The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1913-12-02
WATCHING OHIO
TEACH INSANE
Other States Await Results of
Entry Into New Field

Columbus, o.. Dec. Three hun
dred inmates Of the state hospital al
Massillon are going to school, studying
arithmetic, reading. geography, music.
etc the same as pIpils in other
schools
This school, started by Or II. g.
! Elman, is the first effort Of that sort
i'm the treatment and care of the in
sane. 1t is being watched with much
interest 10y other states.
Tho general purpose is to stimulate
mental effort, To call back the inmate
pupil as nearly To normal as possible.
To occupy the attention during the day
To combat the tendency to moody re-
Elections, To give nature a chance To
repair damages.
1t has succeeded beyond the eXpec-
tations Of those Instrumental in found
ing it. 1t is credited. with contribut-
ing substantial results in some not.
able cases
| The problem Of what to do with the
inmates of the hospitals is the big one
| constantly before the eyes of the man
ayers. OF necessity they must be- kept
| interested and busy ldleness is fatal
The school was started to appeal 10
the large number. Patients are gath
cred at certain hours Of the day IN
| the big reception hall. The methods
Of the school are suited To the possi-
| bilties of the pupil. They are able
to handle the work with ease and with
many indications of enjoyment
In mathematics the problems Will,
! involving figures. are made local and
easy of application. II is not merely
the problem OF adding two and two
and making four. II is, if man own
cd two COWS, or pigs. or chickens. and
bought two others, how many cows. or
| pigs, or chickens would he then have
The see tho COWS, the pigs, and
chickens, and the problem is made
easier.
Recently they were gwen a problem
| like this If three men hired pasture
| for $40. one having ten cows. one hav-
ing four and the other six, what part
of the rent would each have to pay?
A dozen patients solved it and nearly
all in the room understood enough
! about II to try with lair results
The work OF the school has been
slow because OF the lack of suitable
! instructors. Dr. lyman has done Il
considerable part of the work person
ally. though he has found some en-
ployes able to render effective aid
If school work. is finally proved cap.
able of substantial results It will open
a new field for trained instructors u:
the insane, in which people fitted Tor
the work could find lucrative employ
ment and render a large service to tho
afflicted.
Donations of money. to the hospital
from friends OF DR.. lyman made it
possible to erect a building known as
IA recreation and education building.
That building houses the school
AS fast ms patients are interested in
the work of the school. they are taught
To take part in pool anl billiards, To-
engage in bowling. to play tennis and
baseball. and there are many proficient !
players in each of these forms of
amusemcnts.
All these games are a part Of the |
days work. They provide healthful
employment, excite mental interest, |
arouse energy and stimulate activity |
to the physical and mental betterment |
of the patient.
Under the direction Cf Dr. Clark. the !
inmates of the hospital at Ncwburg |
are doing a great deal of manual labor |
and are manufacturing "a wide range
of articles and doing creditable work
An exhibition of the work of the in
mates has been mad cready there and
the public will have a chance to view
it shortly.
one man there is a genius IN CON
structinS fancy articles out Of colored
stones and cement He made the high
gate posts AZ The entrance and the
fountains and flower vases that adorn
the lawn. He spends the summc
gathering the colored stones from the
brook and works during the winter
constructing his fountains. vases ana
other objects.
Every form of physical activity II
known has been employed as far as
possible in handling the hospital pa.
TENTS. hut DR.. lyman is the pioneer
in the field of educational activity. The
state board of administration is de-
lighted with the work done
Dr. lyman in his report SAYS:
Eighty per cent of cases admitted II
are Jag cases and without plan on the n
part of the officials. the hospital op- II
Grated last year very largely as a II
"a ,,,ro asta II