The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-07-31
NEW TREATMENT FOR INSANE
Hartford Retreat Nurses Play With Inmates, Not
 Look at Them"
NEW GOLF COURSE OPEN

NEW UOkF VOSNOk OI Ll>
 With the completion this week of a new nine-hole golf course, the Hartford Retreat has put into full operation, a distinct innovation in methods of treating patients for mental and nervous diseases, it was announced yesterday following a meeting of the board of medical visitors consisting of Dr. William Porter, Dr. Edward K. Root and Dr. Phineas H. Ingalls, of Hartford pr. Elias Pratt of Torrington, Dr. Henry Blodgett of Bridgeport and Dr. Frederick G. Graves of Water bury.
 Based on modern psychiatric study. the retreat has revised Its program in order to fully stress the importance of highly individual ized attention through active recreation, purposeful preoccupa- tions and, above all, normal home like atmosphere. Rather than having the patient conform to the vagaries of new environment, the hospital authorities are fashioning an environment to conform to the needs of the patient.
 As one means of accomplishing this end, the staff has been marked ly increased, particularly the nurs- ing force, which has been enlarged by more than 60 per cent. Men and women with exceptional qualifica- tions in their respective fields have been added to the staff.
 A second. and perhaps more i'm portant step, Is a project for re- aligning patients in social groups with normal activities and contacts Approximately 100 nurses are being instructed by staff physical direc- tors and occupational therapists to be teachers of recreation and worthwhile pastimes. Divorced from ordinary hospital routine, their duties are to work and play with the patients, to be concerned with their state of mind, rather than their physical surroundings.
 No longer do nurses at the re- treat watch" their patients. They play and work with them. Every day groups may be seen on the beautiful retreat grounds-playing tennis, miniature golf, obstacle golf, clock golf, croquet. billiard croquet, lawn bowling and baseball. As many as possible take part in a game, the point being to afford a pa- tient as many social contacts as possible.
 Within the building, for use on stormy days and during the winter, is a gymnasium equipped with reg ulation apparatus for calisthenics and facilities for indoor tennis, deck tennis, suffle-board and bad ninth. The newest addition to the facili- ties for recreation is the nine-hole golf course which was laid out un- der the expert supervision of Frank |J. Reynolds, chairman of the greens committee at the Hartford Golf club. In connection with the golf course, the hospital authorities have opened clubhouse and tuck shop" with equipment mak- ing 1t possible for patients to en- joy the carefree atmosphere and all the advantages of country club.
 The tuck shop" is located on the ground floor of the new club house commanding a prominent po- sition on the grounds and is stock ed with refreshments, accessories for golf, and a circulating library, and contains lockers for men and women. A patient may buy what he desires-ice cream, a cigar or a golf ball-simply by signing a slip just as he would at his own golf club. The clubhouse building has been completely rebuilt and redecorat- ed in nile green with club chairs and furniture, painted in harmon izing colors.
 Band concerts and outdoor en- tertainments are given in the eve- ming at least once a week in a set ting made picturesque by spot lights Illuminating the fountains. The Syria Grotto band, the Salvation Army band of Manchester, the Kiwanan Ramblers and the Kitty band are among those which have played at the retreat.
 The staff has recently been aug mented by the addition of Miss Agnes R. Menge as women's physi- cal instructor. Miss Menge, who is a graduate of Arnold college of hygiene and physical education, will cooperate with Charles R. Clarke, mems physical director, in surveying thO ptobidN VI ACSAC@- ton.
 A native of Rockville, Miss Menge was graduated with honors from the Rockville high school. At Arnold college she won outstanding athletic honors. She was mem- Der of the Sword society. eligible by winning a class aesthetic and folk dancing contest: played on the class soccer team one year and on the class hockey team one year. She was also a member of the Pen so- ciety. eligible by ranking third in her class one year and was presi- dent of the Glee club.
 The retreat also announces the appointment of Miss Helen Enches. formerly of the staff of the psychi- atric Institute in New York, as as- sistant to the director of nurses. Miss Agnes Meyer. Miss Enches is q graduate of the University of Min nesota. Following her graduation from the Yale School of Nursing. where she later enrolled, Mis- enches did postgraduate work in psychiatry at the Butler hospital in Providence, R. l.. and at one of the