The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-03-25
TEXT OF REPORT
ON INSANE ASYLUMS
Legislative Committee Tell of Their
Findings at Waterbury and Brat
tleboro, as Told to the Leg
islators.

The report Of the legislative committe
which visited the state hospital for tn
insane at Waterbury and the Brattlebor
Retreat was as follows:
Pursuant to the joint resolution passe
by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives, your committee on insane visite,
the state hospital at Waterbury on Feb
I25, 1915, and the Brattleboro Retreat OF
March s and 0, and respectfully repor
that at both institutions we were cor
daily received by the officers in charge
who seemed to be glad to welcome thor
ough inspection OF the institutions un
der their charge and ready to give all in
formation desired in regard to the man
lagement Of the same, and of the condi
ton and care of the unfortunate per
sons under treatment therein.
| At both places we found the system
adopted TO be different from the ole
method of combining the patients where
they would not have much beside them.
selves to think about, and substituting
therefor some occupation which would
not only give them some physical exei-
else but would also take their minds of
some other subject.
This method is not only q benefit to
the patient but saves much expense by
allowing the inmates to perform certain
duties which would otherwise require
the employment of paid labor.
At the present time there are 75l pa
tents at the state hospital at Water
bury, both state and private, about 100
more men than women, and we are very
glad TO state that there is no distinction
between the state and private patients.
all are treated alike.
There are y wards. II for men and 10
for women. The sleeping rooms were
kept very clean, neat and orderly, the
beds being Of iron frames with wire
springs good mattresses, blankets and
white spreads
Each ward had its own dining room
except two, and all are well appointed.
The tables were covered with white Ia
blecloths and each room was well
equipped with erockery, and good food
was well prepared and served in an in
yiting condition.
The patients were well dressed and
kept as clean az could be expected in the
mental condition from which they were
suffering, and we found only a very few
excluded or under any mechanical re-
straint, and only those who are subject
TO violent impulses or patients who. are
dangerous 10 others and de-
their clothes. The tubercular
patients were isolated from the rest of
the patients and they have good, roomy
quarters plenty Of reading material with
good light and ventilation.
We saw several in the hospital ward
who were not able 10 be about and who
were well attended by trained nurses.
when DIR. Grout first took charge OF
the institution there were no verandas !
for patients 20 sit or walk on, but now
most every ward has its veranda for pa
tents 20 exercise on in the open air, |
which is a great benefit for the treat. /
ment and care of the patients.
The pathological and meteorological
laboratories under the supervision Of DR..
W. L. WATSON are a material aid In the
diagnosis and consequent intelligent
OF the patients,
The fire apparatus was in good condi-
ion with plenty Of water supply, under
Ugh pressure, with hose and nozzlcs In
very ward.
Ia the afternoon we visited the kitch
m, laundry. powerhouse, boiler.rooms,
.lso the harms. and found them also kept I,
ip in the best possible condition and
verything looked as though il was well
managed.
The harms were IN good repair. wei
ept and stocked with over 100 registered
Iolsteiu cattle which furnish all Of the
milk used in the institution and q large
ortion Of the beef. The cattle were fat
nd looked 10 ~ in very fine condition.
They have a very large silo which win
old several hundred tons Of ensilage,
'hich they use an winter. q
Owing 10 the inclemencv Of the wealth. I
r and lack Of time we did not 20 through ]
be nurses home ~ waterbury. ID
A new system Of heating and ventilat \
" has been installed az the retreat by 4
ieans OF which 65O00 cubic feet 81 q
-esh air per minute may BE- drawn from 4
1tside the buildings. heated 20 the d.
red temperature and delivered 10 the
arious parts Of the buildings NJ a point
Ear the ceilings while TIE vitinted ar
drawn out through registers near the
cor and discharged outside. practically l
lanrinr the air in the institution Eve
hi one-haif times each hour
Hardwood 1o0rs ARE replacing The !
der foors az rapidly as possible and J
ill so0n b. laid Throughout the institu- /
on
The Kitchen. which uas criticized bv /
Irmer committee has been entirely
anrcd end u nov wholesome and sanI-
~ ign every respect
DR. tawt1n reported that when ha took
nrrr of thp retreat tir patients wrre
fnishrd 30 huttef eeEee ~ many utf
thinrs nov influ8e8 u Their food.
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