The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-08-25
is A MODEL INSTITUTION
Contractor Writes in Defense Of Man.
ner in Which Insane Are
Cared For.

contained an article on the state in
sane asylum in which was given an
epitome Of the experience of A. H.
Gray, of Sweet Grass county, who was
so unfortunate as to have been ad-
judged a fit person to be committed
to that institution. The gentleman
was quoted as speaking in anything
but a complimentary manner Of the
management of the asylum as regards
treatment OF the poor creatures who
are confined there. A copy of the pa
per containing the article came under
the notice of DR.. Mussingbrod, one Of
the contracting firm that conducts the
asylum and it evoked from him the
following letter:
Warm Springs, Mont, Aug. %, 1908.
Editor Billings Gazette, Billings, Mont:
Dear Sir: We have today received
a copy of The Billings Gazette Of
August 21, and have just read your ar
ticle based on an interview with Mr..
A. II. Gray concerning our institution.
We wish to make a denial of the
charges made against us in this arti-
Gle, and in justice to us ask that you
publish this letter.
The question as to the kind of sys-
tenn for the care of the insane, state
administration or contract, under
which the asylum shall be run, is open
to discussion
AS to his specific charges, Mr. A. HI.
Gray was committed June 18 to this
asylum by the authorities of Sweet
Grass county, that is by jury OF ply
sicians, who evidently recognized him
as insane: His case was, and is one
of epileptic insanity. He was detained
for few days in the receiving ward,
and was then taken to our hospital for
men, which is unexcelled in this state,
where he remained to the date of his
release.
Under our customary treatment for
epilepsy Mr.. Gray rapidly improved,
but was not discharged as cured, being
released on parole in the custody OF
his wife, and has not, to our knowl-
edge, been restored to capacity. His
charges as to the cruel treatment
which the patients have to undergo,
and the promises of secresy which we
extort from patients on their dis
charge are absolutely untrue.
There is no secresy about this in
stitution. 1t is open to persons visit
ing their friends or relatives, and to
inyestig cation by the proper authorities
at any time. Respectfully yours,
MITCHELL & MUSSINGBROD,
BY DIR. Peter S. Mussingbrod.
Complying with DR.. Mussingbrod's
request, The Gazette publishes his let
ter. But this compliance does not
carry with it forfeiture of the right
of comment. The doctor denies the
statement of Mr.. Gray that the
patients confined in the state asylum
are cruely, or at least, not humanely
treated. He furthermore denies the
charge of secresy in connection with
the management of the asylum.
Under ordinary circumstances, it
would be simple case of one mans
word against another's, but in the
present instance The Gazette is strong
ly of the opinion that Mr.. Gray's as
sertion finds more believers than DR..
Mussingbrod's denial. Complaints of
cruel, often inhuman, treatment of
patients confined in the Warm Springs
Institution have been too numerous
and Of too long standing to make it
appear that there is nothing more to
them than the figments of diseased
minds. If poll could be made of all
who have been discharged from the
asylum, and all would freely speak
their minds, it would develop that
DIR. Mussigbrod and the others who
might say as he says would be decid-
edly in the minority. The fact is that
a very large majority of the people of
the state have arrived at the conclu,
sion that there is something radically
wrong with the manner in which the
asylum in managed, and all the deni-
ais that the contractors and the easy
going .legisvlatie Investigating COM