The West Shoke.
VOTi fi N(l 4 J L. tomwl. Piibltahf r,
,UU "W j lUMoriusunHt,
Portland, Oregon, April, 1880.
I'rr Annum, I nihil coin,'
THE OREGON INSANF A9Y1 UM
Gijjantic strides have of laic lcen made to
wards the more perfect and scientific treatment
of that part of our population which are usually
designated as insane. Instead of the dark cell,
the inhuman straight-jacket, and the savage
keeper, wc now have skillful physicians, kind
and considerate nurses, pleasure grounds, and
quiet anil peaceful asylums where the mortal af
flicted with a "mind diseased" can forget his
mania, and if it lies in human agency, he re
stored to his natural condition of mind and body.
The Oregon Insane Asylum, located in one of
the most healthy and dcsiiable spots adjoining
liast Portland, is, perhaps, the leading institution
in the West. The treatment, as pursued by Dr.
tlon and tie vmj atUactiva. A (rath ami bright
as everything is on the outsiue, the inside of the
building are more so. The rooms are plainly but
neatly furnished, and arc kept well aired and ven
tilated. The halls are remarkably clean and
cheerful ; and the kitchen, dining-halls and other
departments are superior in their finish and com
pleteness to anything on the Pacific (.'east. There
is a homelike air of comfort and convenience
about everything that is, indeed, attractive; and
the satisfied look that many of the patients wear,
proves that the excellent and studied surround
ings have their proper effect on them. The build
ings or to I more correct, the Asylum -i di
vided into seven wards, each Iwing under the
charge of its own set of officers, ami all of them
under the general supervision of Dr. Hawthorne.
Everything is reduced to a system ; there is no
cUMuilg or confusion, and though the buildings
cowr live acres, not a mishap or accident can oe-
1 1 He water used in Dr. Hawthorne' establishment
is the purest and best in the country. It i sup
plied tram a neter-failing spring which run 750,
000 gallons every twenty-four hours. The water
is Conducted to the building by mean of the bttl
quality of pipe, and is accordingly as pure and
fresh as when it lirt bubbled from the earth.
Thoih'h ihr lulildillir nm of won.! vol n..i
'""I- ! -1 i'.r....r..r I... .1... . ..I '
" - hlirjivi mi mi 1 itui inns i.w.in
to avert ami extinguish tire. Each ward luutwo
llalx'ock Eire Extinguishers, liesidcs these, an im
mense tank i placed on one of the building
which Is alwayi kept full. The tank ha a ca
pacity of 10,000 gallons, and ha hose attached
to it which will enable the attendant to throw a
stream of water with a Jo-foot pressure on the
most isolated pints of the building should ne
cessity require it. Attached to the tank is a
steam pump which can fill it with water a fal a
it is exhausted. The Institution ha holler, en
gines, and all the paraphernalia incident upon
1U
11
THE OREGON INSANE ASYUJM- EASTPORTI.AND,
Hawthorne, is a most excellent and happy one.
Tile buildings are unexcelled. All the comfort
and conveniences that modern science and dis
covery have added to the outfit if wc may use
the term of the doctor, are there; and nothing
that experience and humanity can adil arc absent.
The Asylum is located in a beautiful spot, and i
surrounded by tall anil majestic fir and the " ev
erlasting cedar." The ncencry i magnificent.
Mt. Hood, St. Helens, and the venerable top of
the Cascades can lc een on cleor day, while the
out-tprcading valley of the Willamette i a source
of never ending delight ami pleasure to those of
the inmate who have a taste for the beautiful in
nature. The buildings are large, comfortable,
Well arranged ami tasteful. The grounds ur
umling them are kept in high MM of culliva-
cur in any of them but that the Doctor ii Imme
diately aware of it and remedies It himself.
In addition to the order, completeness and fin
ish noticeable in all department and all thing,
there is a magnificent Exercise Park at the icar
of the building. This I an institution by itself,
ami it is piobable that tuch a Park as this ! not
possessed by any other Insane Aylum in the
United Stale. In the ground surrounding the
entire lot of building there arc eighty-one acre
of land, all put under a high and successful state
ol cattrntka. BmUh wj there arc lot acre
attached lo the Institution and owned by II, also
under cultivation, mailing in all 184 acres of cul
tivated land. This year they have planted tinny
acres of potatoes, ten aero of other vegetables,
and have six acre of hearing orchard. The In
stitution not only dor ils own farming, hut alto
make it own butter ami tupplie it own table
with oil article in the dairy line. To do this,
imt) five milch cow are required.
uch an immense establishment.
There aro al present 170 patients under Dr.
Hawthorne' care auo male and 70 Icmale.
The Stale send it insane here 1 a 1 "iilttvt hav
ing been made with the Dr. by whiih Ihr It ef
fected, Although .Ihr eirntei of luuning tuih
an establishment must necessarily be largr, yel
don the Dr. take each patient under hit care for
the -null turn of $5 per week, Ihlt includes board,
I loihmg, .medicine, nursing, attendance, wine,
etc., and In cue of drain, burial, The In
itiation hat been under the successful manage
ment of Dr. Hawthorne for a priiod of righlrru
yeart. Up to ihr prrtenl llmr, ovrr $80,000
have liren riiended iy him 011 budding alone.
The tafl of the Institution consist ol Dr. J.
(', llawthornr, proprietor ami nqierinlendrnt
Dr. 0, I'. Notttgl jud B, E. Jotrphi, lianl
physiciant John Kenworthy, ilrwaid Mr. M
S. Kenworthy. matron, with full corps ol attendants.