The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1908-02-13
Doctors Urge ThatWard for Insane
Be Opened in Connection
With Kenosha Hospital
WOULD SAVE COUNTY MONEY
Such a Ward is Declared by Leading
Physicians to be One of the
Greatest Demands of the
Medical Fraternity Here

| The suicide of Frank Yulke at the
county Jail OF Sunday has led the physi-
clans Of the city to take new interest
in the plan recently proposed for the
opening Of special ward or building
at the Kenosha Hospital or at some
other suitable place for the proper
treatment Of such cases as that of
Yulke. The demand for such an insti-
tuition is growing greater in Kenosha
every day. The rich and poor alike
are affected with mental arrangements
and the rich have the means to place
themselves in institutions where their
cases may be properly studied. 1t is
claimed that in many cases the poor
can not secure this treatment but on
the other hand the mental disease is
allowed to run to such an extent that
1t becomes necessary to officially COM
nit these people to an asylum for the
insane thus entailing heavy costs upon
the county or state and lasting suffering
upon the friends and relatives of tic
patient in question.
One Of the leading physicians of the
city in discussing the death of Yulke
and the demand for ward or build
ing at the hospital for the care Of sucn
patients said today: "The sentimental
side of this question is the one which
appeals to most people. Heretofore, If
a person developed acute insanity, he or
she is usually arrested and charged with
insanity and lodged in the county jail
to await examination and commitmer
/ papers from a judge The thought ti.,tt
a relative or friend is behind the bars
IN a penal institution is sufficient to
cause many to criticise the lack Of a
proper place to detain the prospective
and unfortunate patient. No adequate
provision exists in Kenosha at the pres
ent time for the treatment of such
cases and we are forced to turn to the
Kenosha Hospital for relief. Any one
may 90 to the hospital for relief OF
treatment without losing any of his
self respect or going counter to any
special prejudices in his mind. The
treatment Of this class of the diseased
at the hospital would educate the poor
er classes and indeed the whole popula
tion into entertaining the belief that
mental disease is on a plane with
all other diseases and that it in no way
implies shame or replusion. The alb
sence Of this prejudice and fear would
greatly aid in the recovery of the
patient To meet this want we must
| provide a special ward at our hospital
for the treatment of just such cases.
The inevitable evils of subjecting in
sane persons to the humiliation and suf
fering of prison cell and jury trial
have been pointed out frequently and
these evils would all be avoided by hav
ing a psychopathic ward in our Keno
sha Hospital. The patients brought tc
this ward would not be certified as in
sane. They are not held there against
their own consent and could not be
legally held there against their wills
The atmosphere of the place would be
the same as that of a regular well order
ed hospital and the patients are treated
in every way as patients and not as
insane persons.
This ward would be especially helpful
for the treatment of patients who need
observation before the advisability OF
a commitment to state institution is
L OF cd a1.J I. 20
the use Of patients whose friends know
Of no other avenue for protection and
for wandering cases sometimes belong
ing at distance falling into mental
confusion, suicidal or unable to give an
account of themselves, needing place
for care or treatment until friends are
found or mental condition determined
This is the legitimate extension OF
the work of the Kenosha Hospital and
immediate steps should be taken to Sc
cure this extension
| It is argued that such ward would
in the end justify it's being provided
| by the county as at the present time
many patients are picked up annually
who are not charges on the county but
who are sent to state hospitals and the
charges paid by the county. With 3
proper ward for their treatment at the
4 local hospital it would be possible tx
cut off the expense of committing al
least some of these patients and the
cost of their care in the state institu
TONS