Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-02-19

as such cannot me trusted to admin
lister without a definitely established
policy, the affairs of the institution.
Some are apt to resort to extremes In
subduing an unruly patient IN TACT
several such instances were called TO
the attention of the AOmmittee while
at the institution.
'It should be remembered that pa
tients are committed here not because
of any wrong doing on their part, but
rather through unfortunate circum-
stances and they should have the
most kindly treatment and considera-
ton. This can only be maintained In
an institution with strongly estab-
lished governing policy, and with
superintendent who has sufficient ex-
ecutive ability to execute that policy.
TREATMENT INHUMAN.
"The committee learned during its
stay at Blackfoot, of many cases OF
neglect, cruelty and inhuman treat
ment that patients had been subjected
to. This should be made absolutely
impossible. The committee was unable
to find that any systematic treatment
was given the individual patient. This
is decidedly wrong, for there are un-
doubtedly many cases of various kinds
of insanity that respond to treatment
from which the patient might recover
",There Is in the present institution
no adequate means of separating or
dividing the various classes OF insan-
ity. The inmates are roughly divided
into trusty or untrusty or runaway.
This division applies to both men and
Lott oil Ia n
trusty, includes those of the more ser
iously afflicted. and they are again d.
vided into the tidy and untidy. 1t
should be possible to divide the various
classes Of patients SO that they could
be specially treated. This can be done
to some extent under the present con-
ditions, but more buildings will be
necessary before such division can be
completed.
"The committee reports that the
outside buildings are and departments
are in the same general rundown con-
dition, and lack the same general su-
pervision that the sanitarium requires.
Barns are poorly arranged, the stock Is
dirty and poorly kept, especially the
mich cows; the hogs are in filthy, I'M
sanitary pens, and the method of feed
ing both cattle and hogs Is Wasteful
and unsanitary. Too much young
stock is kept for the place, as there Is
no pasture and it all has to be fed.
'"The institution has a farm of some
1900 acres of very valuable farm land
that under proper management could
be made to produce revenue that would
go a long way toward keeping up the
expenses of the institution.
CHANGE MANAGEMENT
I'VE recommend the appropriation OF
$3.50 for the erection Of suitable
quarters for the feeble minded psyche
pathic hospital and the clearing and
leveling of the remaining portion of
the farm land that can be profitably
farmed. We recommend the construc-
ton of building for feeble minded in
Blackfoot for the reason that the farm
can use those feeble minded male pa
tients to very good advantage in doing
the general farm work. They will be
able to more than operate 1T them
selves this way. while if the feeble
minded men are all taken from this
institution it will mean that the man
agement will have to hire additional
labor to run the farm.
1--WE would not recommend at this
time an appropriation for the general
remodeling of the present buildings, be-
cause 1t would be impossible to remodel
them until part of the patients re-
tanned there now are moved. This can
not be done until the building for the
feeble minded is completed.
1--WE further recommend the appoint
ment of a complete new board of di-
rectors who will take sufficient inter
est in the institution to see that Its
affairs are properly managed.
1--WE recommend that medical man
an expert on insanity, be appointed as
the medical advisor and superintend-
ent of the institution, and that a sal
airy be provided sufficient to obtair
the services of a first class alienist.
CUT OFF SANiTARIUM
1--WE further recommend that an ex.
| pert farm manager be employed under
the direction of the board. and giver
sufficient authority to develop the farm
along modern and scientific lines. The
medical supervisor should not be IL
charge of the farm. We further rec.
ommend that some adequate fire pro
lection be installed as soon as possible
In connection with this, we recon-
mend that no appropriation be giveI
the Idaho State Sanitarium at Namps
for new buildings or improvements
that that institution be maintained fol
the present at least, as home To-
those female patients that can be TAX
en- from the asylum at Blackfoot. TIL,
committee investigated the institution
at Nampa, and found that the soil con
ditions surrounding the buildings ar
very poor. Practically nothing can b.
made to grow, not even grass will grow
for the lawn. Therefore, it is our judg
ment that 1t would be poor economy t,
add to this institution at this time
Ample Recommendations can be mad
at the asylum at Blackfoot for tn
cases of insanity and feeble mindednes
which would give them the benefit O
being close to productive farm an,
would lessen the cost of medical sup
lervision, and thus make 1t possible I
employ more efficient medical experts.
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