The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-05-20
Tor the Voice Of Freedom.
Lunatic Asylum, BlaclceNs Island,

MIR. HoLCoMB
Dear Sr.-Whie you were in New York last win
ter, promised to give you brief description of the
BELLEVUE HOSPITAL, with which am connected;
but for the last two months having had charge of the
LUNATIC ASYLUM, have concluded to give YOU a
concise sketch of this institution, and some of the De-
cuiarities of its inmates.
Important changes have taken place In the man.
agement of the insane within the last few years. "a
ithas been found that kind treatment is much mora
cectual in controlling patients, than the old system
Of hand-cufls legIocks observation-disclosures gage, &c.
But few years have elapsed since these terrible In
struments of restraint almost equal in severity to
those of torture used by the Inqdsition, were en-
ployed in every MAD House; but now they are
found, merely rs matters of curiosity. The Luna
tic Asylum on Blackwels Island is about six miles
from the City Hall, and half mile from He'll Gate.
The location is very favorable for an institution of
this kind, moral is of equal importance with nedi-
cal treatment. There are many things to engage
the attention of the patient, and while the mind 10
thus occupied, like the Letlean araters they pro-
ducc forgetfutncss of the imaginary troubles and
sorrows of life. The scenery around is beautiful,and
although some suppose the highest faculties of tho
the ovelies aspects of nature STILL there butfew
whose happiness does not depend more or less upon
surrounding objects. The building is truly mag
nifcent one, its erection having cost the city of New
York S3S000O. The stair case alone cost $2O,OOOan
is not equaed by any thing of the kind in the Uni
ted States. At present there 400 patients.
Three-fourhs of the inmates foreigners, and in
the male department, particularly one can hardly
imagine the effect from the different languages used
French, Dutch, Spanish, English and Irish,
spoken by persons, each entertaining his or her Pc
culiar and eccentric notions, but they not aware
that the language used is not understood by those
l about them.
In the female department there is great number
Of Queens, and other important personages who re-
quirc little extra attention! Whenever person
assumes any ucw name or title, it is the best course
to address the individual accordingly; for TO the pa
tent is reu and you receive the credit Of finding
i out what others too stupid to discover. One
J., who introduces herself to visitors, being the wife
of Gen. Washing ton, sustan her dignity remarkably
well! She never extends her hand to any one, hav-
10 ing made a vow that she would not until her hus-
4 band returns SHE claims the right of having the
ID general superintendent of the Asylum, and often
~ Gus, and much more than any woman ought to do
= few days ago she requested some medicine to be
prepared for her eyes. After examining them care
~ fully made the enquiry whether she was troubled
with pain. "Ah no." she replied, "they are weak,
", ana must have something 10 make them stronger
for is too trying to look through these thick walls,
as am obliged to d. to see what is going on in the
)! different rooms!" She sustans her position sdIn-
H. rably, unless she imagnes proper attention IS NOT
nd paid to herr and if there should be any failure 10
he point of etiquette the part Of the visitor she lays
nj aside her dignity and ellectuay that che
~ is not soon forgotten The Presidentesi Of hs
United States" as she calls herself is also mpor'
tant parsonage. She is the only politician, in fact
IL that there is among the ladies, and what is the mos
ed strange, claims to be {" Loco F0co Democrat. ~
ost Upon politics she will talk (but upon no other sub
iect,) perhaps as sensibly as bar room Politician
- generally; at any rate she may be safely turned Ou
against them in forcibe gestie uLntion Insanity Of
ten completely changes the natural disposition, de
ase veopng faculties which the individuals did not
ew to possess, previously and which gradually disap
ter pears, as reason resumes her throne
es- In passing through the halls, we cannot but ad
in mre the wild and beautiful sketches upon the wall
en-. of the building, drawn by the lunatcs, without
ned penc even but supplying themselves with mater
NH ais for the purpose from such singular sources tina
do they would have been beyond the reach OF any sam
So mind This same morbid ingenuity seen occasion
,ale ally in dress. In one night, female will manage
ign make herself robe, from bed-quilt and if by an
,me means she has the good fortune to secure banke
I'M of different coors that she tear in strips, yo
So will find her the next morning ready to receive Wis
itors in full oriental or barbarc attire Perhaps sh
list has managed to apply bandages from head to foot
Gus the coors tastefuly arranged for producing til
and greatest effect, and applied SO neatly "'"' "oui
CIV puzzle Biun,reH to determine Of what material Il
ex- dress was made.
One would suppose when large number
the insane were confined in the same hall, that qua
ue res would frequently occur. The building is IN
exceedingly crowded condition, there being not lie
e than hundred patients in hall, calculated for hf
the that number all differing not only in the form Of il
i sanity, but from different sections-sti, it is vel
1 rare that any serious difficulty occurs among the'
u" The insane are not usually aware that there Is al
'4o' arrangement of their own minds, but they at Oh
''" detect any little alteration in another They see
to pity those around them who are deranged, al
~ would of course bear any aflfont before they won
"'0N stoop to fight with crazy person
vest - .:, ,,os ,,o+ boor civen NJ this As
miles lum, to supplying the means for amusing the
'ooh tient for everything that could aid in exciting
pdly ,d co os to call off the attention from the insa
ideas, should be supplied. A piano forte has be
by c.;,,od for tbcir benefit and several play We
II III we'll A great number are passohateiy lonu
N"''- dancing and they are frequently INDUCED III
manner The only labor performed by the mm"
rsday is in the serng room where there are about tnr