Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1926-01-27
= MUcH-NEEDED REFORM
Lorentz, w. Va, Jan. 7, 1926.
Editor Spirit Of jefferson:

Editor Spirit Of Jefferson:
During the administration Of Gov
ernor Dawson was member of the
Board of Directors Of the Spencer
State Hospital for the Insane, and
was legislated out of Office when con-
troll of state institutions was placed
in the hands of the State Board of
. Control.
Ny observations while a member
Of the said board, and since, have
caused me TO have a decided opinion
az 10 the medical treatment of our
insane.
Last spring an Ayrshire bull be-
longing to the State at the Rey-
maan's Memorial Farms, near War
densville, became choked. The herds
man tried the usual method of in
sorting a rubber hose down the bulls
throat, but failed to unchoke him, as
did veterinarian called from Win
chester.
A hurry-up call was sent to the ex-
tension people at Morgantown, and
two trained men were rushed to the
scene. In the meantime the Nor
gantown folks called a specialist
from Washington, who came to the
rescue and succeeded in unchoking
the bull. But after having been
choked about three days, and having
been unable to drink water, impac-
ton of the stomach had set in. The
specialist flooded the bulls stomach
with water. and proceeded to beat
up the dried mass-a heroic job
but in the end old Leto came through
all right. All this trouble and ex-
pense was justifiable, as this bull is
one of the best of the breed-a gift
from Mr.. Reymann, of Wheeling.
Now, what happens when your
/ friend becomes mentally unbalanced
Or insane. as we usually term it?
Is there hurry-up call sent out for
a specialist? Do we have a special
ist at hand in the asylum to treat
your friend?
Our regular physicians have been
setting up howls, and perhaps right
ly so, about the chiropractors, when
! as rule those who treat the insane
are not even good punch doctors"
along that line.
During the past few years great
| strides have been made in the treat
ment of mental diseases. It is now
believed by some of the best medical
authorities that all insane persons
are physically sick The causes are
various. 1t may be infected teeth,
tonsils, stomach, intestines, or other
vital organs of the body. Up-to-
date treatment is being given the in
/ sane of Illinois, Indiana and other
states.
Results obtained at the hospital
for insane at Trenton, N. j., is not
able example of what can be accom-
| plished in curing insane persons. I'm
| der the treatment of DIR. Harry A.
Cotton and others, using vaccines,
serums and surgery, eighty-seven
! per cent of the fundamentals (incur-
able) group of patients were dis
charged in the years 1919-20-21 and
, %, and eighty-two per cent of this
! number were permanently cured.
while at the same institution for the
/ ten years prior to 1919 the dis
| charges from the same group were
only thirty-eight per cent. During
the four year period from 1919 to
1922 inclusive, 1412. patients were
permanently cured.
While formerly persons taking
their friends to this institution felt
that they were placing them in liv-
ing grave, they now expect them to
recover, and the question asked is
"How soon can she be cured. The
average stay of those discharged is
/ now three months, while formerly it
was ten months.
The sooner the patient can be
treated, the more likely the recov-
cry. After long continued mental
sickness, the brain cells become de-
stroved and recovery is hopeless.
The greatly reduced period of
treatment and the largely increased
per cent of patients cured would in
dictate a financial saving, aside from
1 humane considerations.
/ Compare the above figures with
the figures for the West State Hos
pital for the 2ar 1920. During this
sc were discharged
At the Trenton hospital the tradi-
tional strong room with padded cells,
+ straight Jackets and other restrain
ing apparatus is eliminated, and no
patient is put under restraint for
any cause; the burly keepers are re-
placed with young women nurses,
dressed in immaculate white, which
harmonizes with the white interior.
snow-white bedding and white iron
beds. All this tends to soothe and
quiet the patient.
Mr.. B C Lewis, State Commission
er of Institutions and agencies of
New Jersey, says that the number of
patients at Trenton Hospital is de-
creasing, that over 100000 is being
saved annually, that the mortality
rate is lower than. in any insane asy-
lum in the country, that the extra
ordinary results achieved at Trenton
means. if continued, that a large
part of the old asylum section can
be abandoned before long, or con-
verted to other uses.
There is government institution
in Washington in which young men
are trained for the scientific treat
IL H.. u A