The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1919-01-14

OF the insane, TO study the hoSpltal IN
detail and advise as to its reorganiZa.
ton along the best lines. According.
! ~, DR. ~ +. Herring, Sc cretary Of the
lunacy commission Of Maryland, made
such an investigation and report
which transmitted to the Legislature
during lis session in 1915. A few days
there?fter the LEGISLATURE. in a hniv
visited the hospital, and saw for them
selves the condition disclosed in the
report. Before the legislature adjourn
ed they projected four year program
i of reorganization, to cost Six hundred
! thousand dollars.
i The legislature found scattered
through the four separate buildings
more than eighty separate dining
rooms. with accompanying kitchens.
There were in the white women's ward
alone ninety-two violent patients con-
fined in cells. They were restrained
by the use of leather straps which
were attached to the wall. The fire
hazard was tremendous and the pro-
tecticn absolutely inadequate and IN
operative. The fire hose could not be
attached to the hydrant because they
did not fit, and it was appalling to
think what a terrible disaster could
occur were q fire to break out in ths
nighttime. With anaverage population
of one thousand. seven hundred and
thirty-e:ght the year before, the reg'l-
lar physicians who wereg living all
their time to the care of patients num-
bered Only three, while three others
had been serving on a part time basi'.
In the mems ward l could enunler-
ate esnunbers OF cases of violent pa
tients confined to cells too filthy to de-
scribe. The diet of the patients was
not suitable for sick people and was
often served cod for lack of facilities.
I need not lengthen the recital of the
fearful conditions existing there.
Since that visit the four-year pro-
gram of reconstruction has been car
>ried out as fully as war conditions
would permit. Two congregate dining
rooms and central kitchen have
been constructed; the wards have been
rebuilt, and the fire hazard reduced
to minimum; the fre-fghting facilI-
ties are modern, and exterior exits
shut off by the fre-procf screens have
been built on the ends of the wards.
Mechanical restraint in the treatment
of violent patients has been elimlnat-
ed, and every piece of such apparatus
removed from the wards. Hydrothe-
rapy, warm packs and other rational
methods are now used instead. Oc-
cupation is furnished to the patients
equal TO It; exercise and plenty OF
fresh air allowed, and diversion and
entertainment furnished. The num-
Der of nurses has greatly increased.
and besides the superintendent. who
is himself physician, an adequate
number of physicians give their en-
tire time to the care Of the patients,
while several specialists serve part
of the time Helpful recreation has
been scientifically encouraged, and d.
yersional occupation has been deyei-
oped until a .drge per cent Of the pa
tents are now being so treated. The
large savings affected through better
business management, have been put
into improved medical and nursing
services and diet The effect Of these
and ether improvements is seen inthe
fact that the death rate has been re-
duced to about one-half
The State has not completed its task
at its Hospital for the Insane. Much
remains to be done for the hospital,
whose patients now number over two
thousand, and who's admissions aver
age nearly one hundred a month. The
work is progressive and is III realty
never finished. But We can now point
to our State hospital with pride for we
have made wonderful advance in pro
yiding a modern plant adapted to the
needs of the patients. The remodel
ing of the hospital would have been
much further advanced and at much
Jess cost had not the work been re,
tarded and prices of material affect,
ed by war conditions.
For the management of the hospital,
the board of regents, and DR.. Will
Iiams, the superintendent, have moth
ing but the HIGHEST praiae.. These men
have given their best to the institu
ton in q spirit of self-sacrificing de-
yotion and conservation, and in the