Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-06-29

the neck ylOlent patient, out tlaiMeu
that this action was necessary to save
his own life: and another attendant
testified that Dorbandt had on another
occasion kicked a patient three times
in the stomach. In another instance
in the male ward an attendant who
inflicted bruises and cuts on the head
of violent patient with lantern in
order, as he claimed, to save the at
tendants life. was discharged.
These were the only instances of
striking, kicking and beating in the
male ward brought to our attention.
Female ward-Your committee finds
that there was no beating, striking
Tor choking of the female patients, and
no unnecessary violence used in throw
ling them to the fioor nor were they
dragged by the hair or ears: nor
were enfeebled patients subjected to
improper exertions. They were occa-
sionally strapped to the door as
proper measure of restraint, but with
|Out unnecessary violence.
Your committee finds that the pa
|tient "Felicita" was confined to her
|cell between the hours Of perhaps half
past six and eight o'clock p. m. for
the reason that her mania was of a
character that caused her to eat the
walls and tear her clothing. making
lit impossible to keep her properly
Iclothed. In view of the fact that she
was tied to the bed at different times
lduring the day, that she might not
die from exhaustion, consequent upon
her exertions, she was not put to bed
until about $50 p M, and for an hour
and half prior thereto she was strap
Iped to the cell door by a strap suffi-
GENTLY loose to admit of her sitting
down or standing up. The testimony
also shows that the window was left
!open, but from the nature of the evil
ldence, we cannot say whether it was
cold enough to be prejudicial to her
health. This was not done as pun
ishment, but merely as means of re
straint. The evidence goes to show
that those in authority were unaware
lof the fact that the window was left
lopen, and it was never reported to
the management. This occurred in
1.-The month of october.
Your committee finds that dip baths
were given four rsm-. ...ai.~ ithA .direc,
ltion of the medical superintendent,
land with beneficial results.
Fourth-Desecratio Of bodies OF
1.-THE dead.
Mary Leonard Case.
Mary Leonard was patient from
IDona Ana county. She remained in
1.-The asylum a number of months, dur
ling which time she received no com
lmunication from relatives or friends
THE story had been circulated in Las
Vegas that she was pregnant, and
There were some symptoms of preg
nancy. In order to determine the mat
tier definitely, after her death Doctor
ITipton decided to hold necropsy
which was held, and demonstrated
. THAT she was not pregnant.
The asylum had long been in neet
|uf a skeleton for use as a guide II
Especial dissections which were neces
sary in the opinion Of the medical su
Iperintendent to be made for the fur
ltherance of the work in the asylum
! and one DR.. Mohlau desired to pre-
: lpare and articulate the skeleton o
mary Leonard, permission to do whicl
! Twas granted. The flesh was remove'
! from the bones, placed in a soap-bo
7 land buried in the usual way, and tn
{ igraye marked with her lame simiia
+ Ito other graves.
Before determining to use the ske
J. Teton for the purposes mentioned, ID
n ITiptun wrote to the address on tn
0 commitment Of the patient, which h
n believes was that Of her sister, II b.
e ling the only address Of any reiativ
n or friend known to him. and afte
e waiting several weeks received no r.
e lply, nor was the letter returned
4 him. He postponed the dissectio
n several weeks to hear from her rel
i tives as 70 the disposition Of the bod
N He never heard from them.
Ie Doctor Mohlau had the bones place
Is in a barrel and water placed ov'
NJ them. The barrel was placed net
the north fence of the asylum ground
t. with instructions given to have wat
r. kept over the bones. Before prepa
20 ing the skeleton, Dr. Mohlau left u
IS institution, and the barrel RENAME
le In the yard for about three years. al
a. DR.. Upton, being busy in other line
~ overlooked It.
er The instructions for keeping q
ss bones covered with water we're not Il
lowed. The barrel came to pieces aI
In the skeleton fell to the ground. A