Gilpin observer., 1913-02-20
TELLS COMMITTEE
or HIS ExeERIENcE'


to Senator Helen Ring Robinson by
H. C. Bolsinger, Of this county, who
is lending what aid he can to the
committee appointed to investigate
conditions at the insane asylum. Mr..
Bolsinger having graduated from
that institution" as he expresses it
feels that he can speaking knowing
ly and from actual experience of the
i'll treatment the poor unfortunates
Of the Pueblo retreat are subjected
to:
Dear Madame-I am aware OF the
difficulties attending such investiga-
tions as you and the members OF the
committee are now undertaking. Wis
its of such committees to asylums
and hospitals do not, as rule, give
even the faintest idea of the actual
conditions. Abuse and cruelty are nat
urally not displayed before a visit
ing and investigating board. Further
more, those who suffer the abuses
are considered incapable Of render
ing trustworthy evidence and those
who perpetrate the abuses are nat
urally interested to cover up their
wrong doings. Also, 1t is not easy for
people unaccustomed to the presence
of the demented to remain long in
their presence, and therefore the tend
ency is in the direction Of short and
infrequent visits. The management
of the asylums prepare for the visit
of inspection, and as far as possible
arrange for a favorable showing. The
visitors come and go, and the order
OF procedure which has been inter
rupted for the inspection resumes its
accustomed way.
From my own personal experience
desire to call your attention to Ger
tain features Of the asylum life in
Pueblo, and to state some facts
which are not willingly made known
to visitors.
"Q) In the wards, all classes and
colors, negroes, white men, Mexicans,
Cinnamon, are put in together. The
lowest Of the low are put in with peo-
pie of decency. Except for the seq
regation of the criminally insane,
there is no classification on the basr
is Of mental condition any more than
there is consideration Of comparative
The effeet- OF this enoup=
ing upon the sensitive. the slightly
demented, and the sane who are con-
fined there is, of course, gravely SER
/ ious.
(2) The inmates are terrorized by
the attendants; they are brutally
handled and frequently beaten with
whatever implement the attendants
can get hold of. l myself have been
cruelty beaten for raising my voice
in protest against the abuse Of the
old and conspicuously weak.
"(3) There is absence OF treatment
for the deranged mental conditions.
"(4) There is nothing for the pat
tents to occupy themselves with-few
books, no periodicals or newspapers.
It is the terrible and enforced mac
tivity that is hardest to bear. l my
self begged to be allowed to assist
with the cooking. but my appeal was
denied. On one occasion got piece
Of silk and a needle and thread and
in sheer desperation for something
to do, began to make necktie. This
act was interpreted as a sign Of a
wrecked mind.
"(5) The food provided for the in
mates is shockingly poor and ill-judg-
ed. The monotony OF menu-stew
made of all sorts of things. every
morning for breakfast, 1t was in my
time-is ill-calculated to produce goot
condition OF any sort, physical OF
mental.
"(6) The conditions under which
the criminal insane are kept are ap-
palling. No visiting board has ever
to my knowledge. found out the hid
eousness of this department.
MAY l call to your sympathetic
consideration that 1t is easy to be
put into an insane asylum, and very
hard to get out : that It Is almost
impossible for one who Is in there
to get hearing. The helplessness
Of those unfortunates and my fntim
ate knowledge OF their all but hope
less sufferings induces me to plead
with you to make an investigation
so rigid and searching that you will
uncover every phase of abuse and in
competence. Then the people OF the
state will stand back Of you in estab
fishing n new and humane and scien
tific system.
II desire to express my willing
ness-Iny desire even-to accompany
you and the other members Of the
committee to Pueblo on your tour o.