The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-11-13
VOx POPULI.
DESIRES TO FREE HERSELF
OF STIGMA OF INSANITY

EDITOR Pensacola Journal.
L have the same feeling in regard to
freeing myself from the stigma of in
sanity that an honest man would have
If accused of theft. While I have no
desire to inculpate others, l do wish
to exoreTate myself. / have made GER
tain staeeTnents in regard to treatment
OF Patients, and DR.. Buchanan has
eanphalically denied them. I will only
say that IN so large an institution,
containing so many inmates, of both
sexes, many things could have taken
place without his knowledge.
When went to the asylum on Fri
day last did wish to see one of the
patients who had been very kind to
me, but primarily, / wanted to obtain
a copy of my commitment papers. For
thirteen years I have longed and
prayed to see this paper and felt
that God had given me this one last
opportunity. I know now who was
most culpabfe in the great wrong that
was perpetrated against helpless
woman.
There is more than one irregularity
in the papers They are dated three
months prior to any admission to the
asylum. AT this time 1 was just re-
covering from a very severe illness.
The physician who attended me told
me recently that he had never before
seen a patient recover after having
such commissions as ] had. Was this
a time to examine a woman as to her
mental condition?
The person who signed the applica-
tion for my admission was only a boy
in appearance, and had no standing
in the community. He has, so / have
heard. been twice refused a license to
practice medicine in the state OF Mis-
papers shall be signed by a. reputable
citizen" The tire months inteTven-
ing between the date of this paper
and my actual admission to the asyl-
UNI, We're spent by me in my mothers
home in Milton. Fla, where I was
visited professionally many times by
our family physician-Dr. c. e. Nc
Dougald-who has signed a statement
certifying that he never, during this
three months, saw in me any indica-
lions of Insanity. Further than this.
DR.. Buchanan made the statement
both to me and to Representative Ow-
ems that the only indication OF fnSan-
ity shown by me. in all that seven
years was my refusal to eat, which
symptom" lasted only about three
days. / was not afraid of the food
as the doctor saws / was. The diet
furnished the patients was not such as
/ had been accustomed to. This. add
ed TO the surroundings, to my terrible
distress of mind and extreme nervous
ness, made it impossible for me to
swallow the food. They then reSorted
to ''forcible feeding and after several
days of this, / chose the least OF two
evils anu LlSlItdSSQ 10 C1L CANO0SA ~
keep soul and body together. The
bare fact that ! am alive today proves
that / did eat while there. Now. If
this was my only symptom of insan-
aty why was not released when this
symptom disappeared?
/ have only feelings Of the deepest
respect and gratitude toward the
members OF the legislative committee.
During the six years since my release
have had dealings with many bust
al nd hsaU -
never met more cultured conscienti-
o1s and scrupulously honorable men.
They treated me with every courtesy
and consideration. The people of Mis-
sissippi may rest assured that only
good will result from this investiga-
ton.
Meridian. Miss, Nov. 8. 1911.