The Lexington progress. (Lexington, Tenn.) 1884-current, 1918-06-14
Day Spent at
Bolivar Hospital,

Knowing our people 10 De IN
tensely interesten in that State in
stitution, the West Tennessee Hospi.
tai for the Insane, magnifcently
located three miles from Bolivar,
Hardeman county, we are glad to
tell our readers of a visit to that
institution made last Sunday in
company with Messrs. H. E. Riley,
John Riley, j. W. Belew. Mrs. j. W.
Belew and daughter, Miss Mittie.
Leaving Lexington at about 7 a. m,
the run to Bolivar was made with
out mishap in Mr.. Bellows REQ car
stopping at Jackson to take air and
cooling refreshments for the pas
sengers. Bolivar was reached be-
fore noon and a splendid picnic dim
ner prepared by Mrs. H. E. Riley
and Mrs. Belew was enjoyed in the
magnificent grove Of aged and state
ly oaks in front of the immense
hospital building. Early afternoon
it was the privilege of our party to
see the patients in whom we were
interested and it affords us unquali-
fled pleasure to state that each and
every one Of them were in the most
gratifying condition, showing that
they are in competent and humane
hands and getting full benefit Of
that scientific treatment which re-
etores to normal mentality a very
large per centage Of the patients en-
trusted to the care of the medical
staff by whom the institution is con-
Quoted. We feel especially indebt-
ed to Supt DR. E. W.. Cooke, Super
visor S. 7. Mitchell and Head Nurse
Miss Catherine McWilliams (who is
also the female supervisory for their
courtesy end promptness in giving
us interviews with our friends who
are their patients. AS a majority
of the patients in whom we are in
terested are ladies, we especially
appreciated the courtcsies extended
by Miss McWilliams. who impress
ed us as a most capable essQflan--
and, by the way M Mis- lllcWil-
liams IS fssfself q IIssdeman county
|se0nian. SIZE i DONG hi great work
right %. her native heath
ii 'fa& ID ia u Ire, p.
80 - - - Il <[l(I-
day our old friend. Mr. w W. Baird,
Of Humboldt, the West Tennessee
member Of the State Board Of Con-
troll. under whose management the
hospital and all other State institu-
tons are now conducted. Upon our
request Mr.. Baird carried us into
the Executive offices and there
showed us the splendid system I'M
der which the institution is con-
ducted--as well as some Of the
gratifying results Of the latter day
methods which make such a graft
flying showing when compared with
the lax methods Cor want of any
method at alp Of former days. For
many years the West Tennessee
Hospital for the Insane was merely
"a "Lunatic Asylum" a place of
temporary or permanent detention
for those Of our people who had the
misfortune to suffer from mental
ailments. Formerly, that is under
the first plan, which was followed
for many years. the commitment
papers Of the patient and a mere
entry of'the arrival of the patient
at the hospital, without even the
county Of residence being stated,
was the only record kept. Now the
record is absolutely full from the
time Of application for admission Of
the patient until he or she departs
therefrom-a and that record, cover
ing the family history of the patient,
with complete diagnosis Of the pa
tents mental and physical condi-
ton at any period Of residence
there, is obtainable even If the pa
tient should suffer a relapse and
find it necessary to take treatment
in another state. The medical staff
of the hospital is composed Of four
physicians Of whom we had the
pleasure Of meeting Drs. E. w
Cooke. L. N. Barnard and C. D. Lee.
The showing for last wear in 70.