Little Falls herald., 1914-11-06

A state institution Of unusual inter
est, because Of the experimental char.
acter of its work, is the hospital farm
for inebriates located at Willmar. This
hospital, with a farm Of about 600
acres attached, was opened about
eighteen months ago and is mostly
maintained by a two per cent tax on
all retail liquor licenses issued in the
state. .,........- -. -.
With an existence period Of less
than two years to it's 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 hospi-
tai farm will eventually show satisfac-
tory returns is without question. This
year the institution makes it's first BIZ
ennial report.
Since the Willmar institution was
opened total of 241 committed and
2l voluntary patients have been cared
for. Of the patients little over thir'
teen per cent were women. Seven were
discharged as insane and So were re-
leased under bond in care Of relatives.
Nine patients were discharged as not
proper subjects, either incorrigible or
so mentally incapacitated as to render
treatment useless.
While the work entrusted to it is
largely experimental and the treat
ment of those confined in the institu-
ton a matter Of individual study pro-
gress 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 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 10S lated, 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 re.
turned these escaped patients still en-
joyed the privileges that those who
obeyed shared in. This feature Of the
institution to date has been very dis
couraging to those in charge, but cor
rective measures are now being plan
ned which it is hoped will reduce the
number of escapes to the Minimum
Where family conditions demand it
or cure is made patients are released
under bond and 80 far this plan has
worked fairly satisfactory. They are
placed In the care Of relatives or
friends, and the knowledge that these
persons are responsible for their future
sobriety has had beneficial effect. As
showing what the inebriate hospital
has done, out of 20 alcoholic and drug
victims admitted 81 were so far re-
ieved that their transfer to the in
sane institutions Of the state was pre-
vented. Each when admitted showed
decided mental disturbance, but as q
result Of the treatment given them the
number named was prevented from be-
coming a 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 alcoholicly
afflicted is concerned-there is much
ignorance throughout the state con-
eerning even its existence. Its real
purposes are not understood by many.
It should not be confused with drink
cure establishments Of advertised fame.
Quoting those in charge: "It is not
alone the present condition of patients
brought to the institution that is in
volved, but the future. The treatment
Of The immediate effect of alcoholic or
drug indulgence is the easiest part Of
the work, and the Willmar institution
directs its energies to building up the
system through the medium Of baths
and substantial food. These, together
with a certain amount of daily labor,
act as tonic and soon the desire for
alcohol or its drug substitutes is gone.
Sometimes drugs are necessary when
th1 patient is in a bad way, but their
use is not often.''
Quoting the medical staff Of the hos
pital again: "There is the future to
fear. The patient must go out into
the world and age;n 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
1t. We must build up both his body