Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1916-08-04
EASTERN STATE HOSPITAL.
Continued from page 60

haps the best way to force this to be
done would be to make each county
pay for the maintenance of it's insane
in the state hospitals. This would
cause no hardship, for they have to
do so anyway, only the tax being a
direct one would appeal to them more
keenly. They would then take action
to see that their county supported
only it's own citizens.
If the adoption of new methods of
aborting syphilis should prove as eff
fective as experiments now indicate,
it will lessen, If not eradicate the
dread disease, paresis. Not less than
rs per cent of paresis cases have a
syphilitic origin, and some authorities
even go SO far as to claim all cases
are syphilitic. However, this treat
ment will never be of value to the
cases now afflicted, for the damage is
done before commitment, but it will
be of inestimable value in preventing
the disease by early abortive treat
ment.
The lines advanced by the leading
authorities are followed at this insti-
tuition, and research work has been
undertaken in hope of improving the
present methods Internal medicine
and moral treatment have been sup
plemented with the use of chemical
reagents and the microscope, in order
not only to make and certify dag
nosis, but to make more effectnual
methods of treatment. Il tt%f
To those experienced it is we'll
known that i'm the treatment of the
insane drugs play a minor part, and
that aside from those needing surgi-:
cal measures, the main reliance Is
placed upon what is known as moral
treatment. Moral treatment consists
of employment, amusement, diver
sions of various kinds, teaching self
control and respect for the rights Of
others, inducing interest in books,
music, flowers. open air exercise. reg
ular methods of living, and all the
agencies which tend to lead the mind
in normal channels of thought
Old Methods Discarded. y
In caring for the insane, the old
methods in which the dungeon, crib
and padded cell figured so prominent
L., nj n
methods, in which kindness, tact,
amusement, exercise, rest for the
mind and body, and the proper ad-
ministration of medicine where the
mental or physical health require 1t
are practiced. Kindness and tact go
hand in hand in helping those who
have lost their mind to regain control.
Exercise and occupation are very nee
essary adjuncts in the treatment Of
the insane, and the benefits derived
therefrom in diverting their thoughts
and using up the surplus energy SO
frequently found in this class of pa
tients cannot be overestimated. Those
able and willing to work are en-
ployed on the farm and around the
buildings, laundry, ETC., and those not
willing to work, or not strong enough.
are taken for daily walks in pleasant
weather. Amusements help pass away
the hours Of confinement pleasantly.
During the summer the weekly ball
game is appreciated by many, and
during the interstate fair at Spokane
a number of the working patients are
, taken to It, The library furnishes
reading for all and the books are
taken in the wards, also the news
papers. Checkers and cards are found
in the wards and are usually In use,
also the game of ping-pong for the
uuieter and convalescing patients.