The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-02-21

|
| Remaining. Nov 80. 1913. :. .loi %
Except patients from Canada, from Ohio, Con-
necticut, and Illinois, each, all the rest are re-
| Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, Putnam,
Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk, Sullivan, Warren,
| and Yates.
| To test the effect of residence and treatment in
| the Asylum, the patients are all weighed as they
| come, and when they are discharged table of
such weights shows the average weight Of the
males, entering. to have been 1873 lbs. or, and
when discharged, or at the end ofthe year, an ave-
rage of III lbs. 10 or.
OF the females when received, the average
weight was ll2 lbs. 10 oz.-when discharged, or at
the end ofthe year, ZIG lbs OF;
menced, were as follows Under 20 yrs. AZ; from
20 to 25 yrs g.; from % to 30, 43; from 80 to 3d.
%; from IS to 40. A. from 40 to IS, ID from 40 to
So IT, from 80 to So, 6; from 80 to Co. 6; from 60 to
IS, Z; from 65 to 70, 2; from 70 to rs, 2.
OF the whole number, only 10 were 55 years old
and upwards when admitted, % were under 20
years; 81 from 20 to 25 yrs As from . to 30 yrs;
10 to As yrs IL from 45 to 80 yrs; and Is from 80
to IS years.
As to their civil condition, l4O were married, l25
were cellbaes, Z widowers, and widows.
This table, the superintendent remarks, shows a
different state of things from those of most lunatic
hospitals both in Europe and this country, which
exhibit more single than married patients and so
much so, that celibacy has been supposed by some
to increase the number of the insane, and marriage
! to operative as preventive. But this is deemed
an incorrect inference. Many become insane pre-
vious to the usual age OF marrying Thus the tore
going tables show 48 in ZIG became lunatc under
20 years of age, and 81 more, before the age Of Is
years.
Again man though not actually dcranged are
so strongly predisposed to unacy, that their mar
riage is not deemed advisable. In these cases,
bacy is the consequence OF insanity, not Its cause
We would remark, however, that the force OF
this last fact, must depend very materially on the
age of the party IN question.
AS to occupations Of the males, 81 were farmers,
rs laborers, IA merchants, clerks scholars, and
the rest mechanics of different callings, except
physicians and teacher OF the females, 80 were
engaged in household employmcnts; IL were
school girls, tailoresses, milliners, instruc-
tresses, and mantuamaker.
As to birthplace, lSl were born in this State %
in Ireland IL in Connecticut Is in Massachu-
sets 10 in England and the rest IN various other
countries.
Ofthe supposed causes of insanity, religious anx-
lety is supposed IN the cases OF ~ males and II fe
males l-health in % cases of each sex ; in 40
cases of both sexes, the cause is not known loss
of property, in II cases Of males, and females
excessive study in males and females; intem-
perancc in males and female Millerism in
males and females and various other causes are
assigned for the rest one or two being affected by
each. ,,.~ts~ssss,~f ~ssn .xas
We have space, now, only to advert to another
document, which accompanies these reports, and
is as remarkable in its origin and scope, as ii is
practically important. We refer to the memorial
addressed to the Legislature by Miss d. L. Dix of
Boston.
This lady is one of the most remarkable women
of the times Impelled by an earnest spirit of phi
lanthropy as ardent that of the celebrated Eliza
beth Fry, the still more famous Howard, and as
enlightened as either of them, she has devoted her
time, her admirable mental powers, her moral and
social influence, her personal labors, and her pecu-
mary means, for years past, to the thorough inves-
gation Of the actual condition Of the paupers, lu-
natics and idiots OF her native State in the first in
of am n : n "a
In doing this, she has personally visited the Poor
| houses of the various counties, and many OF the
jais, every where ascertalning for herself, by per-
scvcrng and tollsome investigation, the actual ar
| rangcments made for the unfortunate beings.
The object of the memorial before us is to lay be-
fore our legislature full view Of these evils, as
they exist in this State and the picture thus pre-
| scented is well fitted to stare and amaze the public
mind 1t il as follows;-
| Albany County Aims House. at Albany, az saw il in
November 1912, presented scenes Of horrible neglect aud
misery, which even now shudder to recall, and re-
oicc that late visit in December, ls43, afforded evil
dcncc Of many favorable changes. especially In the
now, finds many friendless creatures, whose
condition urges sufficient and early provision by the
| State, for their relief
II was on the afternoon Of severely cold day in No.
vember fls42 that visited the Aims House. at Albany
nqurng Of the master who held charge Of the establish
ment the number the insane then in close confinement
was answered. There are plenty of them somewhere
| about twenty" viii you let me them y ." No
you can't they're naked in the crazy cellar" "Are all
In the same apartment ~ mo, not ALL hut You can't
SEQ them, Excuse me- hut must the womens
apartment II Is to learn the condition ofhe inJans here
that have comer At length direction given and
was conducted by the mistress OF the house into court
yard and the person holding charge the insane
men was summoned to attend Ascending fight Of
stairs conducting from without, to the second story OF
large building entered apartment not clean. no
ventilated and over heated here several females
chiefly in state of dcmena they doceniy drcss
ed hut otherwise exhibited personal neglect the bed
sufficiently comfortable the hot air. foul with moi
some vapors produced sense Of sufocation and sick
ness impossible 10 be long endured by
suck atmosphere Idslay cd here but few moments
nd asked to be csnduc ted 10 the Dungeons dungeons