East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1912-12-03

during the past year " unnatural
ized inmates and 32 resident in other
states enrolled in the asylum were
deported. The board of trustees, con-
sisting of Governor West, Secretary of
State Olcott and State Treasurer Kay
In complimenting DR.. Steiner on the
success of his efforts in this matter
says that the foreign patients were
deported without expense to the state
of Oregon. The approximate expense
for returning to the different states
the 32 others was $4,000. 1t is how
ever, pointed out that the state ac-
complished the mammoth saving of
$500 through the effectiveness of
the superintendent negotiations in
this matter. This is readily comput-
ed by bearing In mind that the aver
age institutional life of patient is
ten years and that the average month
ly maintenance per capita is $14
1t Is, however, with the phenomenal
percentage of cures that the citizens
as well as psychologists will be chiefly
concerned. Readers will be surpris-
ed to learn that DR.. Steiner has not
any recondite or hynotising panacea,
but one which is the epitome and es-
sence of simplicity. Plenty of open
air is the chief ingredient of the
cure, reminding one of Voltaires cell
ebrated remark: THE physician
amuses the patient, while nature
cures the disease" The alien.st
must verify be an entrepreneur, and
DR.. Steiner has assumed that role. 1t
a. I,of I'm g
mind must not be disconnected by a
parity of reasoning, it must be kept
in active and pleasant absorption.
This is done at Salem by employing
the inmates in light, but profitable
employments. Hundreds of men are
employed upon the farm, in the gar
dens; good deal has been accom-
plished in the way of road building,
grading and beautifying the grounds
and the produce from the farm, gar
dens and dairy helps materially in
lessening expense and supplying fresh
vegetables, milk. butter, eggs, etc. But
DR.. Steiner places the "ingredient"
referred to over and beyond all other
considerations when he writes THE
economical feature of our large farm,
though saving thousands of dollars,
is not as important as the inestim-
able benefit hundreds of patients de-
rive from the splendid opportunities
afforded for healthful reproductive
labor"
The female patients are especially
assigned to suitable occupations. Some
are employed in picking berries dur
ing season, some in laundry, and char
acteristic of the progressiveness of
the management an industrial depart
ment is maintained. Here again the
superintendent carries the specialize
ing of individual cases or the classi-
fication of collective ones to nice
ty, the supreme aim being to keep
the mind of the inmates attuned to
the proper harmony, There are wo-
| men patients who are Indifferent or
| unduly particular about the character
| of their employment. The work in
this department is at once acceptable
and desirable to both classes, for In
| the case of the pathetic, the nature
of the work at once arouses their la
| tent ambitions. DR.. Steiner very hap
PLY expresses it in his report. Here,
he writes, "the effort is made to en-
courage and educate the Indifferent
cases. to devise interesting tasks for
| those who are irritable or unreason-
able, and to entice into habits of in-
dustry. Here fancy work of many
kinds, and basketry are taught, the
rags of the Institution are made inte
useful rugs and carpets, linen table
scarfs are made and many articles
that help to furnish the wards and
make them more cheerful are mann-
factured."
the board of trustees pay unstiut-
ed and felicitous appreciation to the
work of Dr. Steiner and his staff aaC
well may they do so with q record %
which those mentioned here are bu
fractional part; that is Numerically
for those instances cited stand out In
bold relief. With perfect confidence
in his own labors DR.. Steiner invite:
| tho mamberS Of the legislature Il