Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-06-27
BOWEN MAKES A
PLEA FOR MERCY
Secretary of State Charities
Commission Speaks at
Watertown Hospital.
ONE NURSE is GRADUATED
Conception Of Duty to Humanity Crude
but Big Advances In Near Flu
ture Is Predicted.


in the treatment and care of the in
sane. A. l.. Bowen. executive secretary
OF the state charities commission OF
| Springfield. addressed the graduating
class OF the nurses training school OF
the Watertown state hospital last
| night. Mr.. Bowen said that the com.
mencement day of a training school
for nurses is not an ordinary com
mencement day. The graduating nurse
has been through a practical school
| ing. While she has been studying she
has been working. While she has
been getting from books the theory
OF nursing she has been actually ap-
plying it in practice on wards.
Mr.. Bowen said that while we speak
piously and seriously of our duty to
humanity, and of our responsibilities
10 the unfortunate our conception of it
is crude and almost barbarous. He
referred to the 25th chapter of Mat
thew, and said it should be the text
and guide of every employee of a state
hospital or state charitable institu-
ton, because lit contains the whole
creed OF humane, personal service to
the unfortunate"
Are Still Pioneers.
The training schools of the state hos
pitfalls of Illinois are yet in their in
fancy. and necessarily are incomplete,
crude and ineffective. They are still
pioneers. in new and unexplored
realms.
In his plea for mercy and kindness,
Mr. Bowen said, These are the two
noblest attributes of man. There is
one place where there can not be too
much of them. l mean the hospital
for the insane. The state of Illinois.
its highest authority. demands
OF every one of it's employees in these
institutions that he be kind and merci-
full to these patients. In my own mind,
the man or woman who abuses an in
sane patient, who is helpless by rea-
son of his confinement and his mental !
weakness, is capable of any brutality. |
do not conceive of punishment Sc
we're enough for him. If l had my /
way ! would make it a crime of the |
first degree for an employee of the |
state to lay hands upon an insane
patient committed to his care and pro.
lection"
Sees Triumphs of Science.
in the treatment of the insane, he
said, we have scarcely scratched the
surface" He predicted that in the
next 20 years the triumphs of medicine
and surgery viii be greater than those
which have marked the last hundred
'ears.
Concluding the speaker said, that ii
$ the spirit in which an act is done
which makes il great or mean. A little
ct may attract the world and live in
because its spirit was sub
ime. while a great deed will sink into
oblivion because its spirit was selfish.
DO. therefore. even the littest things :
or your patients in the spirit of hui :
ranity and brotherhood"
The commencement exercises of the !
lass were held in the chapel. DIR. J. A
superintendent, presiding.I Z
he room was beautifully decor
ted. On the platform were the mem I
ers of the staff and a number OF T
uests. Mitchell's orchestra furnish 8
d the music. Rev ]. NJ. Osborne OF I
cred the invocation and pronounced q
he benediction. There we're vocal
1los by Mrs. r. F. Windsor and Miss I
race T. Lucas. n
ZeIIer Presents Diplomas.
The diploma was presented by DR.. :
gorge A. Zeller. alienist of the board >
: administration. who made an mter-
sting address on the growth and de- u
elopment of hospitals for the insane
the United States. He
,ferred TO the fact that Illinois is one =
the most progressive states in work ~
nong the insane and feeble minded. :
e said that this state is one of the ~
ost successful in its training schools =
r nurses. This week the eight hos =
tails for insane in Illinois have grad
ated II nurses whose salaries on l-e
lily will automatically be raised. II -.
ese II graduates remain in the SER -
&c their increase in pay will amount =
$4,000 a year. DR.. Ze,ler made II
point that there is wonderful oppor-
nifty for advancement in the state
irritable institutions. but he said that
is necessary in order to reach the
CHER grades and the better pay to
udy. work and apply oneself.
The class pin was presented by Miss
ace Williams. the chief nurse of the
stitution. The class this year con-
;ted OF only one graduate. Mrs. Nora
Iett. Next year. it is expected. to
aduate a class OF seven or eignt.
the exercises there was
reception and dance during which
were served.