Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1903-06-29
To the Hon. Miguel A. Otero,
UUVefTiUT OF NEW MtX1CO,
Santa Fe, New Mexico

To the Hon. Miguel A. Otero,
Il Governor of New Mexico,
Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Sir., AS one of the members of tn
committee appointed by you to investi
gate the Insane Asylum of New Mexi
co upon charges made against it's man
agement, and not being able on certai
important particulars to agree wit
the majority of said committee, l re
spectfully submit, this, my individua
report of my findings and conclusion
in regard to the management of sal
| institution.
| AS stated in the report of the ma
jority, the committee in it's sessions al
lowed all the latitude possible to thos.
| who were preferring charges against
the management Of the institution, as
well as to the management itself, with
the view of having as full and COM
pete an investigation as could be made
in accordance with your instructions,
and the investigation, which was con-
closed until all parties had presented
all the evidence that they desired to
present.
From deliberate and full considera-
tion of the very voluminous evidence
which was submitted, 1 find.
T.
That the asylum is kept in a neat
condition, the rooms of the patients and
the surroundings of the institution be-
ing cleanly and properly attended to-.
II.
That the patients are given good and
sufficient food, having we'll appointed
kitchen and dining rooms for males
and females.
That although some of the patients
have been made to work for long hours
at time, yet the work rather than
being detrimental, is OF beneficial
character, both physically and mental
ly.
In the male department the evidence
has conclusively established the fact
that some of the patients were treated
to certain unknown and unusual way
Of bathing. known as the Ferris
wheel bath" This is done by stripping
he patient, tying his wrists together,
With a towel generally, then slipping |
he arms thus tied over the bended |
snees, allowing the knees to stick up |
through the wrists, then broom
stick or some other similar stick hea-
" enough to support the full weight
# the body of the patient, is run
through between the flexure of the
lnees and elbows; the patient is thus |
,ut in a tub of cold water with both
;ides Of the stick either resting on the
ides of the tub, or held by two men
generally attendants). and while the
atient is thus suspended upon this
tick he Is given from one to several
urns in the water, in the manner as
he were wheel.
v.
That on several occasions the gag
,as used. This gag was introduced in
and consists Of piece of
ard wood about from three to four
lches long by about an inch wide, ex-
apt that in the center it has piece
rejecting out which is inserted in the
louth and then tied back Of the head
y two pieces of string, which it has
t both ends. 1t has been used by some
{ the attendants to prevent patients
ON talking too much, and as a
eans Of punishment.
vi.
That cold water tub and plunge
aths have been administered to pa
ents by attendants, sometimes tying
he patients hands and ducking the
cad in the water and at the same
me' lifting the feet above the water.
In one case a patient was thrown in
tub of cold water with his clothes on. &,
he cold water shower-bath was also
sed frequently to quiet patients, and
, a means of punishment, because the
ltient had done some things which
le attendants did not approve Of.
In the male department there is not
Efficient evidence to satisfy me that
le steward had any knowledge of I
ese unusual and cruel punishments =
ing administered to patients, but the q
,idence is clear that lis inferior em- t
oyees. such as attendants. were the t
rites directly responsible for them. y
In many cases 1t has also been shown r
at patients were placed in straight n
ckets and strapped to the beds, and v
raped to cell doors, either standing h
, or sitting down, or placed in their h
lis. . n
VII.
The main point Of difference, how tg
er. between the majority Of the COM n
Ittee and myself Is in our findings as k
the treatment of female patients. O
le majority Of the committee in their g
port say, your committee finds that +
ere was no beating, striking or e
oking of the female patients, and no n
violence used in throwingl