The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1910-02-10

superintendent. This fact is ad-
mitted by the doctor himself
The law offers to every person con-
fined in an insane asylum a clear and
adequate method whereby if they in
fact are sane they may secure a dis
charge and that method is by an ap-
plication to the county Judge for re-
examination. The management of the
insane asylums cannot hinder or OBJ
struct the operation of this law.
In connection with this specification,
however, the board feels that the
character of the bond required by the
management of the Racine county
asylum from persons desiring to parole
patients is unnecessarily harsh in its
requirements, and that such bond or
undertaking ought merely to require
of the person seeking to secure the
parole of patient that such persons
will care for the patient during his or
her absence from the asylum and will
return the patient to the asylum upon
demand and free of expense to the
county.
The, board believes that the paroling
of patients from asylums is a practice
that should be encouraged rather than
discouraged in proper cases.
With respect to specification No. 5
the board desires to state as it's con-
illusions; that it has not been the prac-
tice in county asylums to employ the
services of dentist and it is suggest
ed that a wise precaution in the future
would require the attending physician
to at least make careful examination
of the condition of the teeths of the
patients at stated periods and report
such conditions to the superintendent
and that the services Of dentist
should be invoked by the trustees in
all cases designated by the doctor as
necessary for the health and comfort
of the patient.
With respect to the sixth specifca-
ton contained in DR.. Sorenson g
charges, it IS the judgment of the
board that in SO far as the criticism of
a lack of open air and exercise is con
cerned, that like criticism would well
apply to any similar institutions in the
state. The board is constantly urging
upon the management of such institu-
lions more open air exercise and we
believe that this is case where such
advice is equally applicable. That
there is serious lack of means and
methods for the entertainment and
recreation of the patients is plainly
evident. The location of the Racine
county asylum and the beautiful
grounds and lawns surrounding it of
fer unusual facilities for the entertain
ment and recreation Of patients and
such open air exercise.
by the judicious use of very small
amount Of money, the monotonous life
of these unfortunates may be greatly
relieved. In this respect, we feel that
the board of trustees have failed to
do their duty and it is the hope of
the board that the condition will be
Immediately relieved.
In respect to the seventh specifca-
ton contained in DR.. Sorenson s
charges the board desires to state that
the investigation has failed to disclose
any foundation for it. On the con-
trary, all of the patients discharged
from this institution have had suf-
fcient money of their own to pay their
railroad fare to their homes, and we
fail to find any evidence showing a
lack of courtesy or kindness upon the
part of the management at the time
of their leaving the institution.
With respect to the eighth specifca-
ton contained in DIR. Sorenson IS
charges, it has been charged as mat
ter of criticism of the management of
this institution that both the superin-
tendent and matron have been fire.
quently absent at the same time from
the institution, without leave from the
trustees and without leaving anyone
officially in charge.
We must hold with respect to this
charge that the superintendent and
matron of this institution have been
absent from duty but few times and
on such occasions competent trained
nurse has acted as matron and com
petent male employee as superintendent
with the knowledge and consent of
the board Of trustees.
We do not feel called upon to in any
way criticise the action of the super
intendent and matron in that respect.
With respect to the ninth specifca-
tlon contained IN DIR. Sorenson IS
charges, the board desires to state that
they are u9able to find from the EVIL
dence that there was any labor per
formed by the patients in this asylum
on other farms in the neighborhood
that would be detrimental either to the
health or comfort of the patients and
as the province of the board of control
is not directed to the question of the
financial management of the county
asylum, we do not care to enquire as