PROVISION FOR THE INSANE 115 



The hospital, without any effort to produce such a senti- 

 ment, has achieved a pleasant reputation. In the preliminary 

 arrangements for the admission of patients or when they are 

 Ijrought to us, it is almost always requested by their friends or 

 ])y them that they be admitted to the hospital and not to the 

 asylum. The law of Michigan permits voluntary admissions 

 of those w^ho are nervous and in need of hospital care, but not 

 actually insane, and specifies that such patients shall be ad- 

 mitted to the hospital. Treatment of cases in the hospital 

 tends much to dispel the feeling of dread about entering an 

 asylum, and has accomplished not a little in placing mental 

 diseases where they belong, that is, on the same footing as any 

 other malady with which humanity may be afflicted. 



A similar building is now being finished for the care of 

 men patients. This building has room for 77 patients and 

 residence for 20 nurses, which will be about the number re- 

 quired for their care. In several features it is a distinct im- 

 provement upon the construction of the hospital for women. 

 There is one room which will accommodate 12 of the more 

 depressed or suicidal cases where they shall be under the con- 

 stant supervision day and night of a competent nurse. There 

 are rooms for hydriatic treatment and various baths including 

 electric light bath; a room for massage and electrical treat- 

 ment, laboratory rooms for such examinations and experi- 

 mentations as are required. Altogether, it is expected that 

 this building will meet the same needs among the men that the 

 hospital for women has met, and be equally popular among the 

 friends of the men patients. 



The idea of caring for the insane exemplified at the Michi- 

 gan asylum for the insane at Kalamazoo may be briefly de- 

 scribed as comprising three factors: 



First; hospitals for acute cases, which have been described. 



Second; the asylum for the frail and feeble, the restless, 

 uneasy and disturbed chronic cases. 



Third; colonies for able bodied chronic workers. 



Second; the asylum proper. The asylum proper is the 

 residence of those who are frail and feeble physically or by 

 reason of bodily sickness are confined to bed, and of the more 

 restless, uneasy or disturbed chronic cases. Those who are 



