The Survey, Volume 30, Number 1, April 5, 1913Various
History
The Survey, Volume 30, Number 1, April 5, 1913
Various
Charities -- Periodicals; Social problems -- Periodicals; United States -- Social conditions -- Periodicals
The social work in this case was not confined entirely to
arrangements for the boy, but extended to the preparation of the
family for his return, which involved moving to a less congested
neighborhood in a Jewish section of a Boston suburb. It was also
necessary to arrange for his attendance in an open air class, win
his teacher's interest and co-operation, and educate the father to
a realization of the need of discipline, the value of regular hours
for eating and sleeping, the desirability that the boy should sleep
alone, and the danger of exciting recreations.
R. has now been at his own home for twelve months. A recent entry
on the medical record states: "Patient in excellent physical and
mental condition."
The third class includes patients who have been discharged from insane
hospitals as cured, or as so much improved that they should be able to
maintain themselves and take part in family life again.
This work of after-care is extremely important. Many cases of mental
disease can be safely discharged from an insane hospital if there is
assurance that they will be properly followed up in their homes. Such
supervision requires the joint efforts of the physician and the social
worker.
Miss C., for instance, a woman of thirty-three years, was sent to the
clinic for after-care, by arrangement with the superintendent of the
insane hospital to which she had twice been sent for maniac-depressive
insanity. Her mother had also been a patient for years in the same
hospital. During the first weeks of her treatment at the clinic, she was
still nervous, complained of gnawing sensations in the back of her head,
and dreaded to ride in the street cars. When sitting, she constantly
pulled and twitched different parts of her clothing, beat upon the floor
with one foot, and kept one hand on her head, using the other one alone.
She lived with a married sister who was in comfortable circumstances,
and worked for her brother in an unprofitable little plumber's shop,
which he apparently kept mainly to afford employment for Miss C. and a
younger brother.
With this history it was plain that careful oversight and regular
clinical visits were necessary to prevent future attacks. Advice and
encouragement were given with the object of stimulating Miss C.'s normal
interests and of persuading her to return to wholesome companionship.
During the summer of 1912 it was decided to remove Miss C. entirely from
home associations, and a desirable position as housekeeper was secured
in the country. There she gained in weight and spirits, and acquired
valuable experience. She still comes regularly to the clinic, and the
medical and social prognosis seems favorable.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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