The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-02-09

lies the farm, consisting of about GAO
acres.
The buildings themselves are not unat-
tractive in appearance for this class of
institution. They are Of red brick, but
it is their surroundings that lend a pictur-
esqueness not found at all in the struct-
ure itself.
One of the greatest problems to be con-
frOnted in these small institutions, where
the cases are not acute, and require lit
tie medical attendance, is to find suitable
employment for the inmates rev things
are more detrimental to the chronic i'll
sane than idleness and monotony en-
ployment that will take them outside, and
give them sufficient work of an interest
ing nature, yet not too much of it, is .ae
great deSideratum. Many patients find
relief in farm work, and in the summer
a great number can be worked in this
manner, both to their own good and to
the profit of the state; but in the Win
ter the question becomes a much more
serious one.
Strange to say one of the obstacles to
making or allowing some of these men
to perform outdoor labor in the cold
weather, is that curious insensibihty to
pain or discomfort so typical of the men
tally afflicted. The attendant with whom
they are working must constantly in
vestigate for himself in order to ascertain
whether the hands and feet of the
patients are cold, or they VIII enOure in
stony silence all the pains of cold until
their hands and feet are frozen, and this
without saying a word or giving the
slightest indication that they are suffer-
ing.
The difference the weather makes in
this matter is easily comprehended when
the figures of those working in the sum-
mer months are compared with lose
given Of the number who can be sent out
side to work in the winter. For example
in October, out of 124 patients then pres
ent, los worked, while in Decem~e r only
q patients out of $40 worked. Of course,
in other months the disprOpOrtiOn is not
quite so great, but this is a fair sample
On the farm all the potatoes, hay and
corn used at the institution are raised,
and there are sixteen head of mich COWS
and sixty hogs. All the butter and milk
come direct fr9ill TIE farm Gnu @ the pora
used on the table is a home nroduct.
In the summer a little flower garden in
terests some of the patients who take no
interest in anything else, and so serves
the double purpose of identifying the
place, and occupying pleasantly the in
mates.
In the asylum itself there are two prin-
cipal wards, one up stairs and one down
stairs The lower ward is occupied by
tHoSe p1I0uIS WHO WOIh IeSu IdrIy every
day, who are employed as cooks, and in
the dining room, as they must rise a
little earlier than the others The upper
ward is for those who are not such
regular workers. and who are not so
clean and so tidy in their habits. lie
day rooms in the wards are large, light,
airy and pretty, with large windows. and
those in the lower ward are embellished
with curtains. There are sixty-eight in
mates in the lower ward and thew sit
about in all sorts of attitudes. At one
table in the center, one of the attendants
sits and plays game of 'seven-up with
> one patient while several others look on.
At one end of the room is a peg pool
table made by one Of the patients. Many
sit restless, but silent, around the walls,
and mutter or brood or stare n dull