European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 08, 1948, Darmstadt, Hesse Or. Anton Yon Braunm Tohl chief of Elfing Haar chats with miss e., one of his patients who is suffering from systematical a a -. " a i a. I r a i / a. W Jjj--.-5---. R quiet Badlani in spacious Book lined office in the main buildings of the institution i met doctor Anton von Braun Muhl chief of the professor of psychiatry at the University of Munich. Braun Mihl , greying Man of 48,politely agreed to show me around but needed some prodding to allow photo graphs. To be taken. This is quite unusual he said and if you expect anything sensational you will be Dis appointed -. Mental cases he explained giving me the same searching look i had previously received the Porter at the outside Gate generally give quite a Normal impression. You would be astonished to know How Many of the people you meet in everyday life Are mentally sick and really belong in like von Braun Muhl however is not too much troubled by inmates As he would not be Able to take them anyway. In treating its 3200 inmates Elfing Haar labelled a Model institution by military government s Public health Branch is already hard pressed general shortages in a Vizonia s Economy. O my worst headache for the time be ing Braun Muhl explained is our Complete Lack of week 30 to 40 new patients arrive. The other v Tipper bavarian Asylum a place called Gabersek near Wasserburg has been requisitioned by Iro International refugee organization successor. To Urrasio we Are already a thousand Beds Short. There Are Days the professor. Frowned when i really Don t know. Where to put up these new walking briskly up and Down his carpet � t r a of bavarian Asylum practices the modern " t of psychiatry though Plant suffers general shortage of equipment Basket wearing is a part of positive pro Gram to Speed recovery of clouded minds. In Sid Wall continued. 1 covered office As , Braun Muhl pointed out that in his opinion a Normal person could not possibly be sent Toegel Fiig by every Case be fore being sent to an institution Hasto be declared insane by a Boa re of doctors and if the patient is violent the German Public health office is. Called upon. The latter also has to step in if As happens quite often families refuse to part with their sick after their arrival patients Are examined by Braun Muhl and his colleagues. The first thing to find wit -. The professor said is the family his tory of the individual concerned. After this we get his own Story and by a sort of quiz consisting of leading questions and also a medical examination. Reestablish the kind or Grade of his mental among these diseases Schizo. Phrenic split personality is the Jii Oit common at Egl firing. Of tent starts in a Youthful age As dementia Pra Cox and lasts Over Long periods if it. Is not a Cas of recurrent insanity which gives the patient periods when he is quite Normal. Until modern therapy was Intro used Braun Muhl said schizophrenia was a hopeless proposition but now we Are Able to tackle it. If you like to get some idea of How we do it Why not let me show you he went to the door and took off at a Pace which i could hardly keep up with. Held. Me through the Large administration building the courtyard and an inner Gate into a Large neatly landscaped Park. The doorkeeper seeing mein the company of his Boss relaxed and even tried a polite smile under his fierce Mustache. The Asylum grounds with criss Cross Pebble Stone paths Trees lawns an solid cottage like buildings gave the impression of a Well kept College Cam pus. The professor heading for a White building in the background pointed out that Elfing was built Between 190t and 1912"after, the so called Pavilion system which was quite modern at this time arid still is. By that mean we have 85 single structures two chapels Power Kitchen and Wash ing houses scattered around instead of just one or two big prison like build Ings he stopped for a moment giving me time to catch my breath. I am sorry he said apologetically i am in the habit of running. I have to Cove great distances every Day in. Order to get through my routine. We tried every thing to get a few bicycles but nothing doing. It would have saved us a lot of time. Maybe Braun Muhl remarked suggestively american doctors. Will Send us some Whei they see,your,story." we passed a group of Ordinary looking workmen. Improved inmates on their Way into the Fields the doctor explained. Work is part of our therapy a arrived at a half open Ward for male patients. The professor produced a Large Bunch of keys and while opening an outer door stated casually these male patients Gener ally Are More quiet and More easily managed than inside the Hall looked like the Entrance to a pension and Braun Riihl went straight to a handle less door where he inserted a special key and preceded me unto smoke filled medium sized room. Here men where sitting and standing just staring at nothing others playing chess and writing. The pro Fessor s Entrance caused quite a stir. Soon he was surrounded by patient who wanted to know when they could go Home. The professor who assumed the non committal heartiness of a campaigning1 politician. Had ready answers for everybody until he singled out a kind looking Middle sited Man who wore a Beard and carried a Blue Maxwell House Coffee tin under his Arm. Let me Intro Duce you to the doctor our tobacco specialist he said. The doctor Shook " hands eagerly and followed us through another handle less door into the Dormi tory where a Row of Hospital Beds up against the Wall i am glad the neatly dressed patient said in Adeep Normal tone of voice to meet the press. You must excuse the surround Ings. Tomorrow i will be Home again. This is my address and i Hope to see you he gave a Munich Street and House number which As Braun "7ii,. Ujj stucco buildings. At present i i ""., Muhl confirmed later was a real. let me outline my discoveries for you tie doctor addressed is tobacco and nicotine heal ,. He interrupted himself1 remarked with a questioning look at Braun Muhl i Dot know if you Are Able to follow me Herr professor the. Scientist gave an affirmative nod and the patient went on i have several., tons of tobacco at Home. It s a tobacco processed by myself and heals Blo of illnesses. Here is a opening his Coffee tin he held it under my nose.,% t then he filled a battered pipe with some contents of his tin lighted it and exhaled evil smelling fumes with the pleased air of a connoisseur. He is a. Doctor All right Braun Muhl explained to me on the Way out a Case of senile insanity repossessed with tobacco like Many germans today. He is quite harm less.". " inmates of the Elfing Asylum Fis i was informed Are classified into three categories and accordingly housed. Then so called violent cases Jive in guarded wards the quiet As. The tobacco Doc. Tor in half open and the improved need of nursing in so called open stations. Besides these there Are a treat ment station a House for tubercular a patients a children s and an epidemic Ward. Subdivided into nursing districts consisting of a group of houses each District is under supervision of a Section doctor and a chief male nurse thebe Pfleger. All patients Are constantly watched and attended by a Force of 470"male arid female nurses which As Braun Riihl told me Are extremely scarce. Formerly nuns worked at this hard and responsible Job but the nazi forbade religious orders to accept novices and so for the time being nuns Are not available. ". Lay nurses on the other hand Are More or less floaters who work for Short time in the institution and then move to a better paid or otherwise More attractive Job. They come and go con i tinally especially the females Braun a Riihl stated and i can t blame them. A registered female nurse registered Means the nurse has passed examinations receives Only 100 Marks monthly $10 with free meals and Board while a male nurse gets 150 Marks $15meals and Board included. This is not an Ader quate salary for their strenuous kind of the same according to Thel professor goes for his staff of doctor they have to have Talent and love f " their profession he said. For a doctor life in an Asylum is practically a Monas " Tery also chances Are dim to get an executive Job Here. Consequently Young doctors want to set up shop Fps weekend mat t
