The sun., 1913-11-30
From the Graphic

for the first time that had been under
dclusion. But as yet I was too i'll
to know what was the matter with me,
nor did | at all understand where
was. but supposed | was at some coun-
try house On "A visit and that this
kindly gentleman was my host.
He was my host and remained so for
Some eight or nine months. but he did
not dispense his hospitality free of
charge: in other words. as you will
have guessed long ago. h was a doctor
and had become an inmate of "A pri-
vate lunatic asylum.
How terrible" do you eXclaim? /?
What a fate for "A young man? Why
could he not have been nurscd at home
instead of being sent 10 such "A place as
that"
There were times when too would
have echoed those sentiments but know
ing the sequel as do now | know that
| was sdealt with not only Wisely but
mercifully. The end in this case at
least has justified the means. was
completely cured. No more need be
said
There were four men patients besides
myself and about the same number of
women. The latter, in charge Of women
nurses. had their living and sleeping
rooms on one side Of the house, and the
former. in charge Of the male attend
ants. had their rooms on the other side.
Each had long living room in which
all meals were taken and which looked
out upon the large garden at the back
of the house.
First impressions are apt to be last
ing and ! shall never forget my first
night in that asylum. My bedroom
was on the ground floor, facing the
street. but the view from the window
was in some way obscured My beds
head was against the wall near the door
at the foot Of my bed and AT right an
giles to it was the bed of my attendant,
The door opened out to a passage which
ran the length Of the house and was
the means of communication between
the doctors house. which was next door.
and our own.
AS that first evening advanced I was
mystitied and distressed to think that
! was among total strangers and above
all that ! was no longer under the low
ing care Of my nurse, to say nothing
of my sister.
Ii is probably very difficult to ge,
suitable male attendants for asylums
just as it is very difficult to get suit
able men to act as orderlies In hos
pitals the duties In both cases being
far from agreeable and the remuncra
tion small, In any case l was partiCu-
larry unfortunate on that first nigh,
in my own groom of the chambers. y,
doubt | had been spoiled by the women
though | don't know that il had don,
me any harm. one very innocent lib.
erty had been encouraged in by m,
night nurse.
\ feeling of excessive heat. combined
with sensation of choking or breath.
lcssness. used to come over me at nigh,
and to relieve it would raise my lee
under the sheet to produce draught
forming a temporary tent. Doubtless
the sensation was mostly due to imag
| nation. but it felt real enough to me
| and on this first night experience,
the old sitting sensation as strong a.
| ever and 50 began to make a tent o
my sheet. My attendant was a you'll
| of about Is, strong and muscular foI
| his age. but with the manners ant
bearing of a stable boy rather than o
nurse of afflicted men. No soone
had | begun what he would deem m,
antics than | was peremptorily ordere,
to stop
In vain I explained my choking sen
satlon-he only reiterated his comman nd
and when these proved Intellectual h,
was very soon on top of me and en-
forcing his remarks by blows. Afte
| 'hIs | lay quiet for while, hopn.
to obtain by cunning what | could no
obtain by more direct means Waitin.
until l thought he was asleep ! man
aged to get out Of bed and open tn
door.
But my triumph was shOrtlived. III
heard ME and We We're soon struggling
together on the floor Of the passage out
side my room. He struck me repeated
as | lay underneath him: but | wa
far too angry and excited to feel tn
blows much. No doubt ! was at lengtl
forced or persuaded to go to bed an
let us hope to sleep.
1t Is only fair to the establishment
to say that that young cub was 500
got rid Of and that, though my antic
did not at once cease, ] was never as
saulted by any Of the attendants.
There was much easier and hu
maner way by which to quiet violen
patients. The doctor made his round
the last thing at night. Just after W
had got to bed. He was usually ac
cOmpanied by his sister. who acted q
hOusekeeper. and a beautiful collie dog
II necessity arose he wOulh at tina
time give an overrestless patient al
injection or some soothing and sleel