Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-06-28
By DIR. EDWARD LIEURANCE


insane is at Warm Springs.
Ali patients admitted to the hospita.
must be legally committed by the judge
Of the district court In the county 81
which the person to be committed il
a legal resident, and by tive licensed
prRcticing and registered physicians
Witnesses must be present. It is the
duty Of the sheriff to take patients "a
the hospital. In the case Of ALCOHOLIC
and drug addict cases, they can make
voluntary commitment by appearing
before the Judge m their district No
provision is made for admitting and
keeping persons with mental symptoms
at the hospital merely for observation
prior to commitment.
The hospital Is maintained by taxa
ton and appropriation by the state leg
islature. For the last few years the ap-
preparation for maintaining the Mon
tana state hospital has been $3.50. 900
yearly. For the years 1871 and 1912 the
yearly appropriation has been slightly
increased. The cost per capita for the
last two years has been SIS cents daily
per patient. which Is lower cost than
in any institution Of its kind in the
country.
1850 Patients Treated
There are approximately 1910 pa
tients In the institution. The change in
population is varied owing to the pa
roles, deaths and discharges Of patients,
as well as new admissions, which aver
age one or more daily. For the past
year the number Of patients has been
increasing, which entails more room
and more employees. With the addition
Of every new patient more expense Is
entailed. This is for clothing, food, shell
ter, bedding, heat, medical care, enter
tainment and occupational as well as
recreational therapy. Patients are per-
mitted to wear their own clothing,
whenever available and to accept ar
ticles Of food and money for their en-
tertatnment whenever provided by rel
atives or friends.
The hospital Is maintained for the |
treatment, care and detention Of men
tai cases, those addicted to the excess
sive use Of alcohol and those addicted |
to the Use Of drugs. It is not a general |
hospital for the care and treatment Of |
the ordinary medical or surgical case,
nor is it for the care and treatment of /
neurological and senile cases without
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persons. Persons should not be COM
mitted to this hospital who do not come
under the status of mental case. They
should be properly cared for at gen.
eral hospital or at a county hospital.
The medical staff is composed of a
superintendent and assistant superin-
tendent, who are bonded officers, ap-
pointed by the governor. Their ap-
pointments are ratified by the senate.
They are qualified, licensed regular
practitioners of medicine. It Is the duty
of the superintendent to determine the
necessary medical practitioners needed
to carry on the work of caring for the
patients. 1t is his duty to determine
the number of employees and depart
ments necessary In the efficient oper-
alton Of the institution. There are six
physicians ON the staff including the
and assistant superin-
tendent, and one resident dentist.
IT'S People Employed
There are approximately ITS en-
ployes at the institution. There is an !
office force connected with the admin |
istration building to do the bookkeep- {
Ing and clerical work. A drug room and
laboratory Is maintained at the insti- ,
tuition with q registered technician In
charge who does the usual blood chem !
lstry, urfnalysis, spinal fluid tests, nee !
essary In the diagnosis Of abnormal |
conditions. A reasonable supply Of the
usual drugs, medicines and articles nee I
sssary for carrying on medical and
surgical work is maintained In the drug ,
room.
We have well equipped sterihzing /
rooms and surgery. Trained nurses
work at the institution as well as fe-
male and male attendants not trained,
put familiar with the care Of insane :
persons. A school for psychiatric nurs-
ng is maintained at the institution for
he instruction Of nurses along this i,
inc of nursing A fun time experienced
,eacher Is employed.
This school is maintained in con- !
Junction with Montana State college
md the State Nursing association In
'truction is also given to male and fe-
male persons employed there in the !
ARE of the insane. A trained nurse is in ]
:harge OF the hospital department, and !
rained nurses are employed In both :
he female and male hospital depart !
nents. A woman supervisor Is In charge !
Il the female department and male :
supervisor Is In charge Of the main !,
male department. These departments :
Ilso have assistant supervisors IN :
harge Of the different buildings.
We have what Is called the physical :
liant, made up Of the necessary de-
Dartments to carry on the work Of the :
plumbing department. {
n electrical department, a complete !,
commercial laundry. blacksmith shop, =
carpenter shop. q brick department :
nd cement works, paint shop and
hoe shop. An trade departments are In Z
barge Of licensed tradesmen who draw Z
be union scale Of wages together with p
he necessary apprentices and assist o
nts. A main kitchen is maintained with q
censed cooks who prepare the meals 2
or the employees and patients s
lave Dairy Department.
The patients food is prepared from n
be main kitchen and distributed In II