Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-11-09


/ found them no better, If as good. as in
the one under your care, and especially
/ is this true where the buildings are old
! and of the same style as many OF the
! buildings here. We took special pains
| to look into this, and were glad to find
| this sanitarium was not in the back
] ground
OF FOOD, KITCHEN AND DINING
We were allowed to make every posi-
BILE investigation, being shown through
! the kitchens bakeries and cold storage
| plants, as we'll as through the dining
rooms, whether congregate or. in the
| wards, so as to see the patients at table,
| the kind and quality of food, and the
! manner in which it was served. In every
| hospital but two that we visited, your
committee ate the same food as that
I served the patients. in the dining room OF
! the superintendent or of his house off,
| GERS. And we are glad to report these
| conditions as being practically the same
! as those in your own institution, possibly
/ the only difference being in a greater
variety of food, and a dessert twice
week.
In the matter of a dentist on the staff,
| such as you have here, there were but
| two institutions in which such was the
/ case, although the value and Importance
of such an officer was admitted by all
for not infrequently de CASTRO intestinal
disturbances and neuralgias of the head
and face arise from defective teeth and
diseased gums.
It is recommended that your dentist ex-
anime thoroughly the mouth and teeth OF
each patient. as soon after admission as
possible with the point of putting the
teeth in good order. And, as medico-
legal point, diagram of the mouth ana
teeth should be made, to be filed away
with the records of the case so as to be
of service in any injury occurring about
the face or mouth later on.
49, DIsCREDITED METHODS.
In the matter. of electro and hydro-ther-
apy It was noted that the former was
looked upon with but little favor as a
remedial agent, still II is of some value as
an aid to diagnosis and for suggestive
treatment. Hydro-therapy is being ex-
tensively used, and from what we saw Is
most highly commended. A hydro-thera-
peutic plant to be effective must have an
abundant supply of hot and cold water as
we'll as good drainage. 1t would also be
necessary to have some one trained In
the handling and management of the plant
to get satisfactory results from Its use.
1t was noted that the shower bath in va
the old-style bath tub, which is now cor
sidered unsanitary, and only used for i'm
merson treatment which treatment we
were told was of great value in cases OF
acute violent insanity. While realizing
fully that to purchase and install a first
class hyro-therapeutic plant would mean
an outlay of considerable money. we be-
lieve 1t 20 be of such importance that we
recommend your taking the matter up
with the view of having it done.
In the matter of work. recreation and
amusements. In but one instance did we
find a superintendent who was opposed tn
having his patients work, while on the 9TH
er hand he most heartily advocated re-
creation. diversion and amusements as
being Of the greatest value. The general
Idea OF work combined with amusements
was most heartily commended by all the
superintendents of the other institutions
we visited.
In matter of autopsies, Ii is the univer-
sal rule that this shall not be done with
out the written consent OF the family of
the patient. Probably one of the most i'm
portant matters in connection with the
modern insane hospital is the pathological
laboratory under the care of a neuropath-
ologist. While the value of such scientif-
&c work as this is not fully appreciated,
innovations of advancements in science
or medicine is being slow and carefully
developed. Your committee believes that
this important department should be in
augCENted and started on it's labors at
once No one not connected with medicine
can EeRiize the vast Improvement which
has taken place In other departments of
medicine, and why should we not then
expect similar good work to come from
this source?
LIBRARY IS NEEDED.
Your committe would also recommend
library and reading room for your staff
and nurses, in which books and journals
pertaining to the study of mental dis
eases. as well as other journals of cur
rent literature, may be had. AS soon as it
is possible we recommend the utilizing of
such detached buildings as may be avail
able for the disturbed. noisy and vulgar
who annoy other patients and do away
with the possibility OF their being bene-
fitted. Your institution while unable for
the want Of room and money to separate
these unfortunates, has provided yards
protected by walls, in which they get the
benefit of exercise. fresh air and sunshine
without being made the victims of idle
curiosity. The close walled yard was no
ticed at Philadelphia, Trenton and in part
at st. Elizabeths, Washington. d. c.
WneTe tney 90 not nave THESE ydIuS, lhlS
class Of unfortunates are kept indoors and
so deprived of the great blessings already
mentioned.
Mr. President, and fellow members OF
the board, does 1t not seem strange that
in this day of advanced civilization and
enlightenment, possibly not equaled by
any period of the worlds history, and
wherein the possibilities of the human
brain seems to have no limit, and where
the intellect of man is using every effor'
to relieve suffering. prolong life and ele
vate man to his highest state, as shown
by the work in prison reform, the effort
to Danish tuberculosis cancer, yellow
fever and kindred ailments at the cost OF
IL L.. I...n