Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1912-10-10
A THEORETIC
MEDDLER
He Needed a Lesson, and
He Received 1t
By F. A. mitchell

on brain diseases. had a theory that
the greatest liberty should be granted
to insane patients. The professor
claimed that shutting up patient ag-
grayated the disease. 1t happened that
the college in which Van Wrinkle lee
tured was located in the same town
with the state lunatic asylum. and, as
was natural. considering his speciality,
his opinions on the treatment OF the
insane confined there had great weight
with the townspeople. from whom they
were reflected upon the board OF dlrec-
tors of the asylum.
DR.. Swinbourne. the superintendent.
not only had the confidence of the stan
of doctors and nurses-indeed. all the
employees-but was very much below
ed by them. and they were always in
terror lest some visitor to the institu-
ton witnessing necessary severity
should. with the aid of Professor Van
Wrinkle. cause the doctor to be reprl'
manded and that he would resign.
Finally this very thing happened.
mother saw her son put in strait
Jacket. She complained to Van Wrinkle.
The professor talked" The directors
Illuminated law against unnecessary
severity and recommended the use OF
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. who
had made all the trouble. to go to the
| asylum, make an inspection pertaining
especially to the treatment of patients
and report.
During the professors visit he was
given every facility for the perform
ance of his work. the staff were not
disposed to regard his presence there
favorably. He had been there about
half an hour when he was shown to
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.
'I can't understand" replied the pa
tient. why l am detained here. The
management might better avail them
selves of my services and save some
of the money they have been wasting
| was for years chef in one OF thu
largest hotels in America and could dt
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 NOR
nearly to the professors theory.
, why don't you give the man
chanceT' he asked of the attendan
who was conducting him.
HE has been under surveillance, Pre-
fessor," was the reply. land we hav
about concluded to grant his reques
What do you think about it? If 20
say the word we will put him in tn
: kitchen at once"
81 will assume the responsibility @
your doing So" replied the inspector.
The patient was at once let out 9
confinement and went below while tn
professor continued his inspection.
There was great relief felt by tn
staff when the great mental exper
menter finished his work and wa
! ready to depart. While standing /
the hall waiting for his carriage
drive up to the door the patient he ha
released from the padded room
! the white apparel of cook steppe
up to him and whispered in his ca
that if he would come to the kitche
he would show him something b
should see. The professor went wit
him to the kitchen. They had n
sooner entered than the patient locke
the door and put the Key in his pocke
81 don't propose" he said. that an
4 of these villains who have kept me
4 prisoner shall interfere with my shov
4 ing you what miserable rotten stu
i they have been feeding MS. If / gaV
them a chance they would come
here and on pretense that ! show sigI
of relapse take me back to that ma
room. Mad room! That's what it is
a room in which to make some peop
mad. Come herev
Now. the locking of the door was
. itself not especially grateful to Pr
!; fessor Van Wrinkle. but when he sa
/; the chef getting excited he felt co
I: chill run down his back. He wei
I; with the latter to the enormous rang
!; capable of cooking meals for a coup
I: of hundred persons. There was h.
!: fire within. and the noon meal WI
!; being prepared. On the range lari
= cauldron of soup was boiling.
= How many cooks do you suppo
4 they had here when l came in?" II
= patient asked excitedly. There we
e ten cooks, and each cook had an a
= sistant. Besides these fifty cooks al
= assistant cooks. there were TWEEN
scullions. Just think of it-a hundrt
I: cooks and scullions to get the mea
I; for not over $50 persons. and the pc
I: pie of the state taxed to pay 'em.
4 seized this"-taking up cleaver-'aI
Il drove 'em all out"
Il Professor Van Wrinkle had a theo
Il as to the management of lunati
Il when they became dangerous. 1t w
y to humor them. The chef was gro,
u ing more and more excited. and Il