New-York tribune., 1906-07-15

IN the well kept little town Of AIonson Mass, is q
spot where the burdens Of the unfortunate are
borne by the fortunate with a patience, kindness
and gentleness which seem almost unbelievable in
these days when tales Of graft and selhshness are
running riot There. on high land which affords
view OF the mountains. wide expanse of meadow
and wooded land stand the buildings Of the Massa-
chusetts Hospital for Espiieptics where the dread
disease IS struggled with and sometimes con-
Guered. although the fight IS more often losing
one. There few such state hospitals in this
country, and the Massachusetts institution was the
third TO be esta bshed. il has been estimated that
there ten thousand epileptics IN the state one
to every three hundred Of population and the hos
pital now cares for about six hundred and fifty Of
them.
In spite OF the distressing features
the state hospital is FAR from being depressing
place. It Is surrounded by the most cheerful inu-
ences and the atmosphere Is one of hope and
strength. There remarkably few evidences that
there exists mysterious disease that is bathing
the most noted physicians. and surgeons for there
IS a busy wide awake hustle about Il rarely found
outside community Of we'll people. Every in
mate who has any OF health at al has work to
DO and all the most modern appliances with which
20 perform Il. for il has been demonstrated that
regular work IS one OF the helpful agents. Over
on a high hil are a group Of farm buildings.
rather cottages, where the who work on the
farm reside. and where they have a home life
which Is much better than many Of them have
known. The cottage system, by the way, is the
plan which the institution IS conducted 10
large eKten,, the theory being that there is more
hope Tor a cure when few are grouped together
These men in the garn group take an interest and
pride IN their work. although they cannot labor
eight or nine hours a day. like well persons
Although this atmosphere OF industry seems spon-
Ga1eogs. It is brought about only by the patience
OF nurses and physicians. IN fact patience IS the
keynote OF the institution. and even job would find
his much quoted stock OF that attribute consider
ably depleted after a week IN this hospital. For
eplleptics are consttutionally lazy In most cases
they must be made 10 WORK and the excuses which
they offer for incidence are both irritating and
amusing
One patient expostuates. Shopping makes me
hay6 spells" Another says triumphantIy, IAN my
doctors at home have told 1 must not work"
Again comes the suen remark, Il won't work like
z horse" Again and again comes a defiant My
parents do not wish work Ny board is
paid and ! won't work" The attendants were
amused one day watch the subterfuges OF a
patient who had been sent 10 work lie walked
reluctantly away from the building to his labor
heard some ones name-not his oW:l-calIed by a
yoice at distance and Willingly assumed that he
vas being called He went back. walked slowly
along the front OF tie building, scrutiniZed each
window and after fye minutes search had TO come
% TIE conclusion that he had not been spoken TO-
Then be went slowly 10 his work, glancing over his
shoulder every few seconds 20 see IL he could not
devise some other way oS delay.