Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1903-06-29
FINDINGS ON CHARGES AS CLAS-
SIFIED.

| SlFlED.
First Your committee finds that tn
2 quantity Of food furnished the patient
l is and was ample; that its quality wa
good and wholesome, and that patient
have not been deprived of food as
punishment.
Second. Work. Your committee find
the work required of or permitted t
the patients, was not excessive, and II
. the opinion of your committee sucl
work as has been or is required or per
mitted is beneficial to them and re
suits in the alienation of their misfor
tunes.
Third. Cruel and inhuman treat.
ment. Male ward.
The Ferris Wheel Bath. Your com.
mittee finds that there has been an un.
authorized use of this form of bath by
the attendants, through several years
and quite recently. This form of bath
is substantially the same as to the po-
sition Of the patient Immediately prior
to its administration, as what Is
known as "bucking;" the patients
wrists are fastened together, and the
arms drawn down over the bended
knees; beneath the knee, and above
the fexure of the elbow, and between
the two, broom-stick is inserted; in
this condition the patient is placed
across Il partially filled bath Tub; the
stick resting on the sides Of the tub, or
held by the attendants, and then the
patient Is rocked backward and for
ward, from one to five times.
The Use of the Gag. Your committee
finds that there was an unauthorized
use of the gag in two or three instances
also that the tub bath was used by at
tendants and that on one or two occa-
sions the head Of the patient was dipp-
ed under the water by the attendants;
also that the shower bath was used in
several instances, as punishment.
Beating and Kicking Patients. In one
instance in the male ward, an attend
ant, one, r. l.. Dorbrandt, admitted
having knocked down and kicked on
the neck, violent patient; but claim
ed that this action was necessary to
save his own life; and another attend
ant, testified that Dorbrandt had on
another occasion kicked a patient
three times in the stomach. In another
instance in the male ward, an attend
ant, who inflicted bruises and cuts on
the head of violent patient, with a
lantern, in order as he claimed to save
the attendants 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, or choking of the |
female patients, and no unnecessary |
violence used in throwing them to the
floor; nor were they dragged by the
hair or ears; nor were enfeebled pa,
tinets subjected to improper exertions.
They were occasionally strapped to the
ioor as a proper measure of restraint,
but without unnecessary violence.
Your committee finds that the pa
.ient, Felicia, was confined to her cell
between the hours Of perhaps, $3.50 and
o'clock p. M, for the reason that her
mania was Of a character that caused
ner to eat the walls and tear her cloth
ng, making 1t impossible to keep her
clothed. In view of the fact
hat she was tied to the bed at differ
mt times during the day that she
night not die from exhaustion, conse-
luent upon her exertions, she was not
,ut to bed until about $3.50 p. M, and
or an hour and half prior thereto
the was strapped to the cell door by a
trap sufficiently loose to admit of her
sitting down or standing up. The tes-
imony also shows that the window
vaa left open, but from the nature Of
he evidence, we cannot say whether
t was cold enough to be prejudicial to
Ter heafh. TnlS was not done as q
but merely as means of
The evidence goes to show
hat those In authority were unaware
# the fact that the window was left
'pen, and it was never reported to the
This occurred in the
month of October.
I
we're given four times. under the direc-
ion Of the medical superintendent, and
With beneficial results.
Fourth. Dissertation Of Bodies OF I,
he Dead. Mary Leonard Case. Mary
leonard was q patient from Dona Ana
'ounty; she remained In the asylum a h