The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-12-04

Toledo. Ohio, Dec. 3--Here in Toledo the cottage system of housing the fn-
 sane was first adopted in the United States. When first suggested twenty
 five years ago 1t was sheered at, de- rided. and because of it's unpopularity.
 had innumerable obstacles thrown in
 it's way by uninformed politicians. The plan was called by some "Brinkerhons
 Folly" by some Fosters Folly" and
 one Ohio worker In like institutions likened 1t unto a cattle ranch. But GOV ernor Foster and General Brinkernon knew the success that had followed such plans abroad, and calmly sur
 mounted their dificulties until the novel institutional plan was complete, and in 1885 the Toledo Hospital was
 opened and several hundred patients
 placed there.
 Public opinion has changed c great deal in this quarter of century. The ability to change the point Of view IS
 said to be mark of progress. ms vary. plan that was ridiculed when tn- aururated. has become the model on
 which every new hospital for the in-
 sane is being built in this country.
 They. are yet more of the older plan of one large building, but the newer
 ones follow this The idea calls Tor
 big central office building, as the one here, a great brick structure wnere tne
 superIntendent lives and where tne o
 6eiai business of the place Is discnaI
 nS. ons ar two large community din- irg halls. a hospital for men, nos risal for women, and then all about thasa on A campus of several hundred acres. fre-proof brick cottages TOT tnS unfortunates. S-o Thara are twenty -six cottages here each accommodating forty men or more with two or three nurses Tn attenoapee Each is made as near like nonle nossihle with comfortable sleeplns r,,o rters and living rooms, and every I incentive to normal living and norma accunations The patients treated nere' an annual average of 1900, are rom tha tuantv-four northwestern countfes | of the state of Ohio. Of these, 1b per cent are cured If this percentage IS cured here, it follows that were the same means used fin all other pubic and private hospitals for the insane there would be oyer 23.500 persons re- | leased in a reasonable time from the 32s public and private institutions
 named in the last special census.
 The first principle of the cure praC" ticed here is to always consider the pa l tient as a normal being, and keep him, or her, outdoors as much as possible. | The slogan Back to Nature" Is sound ed here as clearly as by any follower I Of some new OuIQQOT bhl IL hoo - more practical application. Every man capable of being trusted with tool is given work on the farm. or in the gag den or on the lawn, or if he cannot work, he is kept outdoors much of the time anyway. Two hundred do success full outdoor work, and most cures arc made among these. The women pa tients are given house work with plen- ty of outdoor exercise. If they are not Il H.A aAF a if they are they are sent outdoors un- der charge of attendants. Here, as in
 reformatories, schools. and homes for
 other defectives 1t Is found wisest and
 best to keep the hands employed.
 When a patient is suffering from a
 hallucination one of the six physicians
 here, who are continually making their rounds, calls several times day on
 such a patient. and step by step tries
 to develop the reasoning faculties and then shows the absurdity Of the idea Of those who. suffer from fixed delu- sions, two-thirds are deemed tncurable.
 They are taught to doubt the existence of the delusion.n often with good re- suits. All the while the patient is kept l from disturbing influences. Is given
 plenty of wholesome food, and all pos sible outdoor life. The more violent ones receive constant attention, ana
 are more apt to Improve than the ones | suffering from melanchoiia.
 Amusements are constantly provided . 1 There is an amusement hall here. and l from the first of September until the | last of July there is a weekly dance for
 the patients In summer there are out' door amusements. The employees of the
 institution have organized Q band
 which furnishes good music that Is a
 source of great pleasure to the inmates.
 and they are entertained by baseball
 and athletic contests by these same un-
 tiring wardens. In the chapel. serv-
 ices are held for them. and the idea of
 simple. normal living is exemplifed at
 every turn. In many respects the insti-