New Britain herald., 1927-12-14
MENTAL DISEASES
 FULLY EXPLAINED
Dr. Leak Of MiddletOVn Ad. dresses Exchange Club

'lt the cases of prop!. suffering .uG mental diseases were brought i,tor. in, authorities at the Middle town state hospital in the early s,a@.s O tue attack, fully 60 per cont O. the eases could be cured" !" declared Superintendent Dr. D. l.. I.rlk og the NiGdletown state hos rital last evening at the weekly meeting Of inc Exchange club. pr. l.,4E aay.. tn iu', resting talk on the conditions Ij tho hospital and the various "ausrs of mental diseases. Hi- speech 1n part was as follows:
 People on the whole are not ia mfliar wiCn rhe purpose Of and con- di,ions al inc hospital Even cX- ports ara lacking in facts concern ing th. ouara oC the hospital. Most people have feeling Of dread towards .g,L eu institution.
 2SSo Patients Listed
 A- the pr sent time there are ,>Au patients and 500 employ"s in tha hospital. The institution is sit ratod east of Midiletown and cov- .-s SSo acres Os this amount 405 aeros lr, under cultivation while the ,.~f is covered by buildings. There ts z mechanical department which -nuisr., heat. light, hot water. etc. The hospital has is own water ..ro'y.
 Crowded Conditions
 k ,-t+ { f.,r encounter are many Most of the buildings are old fashioned. The in- -rilution was built in 1896 after the model of the hospital built in Penn .ylyania. There are rooms on both sides Of the railways. These corri- dors and railways are lighted but there are no lights in the rooms. II is often necessary to put two reds in .ne room and sometimes three beds. Many times beds are put in the corridors.
 Lights An Essential
 The hospital generates it's own electricity because it can be done al d much cheaper price than any light  it lor. Lights are necessary 24 hours a day and if the tights were to gC out during the night, serious troubles would develop. This is pre- vented at the hospital by having un- d"rground wires that are not affect cd during a storm. Dr. Leak stated that in his 30 years of hospital worl he has never known the tights tc fail.
 When a person enters the hospi- tai for treatment he is first taken tc the reception hospital. Here he i! examined both physically and men tally. Suggestions are then made tt his relatives as to the best course 10 take to cure the case. whatevel form fl may be. One Of the great est difficulties of the authorities E right here. In most cases the pa tent has been deceived by III friends and relatives and does no know where he has been brought When he Is talk n to the part of 'h hospital housing his peculiar forn of trouble he finds himself amonl strangers and his liberty taken away Immediately he has q great desir' to leave the place and this only in creases his sickness. He should al ways be told by his relatives where he is and what for. If this Is dont he will be reconciled to the situa ton and the doctors will have much better chance Of curing him
 The doctors will get his confidence In their attempt to help him ant they will be able to tell him hl trouble and what is best for him.
 Cases of Long Duration
 The average case is Of long du ration before it Is brought befor he attention Of the hospital. Rec ords show that if the cases are giv en attention before they reach th' serious stage. 60 per cent Of then can he cured within three months AS soon as the patient begins to ge imaginary ideas, he should b brought to the hospital and not al lowed to get these ideas firmly root ed in his mind.