Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1903-06-30

of New Mexico, Santa Fe, New Mex
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 COMMITTEES, ! re-
spectfully 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
jority, 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 ths-hanagement itself, with
the view of having as full and COM
plete an investigation as could be made
in accordance with your instructions,
and the investigation, which was con-
kdacted n public manner, was not
closed until all parties had presented
|Aif~tie evidence that they desired to
present.
From deliberate. and full considera-
ton Of the very yoluminous evidence
| which was submitted, fifd:
/. That the asylum is kept In neat
| Of y
and the surroundings Of the institution
being cleanly and properly attended
| to.
2. That the patients are given good
and sufficient food having well ap-
pointed kitchen and dining rooms for
males and females.
3. That, although some Of the pa
tients have been made to work for long
hours at time. yet the work rather
than being detrimental. is of 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 a certain unknown and un
usual way OF bathing, known as the
, Ferris wheel bath" This Is done b!
stripping the patients, tying his wrists
together, with a towel generally, thel
slipping the nands thus tied over tn
pended knees, allowing the knees I,
stick up through the wrists, then |
broom stick or some other simila
stick heavy enough to support the full
weight of the patient is run through
between the fiexure of the knees anC
elbows; the patient is thus put in tul
of cold water with both sides of thu
stick either resting on the sides OF thu
tub, or held by two men (generally at
tendants), and while the patient 4
: thus suspended upon this stick he 4
given from one to several turns in tn
water, in the manner as If he were
wheel.
5. That on several occasions the ga
was used. This gag was introduced 4
: evidence, and consists of a piece @
, hard wood about from three to fou
inches iong by about an inch wide, e,
cept that in the center it has piec
projecting out which is inserted IN tn
mouth and then tied back of the hea
I by two pieces OF string. which 1t ha
at both ends. 1t has been used by som
{ of the attendants TO prevent patient
[ from talking too 1uch, and as
|, means of punishment.
o 6. That cold water tub and plung
A baths have been administered to pi
h tientS by attendants, sometimes tyin
v the patients hands and ducking tn
}. mead in the water, and at the sam
h time lifting the feet above the water.
n In one case a patient was thrown
a tub of cold water with his clothes ol
The cold water shower bath was ais
used frequently to quiet patients. an
"a as means of punishment, because II
n patient had done some things whiC
g the attendants did not approve OF.
ie In the male department there is n
g sufficient evidence to satisfy me tn
1t the steward had any knowledge
these unusual and cruel punishment