Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-05-23
NO. TO.

form Of work he is much more likely
to recover
! The value Of the work done by the
patients amounts to thousands of dol
lars annually.
/ The patients are well fed and the
average Of physical condition is high.
i II may be well here to mention the
immaculate cleanliness Of everything
1.-The floors. the furniture, the faces
and clothing OF the patients. the
grounds and yards around the build
ings. All the methods OF restraint
used We're examined Nearly all were
OF such nature that their operation
ana necessity could be easily UNDER
stood Among the facts gained from
attendants may be mentioned the
following: In seizing and overcom-
ing all unruly patient 1t is usual to
grab him from behind. The weakest
often becomes a giant in strength
when the maniacal fury is on, and 1t
Is necessary to take the greatest pre-
cautions.
The steward. Geo. w. Waru, who
has been with this institution many
years, was most positive IN his state
ment that the patients we're well cared
for, we'll treated and well fed. He in.
vited the very fullest investigation
OF everything connected with the in
stitusion. Miss Twomey spok at some
length Of the treatment or the pa
tients, which she said never went be-
yond the bounds Of reason; Of the
work they did. and the methods used
for control. She pointed to many
shining Jars Of rhubarb that had been
put up that afternoon. She said the
patients were dressed better, were
doing better and the conditions gener.
ally we're better than they were be-
fore the present management took
charge.
The Optic concludes a very brief
report OF an extended investigation
with two particular cases. One Of the
reporters recognized among the pa-
tients Z man committed to the asylum
not long ago whom he had known for
years. The man is subject to man
iacal ftts. but greater part Of the
time is perfectly rational. This man.
met privately, talked with the utmost
intelligence OF conditions and express.
cd the highest degree Of satisfaction
with the manner in which every one
was treated and With the conduct a
the attendants He said never was
more force exerted than Is absolutely
necessary. The man came to the in
stituth'n unwillingly but has become
SO much better that he is fairly well
reconciled.
Seven weeks ago young woman
whom the newspaper man had known
since she was a child was committed
to the asylum. She had been reduced
to skeleton and was declining rapid
ly- Her mind was totally gone and
she wae subject to fits OF violent
mania. This patient II has been nee.
essary to restrain. She cannot be
trusted for single moment alone
without some form Of restraint, though
mncn Of the lime she is peaceahle
enough This young woman. a perfect
wreck physically when she was ad-
mitted, has gained much i'm weight
and ir appearance. Her mania oc-
ours less often and her mental con-
dition has distinctly improved. 1t 10
In such cases rs this that 1t Is most
often necessary to apply force. The
family of this patient need nothing
further than the remarkable improve
ment that has been made to convince
tnem tnat proper treatment and kind
care have been accorded. For many
weeks in her own home the young
matron grew constantly worse.