAIl415 ~ tAAS = - NJ 4Sal1o \ 1t1iSG
Democrat, "are the hospital habit
and the hospital horror. I have en-
countered any number of cases of
both, and have always found them
more or less of a puzzle. The hospital
| habit is well known to every institu-
ton in the country, and in speaking
IF it / have no reference to. the scores
If constitutional loafers and yaga-
,onds to be found in all large cities,
who would rather spend their time in
any kind of shelter, even that of a
| jail, than go ou1 and hustle for a liv-
ing. The people I have in mind are
If entirely different stamp, and are
generally of rather superior intelli-
gence. For some mysterious reason
they become fascinated by the pc
,uliar life in a hospital, and will re-
sort, eventually, to all kinds of subter-
fuges to continue in it. 1t is clear
they are not attracted by a prospect Of
idleness, for they are always norbid1y
anxious to curry favor by making
themselves useful, and will work
larder than the paid attendants, so
the only way they can be accounted
for is on the theory that they are
really in loyewith their surroundings.
One of the most singular cases Of the
hospital habit that ever came under
my observation was that Of an Eng
iishman who spent a couple of years
here in the latter eighties. He was
! middle-aged man, well educated,
well read and capable Of earning
good living at his profession, which
was that of an accountant; but he had
fallen under the strange spell Of the
hospital, and apparently lost all other
interest in life. ] am satisfied he was
in excellent health, but he pretended
to be suffering from some obscure
spinal trouble, and feigned the symp-
toms SO closely that he had spent the
best part of six or seven years IN diff
Iefent institutions. Meanwhile ne.
haa become an excellent nurse, and
vas SO lar superior 70 the average
aarea help Inat fhe surgeons Wlnked
&c ms fraud LOT the sake Of having
MN around. lhere are many curious
phases OF human nature continually
Il N eVloence In q slck Hara, ana : real
y peneVe TINS man derived an 1nIel-
iectual pleasure IN Inelr stuay ne
sElaently nao 9 taste lor Inc 0lzarre,
ana tne pace INTERESTED MN as one
ilnght become lnlerestedh some h,of-
oid hoVel. we naa many Iong talhs,
4ld NnaL ne salo showed q nlgn oraef
Oh lhougnH. flna1iy ne aflited away,
ana, care say ne Is n some hospltal
4e TINS momenI. oInefs 1 nave en-
eonntered seemed % ma some If1s1t-
tai' perverted pleasure N the mere
spectacle Of human saHeflng, ana |
nave known one or Two women VINO
fnVarlaoly tfleo 10 De present at
stifglcai opefatlohs as VoiunIeeF as
slsIallts. Anothef hapIne, also a.
"olnah' Iold me she enjoyed Ihe Pc
cul1ar smell OF drugs that Is always
present eazf1 u sex ward
lne hospl.al !, noflof = less efsp-
- eIioeion' 'ile eaoetol 8ei' w oal ~
sollle u 10 manifestations are sun
sIen.l5 queel. 'ie@sa - li,e aD-
selae'' 2 ll'ai = ellinei'iJ tile
plopei t,laee LUZ any 0ouy "ho Z SICK,
- : = lu.uae 1eals ! aln sule !, - se1i-
oas s'ses VII esel oe tisa.eu u pii-
sa'e hoi1i7s. liE'eiiee1 sahlldtlon' Ii.
competent attenaahce, aangef OF
coheaslon anusa score OF olher reasons
suggest themselves immealateiy as
AGAINST the pTactlce' and slahs1les
sho" cledIa5 tnat tile percentage OF
is very Hueh hlgnef u any
"eh-eonoueieu =. ptoiesslohal 1hstltu-
Ilon. - oi'en happens enaa Tue very
ee.ple,ness E anu ofeisolieltuoe ol
iiiei1eie anu ielatlses INITIATES against