The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-12-15
STATES INSANE
TURN EFFORTS TO
JTlLIT'ARIAN ENDS
Persuasion Rather Than
Coercion is Found to be
Effective.


%tendent of the Connecticut Hospital
for the Insane, DR.. c. Floyd Haviland,
IN the year that he has spent at Mid
dletown has Increased the number Of
patients who. are occupied in some
useful work from 3S per cent. to 48
per cent. With $500 odd inmates at
the institution 1t can be seen that
considerable number of men and wo-
men, who have been sent to this hos
.pital because they are of unsound
mind, are now doing something with
their hands. And this Is one Of the
first steps toward helping them back
to mental health. Although good
gain has been made in "a months, the
hospital authorities hope to make the
percentage even larger.
Hundreds Of people have visited
tho state hospital this week to in
ispect some OF the handiwork OF the
patients. which was on exhibition in
the large amusement hall. Those
under the direction Of Miss Mary L.
Putnam, director Of occupational
work at the institution, a very at
tractive display had been made. Most
tof the work was arranged on tables
about the room. Palms. poinsettias.
and little Jerusalem cherry trees add
ID to the tasty effect. The hospital
orchestra furnished the music.
considerable portion OF the dis
play was made by the women pa
SFtients. Fancy work predominated.
There w~s embroidery, knitted ar
azicles, and crocheting, ais well as
braided and woven rugs and basket
work Wash clothes galore suggest
"a e. cleanliness which was whole
some and inspiring. Some had been
made by the men patients who had
lnlso given themselves somewhat to
:baslketry.
All the articles were for sale and
/, "Wednesday. the day the exhibition
WAS opened, the buying was very
brisk, although the purchasers were
asked not to remove their property.
Each piece was tagged with a sale
ticket, bearing the name OF the pur-
chaser, and allowed to remain until
!. the close Of the exhibit. The pro-
ceeds Of the: sale. above the cost Of
y material are ITO be put in a fund
I which win be expended for the COM
Photographs, papers. magazines and
4 articles which all can enjoy will be
purchased with the money.
The first sale ever held at the hos
pital was given last May, when nearly
500 was realized.
Not to Make Money.
Unless some statement to the con-
trafy is forthcoming, 1t is an easy
& the purpose of this work. The effort
IS made solely for it's effect upon the
patients. The hospital authorities
wish to minimize the mere sale side
Il OF the work. It Is not to make money.
1trfssa curative effort.
I'VE feel we are not doing our
lduty Eunless we do more than merely
h03tge these people, = said DR. Havi- 1
lanll THE public has foremost In /
mtNd. when thinking OF the insane,
thu idea of CUSTODIAN care. We wish |
the people OF Connecticut to become
interested in the possibilities Of the
curative efforts which may be put
forth for those who are mentally
sick. The need @3of funds, for such
enterprises. II imperative at an insti- |
tuition like this
1t is easy to believe that person
who sits In cell all day and does
notl1ing Win find the mind deteriorat-
ing. This is true Of the insane, and
The effort IL made to get the patients
~ do something and SO, through the
hands to start the mind. DR. Havi-
land likes to speak OF this as teach
ing occupation. None Of It was done
previCus TO last November, when the |
sOc6upationS department was started, /
dnithough there have always been a 4
tigood many patients at the hospital
whip have willingly given time and ef-
10rtsto some form Of useful work ana
fhls has always been encouraged. j
There have been many, however, who |
hare persistently done nothing.
Uses Persuasion. ]
10 one Is forced to do any work |
n0Ws they are coaxed to, however,
and DR.. Haviland laughs Hhsn he
sa5S they are pretty good coaxers
Ou1 there. he Is dong everything |
nh1t he can TO make 1t fashionable I
among the patients TO ~ Smp10yed
In the summer thsy gfvs lawn par
f1es. and In the winter teas, to the
women patients who do some form
" tho occupat1onal effort. Refresh
xssn1s are served at these gaxherfnTsl
ana the orchestra plAys and all the
women patients who do some form
Of work, whether ia the kitchen or
only embroldery in their room. en-
5Oy this privilege
Those who decline to give them
b61Yes to any form Of occupation are +
not allowed to coma to the festfy1-
44eA
The men who work are given
trolley rides and other outinx4