The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-11-25
RANKS WITH
THE BEST IN
SOUTHWEST
State Commission Speak In
Warm Praise Of Hospital for
Insane al Fort Supply

WdTu county, TdukS 'IusH With oilih-
ar institutions in the southwest and
that it is doing a notable work for
the unfortunate insane OF Oklahoma
and should be recognized on account
OF its healthy location. environments
aud management as a place for the
confinement cf the insane persons
known as 'curabes. instead OF be-
ing recognized as hospital lor in
curables is the statement of Dr. j..
C. Mahr, state commissioner Of
health. who. with party OF experts,
has just completed a rigid eXamina'
tion OF all state institutions.
Il was greatly surprised to find
conditions at Fort Supply tnat piaceN
il among the best in the entire west,
said Dr. Mahr.
When the state took over this prop
erty more than three years ago a.
was Q neglected old army post, which
for many years had been the rempor-
ary abode OF movers, cowboys and
others who by chance sought shelter
in the abandoned structure.
When this post was secured for
hospital purposes wise selection was
made in choosing Dr. r. G. Newell
as superintendent DR.. Newell was
not attracted by this position by the
meager salary offered, but py the OPP
portunity tc carry ont many ideas
formed when ne, as young man, be-
gan to study mental and nervous dis
Eases. and later became identified
with a Missouri hospital for insane.
His coming 10 Fort supply was soon
marked by general renovation Of
the cid buildings and the establish.
ment CT system OF management
that is indeed remarkable.
I'VE found there striking evidence
OF reform not oniv in the treatment
OF patients but in their control. The
buildings are the acme Of cleanliness
ana are ample for the accammOda.
fiOn OF twice he number Of inmates.
The location of this hospital out upon
The bread prairie affords the inAatcs
n freedom taat is not TO he gained in
many institutions located in OF ad-
icining cities or tCwns. DR. Newell
was fortunate in securing the servic-
cs Ol a supervisor who had labcrcd
with him in the Missouri hospital for
the insane at Nevada many years
ago This assistant. who has had
twenty-five years experience. in this
work, has proven himself 4 most val
liable AID in the management OF the
(, institution
We were greatly surprised to note
| the absence of lccks upon the diff
/ lereut wards cf the institution. Tnr
| greatest freedom is enjoyed by the
/ patients and as a result the effect
| CT such care is to be noted in the
lcCndition OF their health. Reing 10.
Gated as ii is in remote section
the patient seldom abuse the nnusu-
/ al liberties afforded them, and the
/ percentage of escapes is remarkably
small
venture the assertion that when
the real value Il Fort Supply as a
hospital fer the insane is appreciated
no longer will the apparent prejudice
against the institution prevail This
| prejudice is based wholly upon the
location and the belief that the ac-
commcdations are not ample. | am
/ Thoroughly convinced that this insti
tuition should not be recognized as a
| dumping ground for incurables. but
that it deserves to be made a great
hospital Ia which those susceptible
to treatment should be sent No pub
lie institution in the state that has
been visited by our party is conduct.
ed along more sanitary lines
Il am satisfied that the institution
should acc mmOdate at least 200 more
patients at this time There IS sun
cient room for an increased numOer
without crowding any OF the wards
now occupied / think that the state
| should remove a large number OF it's
inmates now being treated at the pr
yate aslyum at Norman and give to
them the advantages to be had at
Fort supply
! The staff OF specialists that ac-
companied Dr. Mahr were Doctors C.
| r, Day. Oklahoma City skin and gen.
lto.urinary: A. c. Young, Oklahoma
! City. nervous and mental diseases
| gist. pr Looney, Oklahoma City,
physical diagnosis. Dr. Wright. Tut
/ sa, physical diagnosis; DR.. E. r. Davis
| Oklahoma City eye, ear, nose ana
'hr"ot, Peter Biewer, Oklahoma CITY
/ Bertilon Measurements.
Dr Mahr and his staff OF special
! lists have just completed an inspec-
| tion of the following institutions:
State orphan home at Pryor Creek;
state blind school at Wagner, stat
deaf and dumb school at Sulphur;
state training school at Pauls Valley
| hospital fer insane at Norman; stat,
! reformatory at Granite; state school
/ for feeble minded at Enid, and the
state hospital for the insane at Fort
Supply
The report OF this commission,
: which will be youminous ANA which
/ viii clver each and every patient or
charge in the various institute MS.
viii soon be filed with the governor.
! Together with a general report npon
/ the health OF inmates and sanitary
conditions found al the various insti.
! tutioas. This being the first inspec
ti9n of It's kind ever attempted in
/ fhc southwest. il has attracted wide
| spread attention and likely Will es-
tabiish a precedent that will be fol
! lowed IN Oklahoma annually
Don't lei the paby snfIer from
eczema. sores or any Itching OF the
skin Duau's Ointment gives instant