Were I to close the record of events of that October day with an account of the assault just described, few, if any, would imagine that I had failed to mention all the abuse to which I was that day subjected.  The fact is that not the half has been told.  As the handling of me within the twenty-four hours typifies the worst, but, nevertheless, the not unusual treatment of many patients in a like condition, I feel constrained to describe minutely the torture which was my portion that night.

There are several methods of restraint in use to this day in various institutions, chief among them “mechanical restraint” and so-called “chemical restraint.”  The former consists in the use of instruments of restraint, namely, strait-jackets or camisoles, muffs, straps, mittens, restraint or strong sheets, etc.—­all of them, except on the rarest of occasions, instruments of neglect and torture.  Chemical restraint (sometimes called medical restraint) consists in the use of temporarily paralyzing drugs—­hyoscine being the popular “dose.”  By the use of such drugs a troublesome patient may be rendered unconscious and kept so for hours at a time.  Indeed, very troublesome patients (especially when attendants are scarce) are not infrequently kept in a stupefied condition for days, or even for weeks—­but only in institutions where the welfare of the patients is lightly regarded.

After the supper fight I was left alone in my room for about an hour.  Then the assistant physician entered with three attendants, including the two who had figured in my farce.  One carried a canvas contrivance known as a camisole.  A camisole is a type of straitjacket; and a very convenient type it is for those who resort to such methods of restraint, for it enables them to deny the use of strait-jackets at all.  A strait-jacket, indeed, is not a camisole, just as electrocution is not hanging.

A camisole, or, as I prefer to stigmatize it, a straitjacket, is really a tight-fitting coat of heavy canvas, reaching from neck to waist, constructed, however, on no ordinary pattern.  There is not a button on it.  The sleeves are closed at the ends, and the jacket, having no opening in front, is adjusted and tightly laced behind.  To the end of each blind sleeve is attached a strong cord.  The cord on the right sleeve is carried to the left of the body, and the cord on the left sleeve is carried to the right of the body.  Both are then drawn tightly behind, thus bringing the arms of the victim into a folded position across his chest.  These cords are then securely tied.

When I planned my ruse of the afternoon, I knew perfectly that I should soon find myself in a strait-jacket.  The thought rather took my fancy, for I was resolved to know the inner workings of the violent ward.