Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1912-11-15
A THEORETIC
MEDDLER
He Needed q Lesson, and
He Received 1t
BY r. A. mitchell

iOhCSoOi Nuh w ihhlOy uh
on brain diseases, had theory tina
the greatest liberty should be grante'
to Insane patients. The professo
claimed that shutting up patient az
gravated the disease. 1t happened tina
the college In which Van Wrinkle lee
tured was located In the same tow
with the state lunatic asylum, and, a
was natural, considering his specially
his opinions on the treatment Of tn
insane confined there had great weigh
with the townspeople, from whom the.
were reflected upon the board Of direC
tors of the asylum,
DR.. Swinbourne. the superintendent
not only had the confidence of the stat
of doctors and nurses-indeed, all tn
employees-but was very much below
ed by them. and they were always II
terror lest some visitor to the institu
ton witnessing necessary severt!
should. with the MD of Professor Val
Wrinkle, cause the doctor to be repri
manded and that he would resign
Finally this very thing happened.
mother saw her son put In a strait
Jacket. She complained to Van Wrinkle
The professor talked" The Director
Illuminated u law against unnecessary
severity and recommended the use o.
patients, so far as possible. for what
ever work about the institution they
were fitted. When these orders were
received by DR.. Swinbourne he handed
In his resignation.
While the matter was pending the
directors invited the professor, wht
had made all the trouble, to 90 to thu
asylum. make an inspection pertaining
especially to the treatment Of patients
and report.
During the professors visit he wal
given every facility for the perform
ance Of his work. the stan were mo-
disposed to regard his presence there
favorably. He had been there about
half an hour when he was shown tC
a padded room wherein was confined
a man who showed no signs Of mental
or any other disease The professor
asked him why he was there.
81 can't understand" replied the pa
tent, why | am detained here The
management might better avail them
selves of my services and save some
of the money they have been wasting
l was for years chef in one Of the
largest hotels In America and could dc
all the cooking required here, Instead
of that am being driven really insane
by being confined alone with no occupa
ton"
Nothing could have conformed more
nearly to the professors theory.
"Why don't you give the man d
CHANGER he asked Of the attendant
who was conducting him.
HE has been under surveillance, pro
fessor," was the reply, "ahd we have
about concluded to grant bis request
What do you think about III II you
say the word we will put him In thu
kitchen at once"
81 will assume the responsibility oil
your doing 80" replied the inspector
The patient was at once let out OF
confinement and went below while the
professor continued his inspection.
There was great relief felt by the
star when the great mental expert
menter finished his work and was
ready to depart. While standing In
the hall waiting for his carriage to
drive up to the door the patient he had
released from the padded room In
the white apparel OF II cook stepped
up TO him and whispered In his ear
that II he would come TO the kitchen
he would show him something he
should see The professor went with
him TO the kitchen. They had no
sooner entered than the patient locked
the door and put the key in his pocket,
II don't propose" he snld that any
OF these villains who have kept me a
prisoner shall interfere with my show
ing you what miserable rotten stun
they have been feeding u.s. n gave
them chance they would come In
here and on pretense that show signs
Of relapse Aake me back to that mad
room. Mad room! That's what II is
q room IN which to make some people
mad. Come herer
Now. the locking Of the door was In
itself not especially grateful to Pro.
fessor Van Wrinkle. but when he saw
the chef getting excited he felt cold
chill run down his back He went
with the latter to the enormous range.
capable Of cooking meals for couple
Of hundred persons There was a hot
Arn within m