Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-11-27

l0IC. LIES MONIES, l VIII SOO1 De as III
sane as the rest of the jabbering mani
acs, with whom l am forced to daily
come in contact. That part of it would
not be so bad, but do not get enough
to eat. This institution boasts of
maintaining this ward on cents a
day. You would not wonder at it
when you see the bill of fare. 1t is not
fit for hog to eat and to those who
have been accustomed to something
better it is trying ordeal.
For thirty-six hours after I came
here | was forced to sleep in a perfect
ly nude state. In vain protested that
l had a night robe. They paid no at
tention to me, but, instead, took my
clothing. l do not know what they
have done with my clothes, unless
they have been divided up among the
attendants.
Mr.. Cowne's View of 1t.
81 have no doubt Richmond has not
bad things at Mt Pleasant as he would
have had them at home,'o said Mr..
Cownie, when asked regarding the
charges made by the patient. 81
know nothing of his individual case
since he has been in the inebriate de-
partment, but the great trouble is that
the DRINKS and inebriates and NOR
phine fiends that are committed to the
inebriate hospital are the worst liars
on earth. One doesn't know when to
believe them. For instance, there
was DR.. Hughes, dentist, who on
returning from the inebriate hospital,
from which he was released on a pa
role, went to relatives OF some of the
fol- CT of
most pitiful neglect, abuse and star
walton. And | have known quite a
number of others who on getting out
could find no criticism too severe to
circulate concerning the management
get out it is different. As a general
rule they speak nothing but praise Of
their treatment at the hospital"
No Liquor Cure Allowed.
what of Mr.. Richmond's charge
that he is given no treatment for the
liquor habit?
That is undoubtedly correct. We
have no experts in the treatment of in
ebriacy at the state hospitals. No
provision has been made by the leg
islature for that Many persons who
are sent to the hospital for inebriates
think they will get some special treat
ment like some of the gold cures, or
the Kelley cure or something of that
sort. There is nothing of that kind. All
the physicians in charge OF the inebri-
ates do is to give them tonics calculat-
ed to build up their systems, and
wholesome food so that they may
nave chance 10 recuperate and have
their strength restored
The board has had number of
letters from owners of so-called
cures. DR.. Applegate has had similar
letters. Promises have been made to
DR.. Apologize and to the board to
make it an object if special cures We're
adopted. The board has not adopted
any such cures, and what is more, it
doesn't intend to.
AS sample of the cratic nature
OF the inebriates who are sent to the
hospital, | may mention the case of
woman who has been sent there for
the second time. She is from Des
Molnes, but | do not wish to mention
her name. The first time she got out
she denounced conditions there in the
most bitter terms. The last time,I
was at Mt. Pleasant | saw her. She
came to me and in the warmest terms
congratulated the board on the kind
nesses shown her and the good treat
ment she was enabled TO receive at the
hospital for inebriates.
The board has no objection to an
investigation at Mt Pleasant. If
Richmond has been abused and de-
prived of his clothes and that sort of
thing. the facts ought to be known.
PerSOnally | take i1tt1a ctocly in what
he has to say
Discussing the frequent escapes
from the hospital by inebriates, Mr.
Cownie said some of them would go
to any lengths to get away, and in the
absence of special guards it was i'm.
possible to prevent it. He thought
the whole arrangement was most un.
fortunate one, that it compelled the
mlngling OF inebriates and insane,
and the insane resented it, and deem.
ed 1t an insult, and he said he did not
blame them in the least for entertain.
ing this view of it.