The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1905-04-28
BATHS FOR THE INSANE.
WATER TREATMENT AT NEW
YORK STATE HOSPITAL
SUCCESSFUL.

SUCCESSFUL.
sNgs----
Enables the Physicians in Charge to
Do Away With Sedatives or Me-
chanicaI Restraint for the Patients
When in Strong Delirium.
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.. EN-
met c. Dent is superintendent, has
been enabled to do away entirely with
sedatives of mechanical restraint for
the patients, even when violently de-
mented or in strong deliriums. This
hospital, the first public institution
in the country to adopt hydrotherapy
as a recognized part of its course OF
treatment, mas 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.
I'll WdtSl II CatAh$hc CIV -
use on Wards island, which have
been tried nowhere else in this coun-
try, notably the continuous bath"
for patients in violent delirium. The
patient placed in 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 de
lirium 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 dilirium,
and under other branches of the treat
ment recovered from her dementia.
Where physicians used to estimate
that tne death rate from such cases
was about 60 per cent now the ply
sicians at the Manhattan State Hos
pital expect to save every patient I'M
der delirium, unless some other form
of insanity or physical disease sets in.
This hydrotherapy is only one de-
tail of general scheme of treatment
worked out by DR.. Dent which is be-
Ing LdhCA up SloQudiiy W OeA3Si 49,
situations. The patients no longer
subject to constraint 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 a plan of treat
ment. If the patient is violent it may
be the continuous bath of lukewarm
water. 1t may be the Scotch douche,
under various pressures, or sitz
baths, or needle baths, or sprays, or
warm or cold packs, or drip sheet
baths, or hot air cabinet treatment,
or even a bath of carbon dioxide,
singly or in any combination. The pa
tients walk about the grounds, work
in well ventilated, light workshops at
light occupations, take sewing les
sons, practice gymnastics and play
games and dance.
A New York Tribune reporter, Ia
ken to see "some of the most violent
patients" found in a couple of large
light pavilion shelters some twenty
or thirty women, some abad, others
sitting at small tables in the pavilion
or in chairs in the bright sunshine
outside, talking to the nurses or one
another. Little in their appearance
indicated arrangement.
We've had them absolutely I'M
confined this way for long time
now" declared DR.. Campbell, land
have not had one misfortune. OF
course, it requires the courage of our
convictions, for if some one should
run amuck or try to swim the river
her friends would say that we should
have confined her."
The apparatus for The hydriatic
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 kep. at any de-
sired degree of heat with absolute
accuracy. Across the room is large
marble platform with two hose noz-
zles, looking not unlike standpipes at
tachments. These noZzeis arc con-
nected with hot ana cold water pipes
so that any desired degree of heat
can be obtained, registered accurate
ly by thermometer attachments, and
any degree of pressure may be OBJ
tanned, registered by scales at the
operators hand. In one corner of the
room is continuance for shower,
spray and needle paths at any tenn
perature. 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 aydrorherapy,
which dates, he says. from the time
of Hippocrates, CELSIUS and Galen.
The present methods have been work
ed out along the lines indicated by
DIR. Baruch. Said Dir. Dent.
While l do not pretend to Offer any