Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1917-04-06

VERMONT PHOENIX,
ter r. Clement, was taken to the Re.
treat on September 9, 1915, in % much
disturbed condition of mind that she
was confined there nine weeks and two
days; that it was extremely difficult
to care for her properly owing to the
habits peculiar to tho form of insanity
from which she was suffering; that
she was visited there by friends and
relatives and found naked, in a room
without furniture, in q much neglected
condition; that she was destructive in
her tendencies. Your committee find
that the Retreat should have given
Mrs. Clement closer care and attention
We think Mrs. Clement might and
should have been supplied with cloth
ing adapted to her condition and needs
and that measures should be taken to
provide such patients with proper cloth
ing and proper furnishings should be
placed in rooms where this class Of pa
tients must be confined
The Barrett Case.
In this case it was claimed that one
w. f. Barrett, patient at the Retreat
from January, 1912, to July, 1912, sus-
tanned injuries to his nose and fore
head.
Your committee investigated this
matter very fully and arc unable to
find that the patient was injured while
at the Retreat. We find that during the
latter part of his confinement there Mr..
Barrett failed rapidly and death was
the result of the disease from which
he was suffering at the time of his
commitment.
The Grace Adams Case.
In this case the Retreat was charged
with neglect of Grace Adams, while she
was a patient at the Retreat suffering
from insanity, in that she was permit
ted to swallow a nail pieces of glass, a
piece of wire and darning needle
which necessitated an operation. Your
committee find that Mrs. Adams was
permitted through lack of necessary at
tention to procure and swallow these ar
ticles; that the claim made against the
Retreat and the expense of the opera
ton and treatment incurred as a result
treat to the amount of about $500.
The Joseph G. Jones Case.
Mr.. Jones was a patient at the Re-
treat for incbriety and claimed to have
been chokcd and dragged across the
street by attendants and later claimed
that he had sustained damages and
brought suit against one Hills, night
Waterman at the Retreat, who assisted
in restraining Jones while under the
influence of liquor, claiming that Hills
was liable for those injuries.
Your committee find that no unneces-
sary restraint was used in this case;
however, the Retreat paid approximate
~ $75 III settlement of the claim OF
Mr.. Jones.
The g. H. Smith Case.
This patient was brought to the Re
treat on May 2S, 1914, from Springfield
Mass, for treatment as an alcoholic.
1t was claimed that Smith, while con
fined on ward 3, was knocked down
and kicked by an attendant an
severely injured and that night was
removed to another ward and a few
days later died
Your committee have carefully inves
tigpted this. case and are unable to find
that death was the result of the al
legged i'll treatment. We do find that
because the patient refused to remove
his clothing, as quickly as desired By
an attendant, he was knocked down
and kicked several times. The evi
dencc as to the extent and character
of the injuries inflicted was indefinite
We find that on the evening following
this i'll treatment Smith was removed
from his room on the third ward t.
room upon another ward and the rec
ord of this case at the Retreat shows
"August II, IA. Patient died today
cerebral effusion (hcmorrhage) is givei
as the exact cause of death. Meningit
is was contributing cousc.'
Settlements Were Unwise.
Concerning the settlement made b,
the Retreat in the Guilford, Adams an
Jones cases the committee find that tn
Retreat in each case discaimed liza
bility for the damages claimed but t
avoid the expense of suit and publicity
considered it for the best interests o
the Retreat to settle these claims.
The settlement of threatened LAY
suit is oftentimes II combination o
cXpediency, to save expense of litiga
ton, to avoid publicity and the possibl
miscarriage of justice. An insane asy
lum cannot afford to settle threat
encd law suit for any or all of tn
foregoing reasons, but only when it
fully satisfied that some of its scrN
ants have been guilty of such negl
gcncc or misconduct as may be action
able against the asylum and then tn
fullest publicity should be by it give
to the entire subject matter.
/, The unfortunate Clement incident
: the result Of a mistaken policy. TIL
Retreat is not so equipped with isola
ed apartments that it can from an
aesthetic viewpoint satisfactorily can
for certain types of insanity withor
recourse to the usual restraint an
should have so advised in the case n
} fcrred to.
| The board of trustees who have ii
immediate oversight of the Retreat al
known throughout the state as men {
S the highest character and of great abb
itV