Albuquerque weekly citizen. (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1891-19??, 1903-07-04
THE REPORT or
E. ". CHAVES


leo.
Sir: As one OF the members OF the
committee appointed by you to investi-
gate the insane asylum of New Mexi-
co upon charges made against its man
agement and not being able on certain
important particulars to agree with
the majority OF said committee. re-
specially submit. this, my individual
report of my findings and conclusions
in regard to the management of said
institution.
As stated In the report OF the ma
jori'y, the committee in its sessions al.
lowed all the latitude possible to those
who were preferring charges against
the management of the institution, as
well as to the management Itself, with
the view of having as full and com
plete an investigation as could he made
In accordance with your instructions,
and the investigation, which was con-
duc,ed in public manner. was not
closed until Gil parties had presented
all the evidence that they desired to
present.
From deliberate and full considera.
ton of the very voluminous evidence
which was submitted. find:
l. That the asylum Is kept in a neat
condition, the rooms of the patients
and the surroundings of the institution
being cleanly and properly attended
to.
2. That the patients are given good
and sufficient food having well APP
pointed kitchen and dining rooms for
males and females.
3. That although some of the pa
tlents have been made to work for long
hours at a time, yet the work rather
than being detrimental, is of a bene-
fetal character. both physically and
mentally.
4. In the male department the evil
dence has conclusively established the
fact that some of the patients were
treated to certain unknown and I'M
usual way OF bathing, known as the
Ferris wheel bath" This Is done by
stripping the patients, tying his wrists
together, with a towel generally. then
slipping the hands thus tied over the
pended knees. allowing the knees to
stick up through the wrists, then a
broom stick or some other similar
stick heavy enough to support the full
weight of the patient 10 run through
between the fiexure of the knees and
elbows the patient is thus put In tub
of cold water with both sides OF the
tub, or held 10y two men generally at
tendants) and while the patient Is
thus suspend q upon this stick he Is
given from one to several turns In the
water in the manner as II be we're a
wheel.
3. That on several occasions the gag
was used. This gag was introduced In
evidence: and consists of a piece OF
hard wood about from three to four
inches iong by about ali inch wide, ex-
cept that in the center II has a piece
projecting out which Is inserted in the
mouth and then tied back of the head
by two pieces oil string. which II has
at both ends. II has been used by some
of the attendants to prevent patients
from talking too uuch, and es q
means OF punishment.
6. That cold water tub and plunge
baths have been administered to pa
tientS by attendants, sometimes tying
the patients hands and ducking the
mead in the water. and at the same
time lifting the feet above the water.
In one case a patient was thrown In
a tub Of cold water with his clothes on
The cold water shower bath was also
used frequently to quiet patients. and
as a means OF punishment. because the
patient had done some things which
the attendants did not approve OF.
In the male department there Is moi
sufficient evidence to satisfy me that
the steward had any knowledge OF
these unusual and cruel punishments
being administered to patients. but the
evidence Is clear that his inferior EN-
ployees, such as attendants, were the
parties directly responsible for them.
In many cases 1t has also been showr
that patients were placed in straight
jackets and strapped to the beds. AND
strapped TO cell doors. either standing
up or sitting down, or placed in theil
cells.
7. The main point OF difference, how
ever, between the majority oi the com
mlttee and myself is In our findings al
to the treatment of female patients
The majority of the committee in thei
report say. "Your committee finds tina
there was no beating, striking o.
choking of the female patients, and n,
4