Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1911-08-14
UNExCELLED IN EFFICIENCY
FROM ONE SMALL BUILDING IT
HAS GROWN WONDERFULLY
IN TWENTY YEARS.
MANAGEMENT TO Be PRAISED
CONDUCTED ALONG MODERN
LINES AS TO TREATMENT
AND CARE OF PATIENTS.

fOf twenty years the New Mexico
Hospital for the Insane has stood in
its present location on the Boulevard
Las Vegas people have watched il
grow from one Comparatively small
building to cluster of handsome mod
ern structures. They have seen its
efficiency grow apace with the ex-
tension of the plant. In a general
way they have known the institution
was doing wonderful work of mercy
and was a credit to the people of the
territory of New Mexico. But in
spite of all this there is, perhaps,
no institution in the territory con-
cerning which the people are less in
formed.
This is not due to the policy of the
institution. From the time of its
foundation visitors have been well
coined and have been shown through
every part of the plant. Annual re-
ports have been issued regularly and
officials of the territory have visited
it frequently But there still clings in
the minds of most people an inherent
dread of asylums for the insang, which /
are believed to be dreary places, |
where maniacs are kept in padded cells
and weird shrieks rend the air. They
are believed to be institutions as un-
pleasant to visit as they are neces-
sary for the welfare of society. For
this reason the greater part of the
residents of Las Vegas and visitors
from other parts of the territory have
been content to view with admiration
the handsome grounds and well kept
buildings from the outside. Had they
gone within, the sights they would
have seen would have been a reve-
lation.
In the first place the New Mexico
Hospital for the Insane. is the clean
est place in New Mexico. 1t Is spot
less and is kept so by the constant
vigilance of the management and en-
ployes. Following but at. the same
time equalling the cleanliness of the
institution is its comfort, Anyone
visiting the place is assured that the
patients are housed as comfortably or
much more so than if they were in
That tho moda Of |
treatment of the patients is scien-
tific is shown by the fact that the
percentage of cures is as large If not
larger than in similar institutions IN
other states. The fare upon which
the patients dine is the best and mos!
nourishing that can be obtained. 1t
is served in bright and cheerful din-
ing rooms.
A walk through the institution from
basement to attic is not depressing. 1t
reveals the important fact that the
patients are happy and contented.
Even in the so-called violent wards"
on the third floor not patient is
confined in his room. Watchful
and sympathetic attendants are able
to look after the patients without
difficulty. A large percentage of the
patients is able to work and is en-
ployed in some beneficial labor on
every day of the week with the excep-
tion of Sunday.
Due to careful management the
hospital produces many of the articles
which are consumed upon its tables.
Though the best of eatables are pro-
vided the expense of feeding each
patient is only fifteen cents per day.
1t is estimated that the lands be-
longing to the Institution produce
each year fully $4,000 worth of field
and garden products. The gardens
produce excellent vegetables, which
are enjoyed by the patients and en-
ployes as we'll The dairy furnishes
milk. butter and cream for all. an
army of hens is busily engaged each
day in laying eggs and the herds Of