The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1902-05-09
STATE ASYLUM.

It II Imperative That More Room He
Secured for Women'as Quartz ~. 2
"a gentleman who recently visited the
North Dakota Hospital for Insane. at
jamestown, was struck with the over
CT DIVIDED conditions in the women's
ward, and la an interview in the Fargo
Forum, said: .is5.ss;.; IN. II. 49, "
The State Hospital for Insane OF
North Dakota had on Its rolls, April 20,
1902 as patients OF; whom 1874 We're wo-
men. The three buildings occupied by
the 254 men are just about comfortably
full, while the two reserved for the wo-
men are crowded to a degree that is
prejudicial to the prospects for recovery
in many cases, and unpleasant, as re-,
CARDS personal convenience and physic-
al health to all. It is much cheaper to
cure woman IN the beginning Of an
attack of insanity, by experimenting
intelligent medical treatment by COM
fcrtable and pleasant surroundings.
than to keep her for years an incurable
patient, in the opposite environment.
From a mere selfish. business stand
point, therefore, this state ought to pro-
vide quarters for the increasing num-
Der ofinsane women dependent upon it
for care. From wider and better mo-
tive-that Of Christian charity, the
erection Of the buildings necessary for
the proper care of the insane women
of the state should be attended to at
the earliest possible period. Such
buildings should be sufficient to accom-
mediate the patients who will come in
during the next four years at the pres
ent rate of increase, as well as those
who remain there during that period.
Much money is expended every year
that could be saved for other useful
purposes were cold storage building
erected for the use of the institution.
such building would soon pay for it
self, and no better investment could be
made by the state than the erection Of
such structure. 1t is a matter of the
baldest business necessity, this ques-
ton of the erection of plant in which
meat, butter, eggs, fruit, etc, could be
preserved for future use.
Great need exists for separate build
ing where those who are sick or have
undergone surgical treatment may have
special care and attention apart from
the rest. No room is at the disposal of
the officers for an operating room, and
all surgical work is performed at great
disadvantage, accordingly.
All visitors who come to inspect the
hospital desiring to learn the character
of the work now done there and the IA
cilities at hand for the performance of
the same, are welcome, and the exact
facts can be easily ascertained by them.
1t is early evident to even the casual
observer that 200 women are now oc-
crpying the space originally designed
for the accommo ton of but one-half
that number. OF the whole mum Der of
women, only seven are sleeping in sim
gle rooms, and in one dormitory, 2Ox24,
thirteen women are sleeping. In an
other, 1Sx15 1-2 feet. seven inmates are
obliged to sleep, and there is yet an
other, 27x17 feet, which has nineteen
occupants at night. The most of these
wcmen should, from the nature of their
insanity, occupy separate rooms. Even
under these conditions, it has not here
NIT the patients to the hospital, FOR
the counties have no accommodations
at all for them, and there are few fam.
lilies in position to care for their own
Insane. i.a
So, even in this CT DIVIDED condition,
the chances are that they will recover
faster than if they We're in their own
homes or away from experienced care.
But the limit has been about reached,
and it will soon be necessary to refuse
admission to any more women except
as vacancies are created among the
present population.