The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-05-09
DISGRACE 10 THE STATE.

Enough evidence has accumulated be
fore the legislative committee which Is
investigating the conduct Of the state
hospitals for the insane to show thai
there is something radically wrong with
these institutions. It has been conclu-
sively proven, by witnesses who have
not attempted to shield themselves even,
that patients are pounded, slapped and
beaten to make them fear the attend,
ants ard to compel them to do the at
tendants' bidding
There is nothing to show that officers
of the institution are in any way to
blame unless it be that they have not
been as vigorous in searching for cases
of mistreatment as they might have
been. They have forbidden the use Of
violence in dealing with patients. and
as a rule attendants who have been
guilty of harsh treatment have been
discharged.
The root of the trouble seems to be
that there Is too much economy ana
not enough care in the employment Of
attendants This, of course, comes
right back to the legislature and to the
state itself. and the legislature and the
state has had no knowledge Of condi-
tons in the asylums.
theoretically the attendants who have
the care of the insane should be trained
nurses, with special knowledge Of dis
eases of the nerves and mind. They
should be able to exercise intelligent
care and judgment over their patients.
Insanity is a disease just as much as
typhoid fever, and it requires Just as
delicate treatment on the part OF a
nurse
1t is ridiculous to suppose that per-
sons specially fitted for this kind ofwork
can be secured for from $40 to $50 a
month. It is too much to hope that the
Institutions can be made all they should
be in the care of the unfortunates
whose minds have become diseased, but
it is possible to make them approx
mately So The evidence which has
been gathered by the committee shows
that the men attendants. at least. are
young boys just out of school, who
have no other occupation, who take lit
tie interest in it, and who leave it for
other more profitable employment as
soon as possible AS a consequence the
men attendants are constantly chang
ing. The women attendants take more
interest in their work and change less
often. Too often the attendants are a
NidES VIII AldhS lANt odAIN4C1A a PEI AClttC
and judgment in life to earn more than
the low wages paid at the asylum. AS
soon as they can earn more they leave
the institution.
1t would seem that the wages paid at
tendants ought to be sufficiently raised
to attract persons of experience, train
ing and judgment to the work. Attend
ants should undergo an examination and
be thoroughly conversant, not only with
their duties, but with the nature of diff
ferent kinds of insanity and the manner
in which patients should be treated.
1t is quite likely that even then per-
sons might creep into the service who
would commit brutalities against the
helpless under their care To provide
for such a class it might be a good
thing for the next legislature to pass a
statute to severely punish any person
caring for an insane patient who shall
give such patient any undue treatment
These reforms cannot be established
in day. but it is to be hoped that the
investigating committee will thorough
ly follow up the information already OBJ
tanned, and make another searching in
vestigatiou at the Osawatomie asylum,
and then make some recommendations
which will aid in remedying the present
defects of these Institutions.