Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-06-29

,of surprise to the committee that so
satisfactory condition of affairs
should exist with so little appearance
of the exertion of force or restraint
The patients appeared to be well nour-
ished, and your committee saw moth
| ing in the course Of its inspection mer.
iting criticism or unfavorable com
ment.
We found that the charges against
the asylum might be conveniently di-
lvided for the purposes of our report
under the following heads:
Quantity and quality OF the
| food furnished patients, and whether
the patients were subjected to any
deprivation of food as a punishment.
| Second-Work. Whether the work
required by the patients was OF an
Excessive character, and what was the
effect on them of such work as was
required or permitted.
l
Third-Cruel and inhuman treat
lment-male ward The so-called Fer.
iris wheel baths. The use of the gag.
1.-THE dip and shower baths; strapping
to the doors, and other necessary re-
Istraint blows or kicks inflicted on pa
Itients. Female ward-Striking, kick
ling, choking patients, throwing them
Violently to the floor, dragging them
lby the hair or ears; subjecting pa
ltients to unnecessary exertions when
lin an enfeebled condition. strapping
Them to the door; whether there was
failure to guard against unnecessary
Exposure to cold Of patients confined
lin cells; the use OF baths, dip and
lshower.
j FOurth-Desecratio OF the bodfes
of the dead.
i Fifth-The Doctor Mohlau case.
!. Sixth-The alleged mismanagement
land misconduct of the officials In
lcharge.
u (a) Board of Regents.
i (b) Medical superintendent.
i (c) Steward. M
u I'D Matron.
: (e) Attendants.
} Findings Of Charges as Classified.
: First-Your committee finds that
] 1.-THE quantity of food furnished to thu
patients is and was ample; that it
|quality was good and wholesome, ant
} THAT patients have not been deprve'
Q of food as a punishment.
> Second-Work: Your committee
I finds the work required or permitte'
: Ito the patients was not excessive, an
s lin the opinion OF your committee sucl
e work as has been or is required o
1 permitted is beneficial to them an
]. results in the alieviation of their mis-
r fortune.
n Third-Cruel and inhuman trea'
J. |ment-Male Ward: The Ferris whee
s. |bath-Your committee finds tha
Z There has been an unauthorized us
t. Iof this form of bath by the attent
|ants, through several years and quit
t. recently. This form of bath is sui
s Istantially the same as to the positio
n lof the patient Immediately prior
s Its administration, as what is know
It las .'bucking." The patents wrists al
e. fastened together and the arms draw
t lover the bended knees. Beneath tn
Y. knee, and above the Texture Of tn
II lelbow, and between the two, broom
e Istick is inserted. In this conditic
,f 1.-THE patient Is placed across a partia
t. Ily filed bath tub, the stick resting {
l. the sides Of the tub, or held by Il
ii attendants; and then the patient
v lrocked backward and forward fro
II one to five times.
In The use of the gag-Your cOmml
a. tee finds that there was an unauthc
n ICED use OF the gag in two or thr'
lie instances; also that the tub bath WI
K fused by attendants, and that on Of
II or two occasions the head Of the ?
r. tient was dipped under the water
Is the attendants; also that the show
a. bath was used In several instanc
Is as punishment.
e.. Beating and kicking patients-'
ir lone instance In the male ward an {
er tendant, one r. L. Dorbandt, admitt'