The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1914-11-05
DOING GOOD WORK
People Have But Small Conception of
State Inebriate Institution
At Willmar.

farm for inebriates located at Will
mar. This hospital, with farm of
about 600 acres attached, was opened
about eighteen months ago and is
mostly maintained by two per cent
tax on all retail liquor licenses issued
In the state.
With an existence period of less
than two years to its credit and much
of that given over to getting the farm
and buildings in shape, conclusive re-
suits are hardly obtainable at this
time, but that the Willmar hospital
farm will eventually show satisfac-
tory returns is without question. This
year the institution makes its first
biennial report.
Since the Willmar institution was
opened total of PAL committed and
81 voluntary patients have been cared
for. Of the patients a little over
thirteen per cent were women. Seven
Were discharged as insane and 80
were released under bond in care of
relatives. Nine patients were dis
charged as not proper subjects, either
incorrigible or so mentally incapaci-
ated as to render treatment useless.
With the work entrusted to it large
ly experimental and the treatment of
those confined in the institution a
matter of individual study, progress
has been more or less slow. In no
sense a penal institution, but with
every patient enjoying the fullest
freedom, escapes have been frequent
and problems covering discipline and
treatment many. Each difficulty has
had to be met by the board of CONTROL.
which is in charge, and the medical
staff at the farm, and each corrected
with a view to future uniformity In
the matter of treatment and control.
One of the annoying things has
been the matter of escapes. In all
there have been 1913 listed, of which
one was a woman. This large number
of escapes is explained by the fact
that a number left the institution
without permission several times.
When returned these escaped patients
still enjoyed the privileges that those
who obeyed shared in This feature
| of the institution to date has been
very discouraging to those in charge,
but corrective measures are now being
planned which it is hoped will reduce
the number of escapes to the min
imum.
Where family conditions demand it
or cure is made patients are released
under bond and so far this plan has
worked fairly satisfactory. They are
placed in the care of relatives or
| friends, the knowledge that these
persons are responsible for their fu-
ture sobriety has had a beneficial eff
feet. AS showing what the inebriate
hospital has done, out of % alcoholic
and drug victims admitted Fl were so
far relieved that their transfer to the
insane institutions of the state was
prevented. Each admitted showed de-
cided mental disturbance, but as re-
suit of the treatment given them the
number named was prevented from
becoming further charge on the tax
payers.
Because of the newness of the Will
mar hospital-in fact it has really
been in operation less than year as
| far as treatment for those alcholicy
afflicted are concerned there is
much ignorance throughout the state
concerning even its existence. Its
real purposes are not understood by
many. 1t should not be confused with
drink cure establishments Of adver-
tised fame Quoting those in charge:
at is not alone the present condition
of patients brought to the institution
that is involved, but the future. The
treatment of the Immediate effect OF
alchoholic or drug Indulgence is the
easiest part of the work, and the Will
mar Institution directs its energies
to building up the system through the
medium of baths and substantial food.
These, together with certain amount
of daily labor, act as tonic and soon
the desire for alcohol or its drug sub
stitutes is gone. Sometimes drugs are
necessary when the patient is In a
bad way, but their use is not often"
Quoting the medical staff of the
hospital again: There is the future
to fear. The patient must go out into
the world and again engage in the
daily struggle for his livelihood Our
aim is to see that he is able to resist
temptation. We must prepare him for
it. We must build up both his body
and his character. That is the only
complete cure"
In the opinion of the management
six months at the farm is necessary
for complete recovery, though in some
cases longer time is desirable. This
| is especially so in the case of those af-
flicted with the drug habit
To those with q taste for research
the Willmar institution Is interesting.
All kinds of statistics are compiled by
those In charge and they cover every
phase Of the work assigned the hos
pital. For instance, the figures show
that Ramsey county contributed 81 of
the patients so far, Of whom IL were
females, and Hennepin county, So, of
whom o were females. As to occupa-