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There is no necessity for abusing a patient. I have seen both systems tried, abuse and kindness; and kindness is by far the easiest, safest course.

And besides, these patients are the boarders of the house, and the attendants are the hired servants, and this distinction ought to be recognized as an inspiring feeling of respect attending the patient's welfare.

Kind attendants, sometimes get abuse from maniacs, but feeling required to "bear the infirmities of the weak," they never feel justified in returning abuse for abuse, "but contra-wise blessings." They soothe and calm, where the irritable attendant excites into the heat of passion.

Under Mrs. De La Hay's reign of injustice, I have seen the forbearance and magnanimity evinced, operate to inflame her malignity, and have heard her even twit them with imbecility and weakness, thus calling these heroic virtues, "their insanity!"

When she would provoke them into a manifestation of resentment, she would exult, as if she was now justified in abusing to any extent, because they are insane!

CHAPTER XXXVIII.
Subduing a New Prisoner.

One night I was aroused from my slumbers by the screams of a new patient, who was entered in my hall. The welcome she received from her keepers, Miss Smith and Miss Bailey, so frightened her, that she supposed they were going to kill her.

Therefore, for screaming under these circumstances, they forced her into a screen-room and locked her up. Still fearing the worst, she continued to call for "Help!" Instead of attempting to soothe and quiet her fears, they simply commanded her to stop screaming.

But failing to obey their order, they then seized her violently and dragged her to the bath-room, where they plunged her into the bath-tub of cold water.

This shock so convulsed her in agony that she now screamed louder than before. They then drowned her voice by strangulation, by holding her under the water until nearly dead.

When she could speak, she plead in the most piteous tones for "Help! Help!"

But all in vain. The only response was "Will you scream any more?"

She promised she would not, but to make it a thorough "subduing," they plunged her several times after she had made them this promise! My room was directly opposite with open ventilators over both doors, I could distinctly hear all.

This is what they call giving the patient a "good bath!"

But the bewildered, frightened stranger, finds it hard to see the "good "part of it. The patient was then led, wet and shivering, to her room, and ordered to bed, with the threat:

"If you halloo again, we shall give you another bath."

The night was very cold, and I lay under my winter's amount of bed-clothes to keep me comfortable, while this shiv-ering girl was allowed only a sheet and one thin blanket to cover her.

She told me next morning that she lay almost frozen all night, and complained of universal soreness for many days after. For a long time I could see black and blue spots all over her body, caused by this violent handling of her tender frame, in putting her through the process of initiation -- "the subduing."

The next morning I was awakened by hearing Miss Smith reprimand her most sternly for wanting her shoes, which she could not find. Instead of trying to pacify her, she forced her shoeless patient to the bath-room, and held her head under the streaming faucet!

The frightened one screamed for "Help!"

For she had not yet learned the sad truth, that she was out of the reach of all human "help," now that she had passed the fatal "dead-lock" of a charitable State institution.

She kept calling for her shoes. Miss Smith had promised them to her after she had washed. This being done, she called for her shoes. Now Miss Smith required her hair to be first combed, and having obeyed this order also, she again called for her shoes.

At this point, my feelings drove me to the spot, to defend the rights of the stranger, where I found Miss Smith, with. upraised hands over her victim, ordering her to "Stop!"

I whispered in Miss Smith's ear:

"I would get her shoes for her."

She turned angrily upon me, and said:

"I shall not be interfered with! I know what I am about -- I haven't seen her shoes -- I know nothing about them."

I left, and went to breakfast. Soon after, Miss Smith came in with her unhappy, shoeless patient, and ordered her to sit down and eat her breakfast. The patient wanted her shoes first, but no request of hers was noticed.

"You may eat or not, just as you choose," said Miss Smith, as her only reply to her inquiry for her shoes.

This was her first meal among this great crowd of strangers in this strange place. I could not help pitying this friendless one, and passing her on my return from the dining-room, put my arm around her waist, and kindly invited her to come to my room, telling her, at the same time, that I would be a friend to her, and treat her kindly.

She replied, "That is all I want."

I told her I would ask the attendants to find her shoes -- that it was their duty to attend to her wants, and keep all her clothing safe for her.