The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-05-28

one. The general assembly should
provide some place where they would
be treated, but until then the asylum
had to take them.
AS to Children.
Referring to children, there were
some from 3 to years of age that no
other asylum in the country would
take. These were received under the
regular form.
As to the charge that the patients
were not released, DR.. Babcock ex-
planned that as soon as possible pa
tient was discharged. In his depart
ment, for instance, there was not a
single case that he would recommend
be discharged. DR.. Baboock then ex-
planned the forms used for furloughs
and releases. Very often a patient
feeling resentful had a lawyer to
threaten habeas corpus proceedings
to secure release. He did not like to
fight a proceeding Of this kind, it
meant an expense to the family and
was generally successful. Therefore
4 furlough was granted, the patient
assuming the liability. He knew of
no case where patient was unreason-
ably kept here.
The furlough form was used by
other States. It was the form adopt
ed by the New York Lunacy commits
sion which he considered the best in
the country.
Mr.. Carey then questioned DR.. Bab-
cock as to the charge that he doml7
mated the board.
DR.. Babcock explained that often
the board differed from him and his
opinions. He did not attempt to die
tate to the board, the relations being
entirely harmonious. The idea Of
domination was absurd. If he had
ever attempted to force his opinions
upon the members it was unconscious
and he believed the board did not
think there was dictation on his
part.
Employing the N1r,es.
! Referring to the white male de-
paftment, DR.. Babcock explained the
method of employing the attendants.
| He did not know until DR.. Thomp-
son testified that the latter wished to
employ these nurses. 1t was not a
pleasant duty. When an incompetent
nurse was discovered he was discharg-
ed.
Referring to a charge of cruelty, a
nurse discovered guilty was discharg-
ed at once. He never made an excep-
ton unless by oversight. He could
not tolerate it. There was one case
when he had to cane a nurse who
mistreated a patient.
As to the case which it had been
testified was reported to him as cruel,
and he had failed to act, DR.. Bab-
cock said it must have been an over
sight.
At that time he was doing the work
of three people and it might have es-
capped his attention.
He was now investigating one or
two parties, and if his idea as to their
fitness was correct they would be dis
charged.
DR.. Thompson report was always
final and accepted without question.
He had never declined to confer with
anv assistants and so far as employ
inc nurses was concerned he would
have been glad to let DR.. Thompson
do this.
It was a common thing for young
man just ashe was getting to be useful
to the institution to leave and go else
where on account of more pay.
He had never received any COM
plant as to filth of the wards. HHe
kne W. of the existence Of bugs. They
had always been there and there was
constant fight to keep them down.
Getting Male Nurses.
: There had always been a difficulty
in getting proper male nurses. 1t
was a problem faced by all asylums
and experiments were being made by
some to employ female nurses for the
male wards. The female nurses were
far superior.
As to bathing two patients in the
same water, he had not heard Of it,
and the nurse would have been dis
charged should he do this sort OF
thing.
Regarding unclean patients, there
was a constant struggle to keep some
of them clean, but the nurses were
instructed to do everything possible