New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-29
BATHS FOR THE INSANE.
CONFINEMENT ABOLISHED
Water Treatment at Manhattan
State Hospital Successful.

BY the systematic use of various forms of hot
and cold baths, jets and douches and vapor and
hot air baths. the Manhattan State Hospital
West, on Wards Island. of which DR.. Emmet C..
Dent is superintendent. has been enabled 10 do
away entirely with sedatives or mechanical re-
straint for the patients. even when violently
demented or in strong deliriums This hospi-
tai. the first public institution in the country
TO adopt hydrotherapy as a recognized part of
its course of treatment. has been experimenting
and tabulating the results for some time, until
Dr. Dent announces that there is absolutely no
question as to the marked benefit to patients
from this branch of the treatment.
Forms of water treatment are in use on
Wards Island. which have been tried nowhere
else in this country. notably the continuous
BATH" for patients in violent delirium. The pa
tient, placed in a bathtub OF water at exactly
blood heat, is kept there under observation by
experienced nurses and the physicians for hours
for days, If necessary-until the delirium has
abated. In one case it was found necessary to
keep the patient immersed in the water for
fourteen days. She came out of the delirium.
and under other branches OF the treatment
recovered from her dementa. Where physicians
used to estimate that the death rate from such
cases was about 60 per cent now the physicians
at the Manhattan State Hospital expect to save
every patient under derium, unless some other
form of insanity or physical disease sets in.
This hydrotherapy is only one detail of gem
eral scheme of treatment worked out by DR.
Dent which is being taken up gradually by
other institutions The patients no longer sub
ject to eonstraint are kept outdoors In tents and
pavilions They are first examined carefully by
DR.. George b. Campbell and the nurses, who
then from the data map out plan of treatment.
If the patient is violent II may be the contin-
uous bath of lukewarm water. 1t may be the
Scotch douche under various pressures, or sitz
baths or needle baths, sprays. or or
cold packs or drip sheet baths. or hot air cab
met treatment, even a bath of carbon diox-
ide singly or in any combination. The patients
walk about the grounds work in we'll ventilated.
light workshops at light occupations. take sew
ing lessons, practise gymnastics and play games
and dance.
A Tribune reporter. taken yesterday to see
"some of the most violent patients" found in a
couple of large. light pavilion shelters some
twenty or thirty women, some abed, others sit
ting at small tables in the pavilions in chairs
in the bright sunshine outside, talking to the
nurses or one another. Little in their appear
ance indicated deransement-
We've had them absolutely unconfined this
way for long time now" declared DIR. Camp
bell and have not had misfortune. OF
course, it requires the courage of our convic-
tions for if some one should amuck or try
10 swim the river her friends would say that
we should have confined her"
The apparatus for the hydratic treatment is
in several rooms in the receiving pavilion. In
the largest one are two bathtubs. so connected
with steam pipes and thermometers that the
water can be kept at any desired degree of
heat with absolute accuracy Across the room
is a large marble platform with two hose nozzles
looking not unlike standpipe attachments. These
wit hot ND
pipes so that any desired degree of heat can
be obtained, registered accurately by ther-
mometer attachments. and any degree of press
may be obtained, registered by scales at
the operators hand. In one corner of the room
is n ContrivanCe for shower. spray and needle
baths at any temperature In all. the hospital
has eight tubs. Hot air baths and vapor baths
are administered in cabinets. Sitz baths and
hot and cold packs are another important part
of the treatment.
DR.. Dent does not claim any credit for the
discovery Of hydrotherapy, which dates he says
from the tirne of Hippocrates CELSIUS and Calen
The present methods have been worked out
along lines indicated by DR.. Baruch Said DR.
Dent:
While do not pretend to offer any new obser-
Ds9ns s an on me ba appGa9n o. water as thera
most gratifying and confirm those of many promi-
water is properly applied in the form of packs AMI
hot and warm fun baths; it acts as hypnotic and
sedative, and Is of great value when It is imprI-
dent to administer drugs. AS elminative il is
of exceptional value. The hot air cabinet in our
hands has proved TO De valuable agent I'm reliev-
ing pain without the oppressive effects common to
hypnotics and sedatives. 1t stimulates metaboIism
promotes absorption. and is unquestionabIy the
most valuable eliminative agent we possess and
when properly used. possesses sedative action ON
the nervous system obtained by other remedy
Patients differ widely in their behavior under
treatment, and for this every case REQUIRES
careful physiologic study 10 determine the best
70 pursue. BY careful technique alone car
the best results be obtained. In many instances
harm win result when prescription is indifrerently
carried out.