Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-31
COMPLETE EQUIPMEN T
EXTRAORDINARY EMPLOYED IN
HOSPITAL FOR INSANE.

| Referring to the article printed in The
Star of Tuesday last in which reference was
made to the successful results attendant
upon the adoption of hydrotherapy as a
recognized part of the course of treatment
at the Manhattan State Hospital West, on
Wards Island, New York, DR.. William A.
White, the superintendent of the Govern
ment Hospital for the Insane, told a Star
reporter yesterday that it is his intention
to have in operation at the government
hospital as complete a system in hydro
therapy as at the institution referred to.
In fact, DIR. White pointed out the only fea-
ture now lacking at the government insti-
tuition is what is known as the continuous
BATH which is used mainly for patients in
violent delerium.
DIR. White has recently returned from an
inspection of the Manhattan State Hospital,
and is pronounced in his commentator of
the hydrotherapeutic treatment as he found
1t there. AS may be gathered from the
above, the treatment is not foreign to the
local hospital for the insane, where 1t has
been in use and where detailed observations
| have been made of its results since 1897.
In consequence of the beneficial results at
| tanned DIR. White has had installed in
buildings and G of the extension of the
government hospital two costly hydrothera-
peutic outfits, which are models of their
| kind and as modern as known to exist.
| in the basement of each structure.
A sum Appropriated at $1,000 was spent
| in supplying the apparatus. This consists
| in the main of marble table used by the
operator. fitted with hose, faucets, guages,
| etc, from which it is possible to play vary
| ing streams, jets, vapors etc, upon the
| patient who is placed at some distance
within a skeleton-like contrivance, from
which there are poured upon him steady
streams likewise. Hot and cold baths,
douches, pack, massage and vapor baths
are provided.
The Continuous Bath.
The continuous bath which DR.. White
states is his purpose to install is operated in
this wise: The patient is placed in a recep-
| tacle containing water that is heated to the
point of blood heat, where he is kept under
| the care of attendants and physicians for
hours, or even days If necessary, until his
| violent attack shows some indication of
subsiding. In one case as reported in The
Star, 1t was found necessary to keep the
| patient immersed at Manhattan Hospital
| in the water for fourteen days. She re-
| vived from her attack and under subsequent
| treatment made recovery.
| In connection with this treatment one of
| the reports of the government hospital in
| which 1t Is discussed states that I'VE have
| continued to extend the range of the cases
| treated, and the success has been such
| as to lead US to hope that we have
| only begun to realize the benefit that will
| result, even in chronic cases, from it's con-
tinued administration under Intelligent dis
elimination and supervision. 1t is earnestly
| commended to the medical men,"
| The rooms that have been provided for the
| work at the government hospital are large
| and supplied with every requisite. so that
with modern apparatus interesting results
I may be expected.