The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1852-12-22
Report on the Brattleboro Asylum for
the Insane.

To tie House Of Representatives no,o in
session:
Your committee to whom was refer
redthe memorial of Stillman Morgan and
the petition of Samuel James, aud cigh.
teen Others praying for an investigation
of the management Of the Vermont AS
YUM for the Insane, beg leave to report
That they have attended to the duties
assigned them that the committee of
the Senate and House joined in the in
vestigation. and now beg leave to join
in submitting the results of their lsbors.
n great mass of testimony was present.
ed by the petitioners and also on the
part of the Asylum. The principal por
ton of this testimony on the part of the
petitioners was that of persons who have
heretofore been inmates of the Asylum
as patients and now testify to what they
say took place when they were thus in
mates of the Asylum. If this tcstimo-
ny were to be received without allow
ance, and fully relied upon, the Institu-
ton would doubtless be open to the cen
sure Of the Legislature and unworthy of
the patronage of the public But it
will at once be perceived that all tcsti-
mony Of this character must be weighed
with great caution. and with wise and
careful discrimination For such wit.
nesses testify to what they believe took
place while they were insane, and while
their minds were exercised with bitter
hostility towards those they regarded in
the light of cnemes-and as persons
unjustly depriving tEcm of libcrty-and
seeking to do them the greatest of in
jurics Indeed, in some of the cases
which came under the observation of the
committee, it was perfectly clear that
the witness was narrating not facts
which had occurred but the mere delu
sions of his own disease. How far these
impressions thus wildly impressed on
their minds while laboring under abcrra-
tions of intellect are truthful, it must
Of course be very difficult to determine
Testimony of this character considered
with that of witnesses who had never
been insane, led part of your commit
tee to believe that some instances had
occurred in which the attendants had
failed to exercise proper discretion in
controlling the patients when excited
and violent or in other words, that
more force was used than was necessary
under the circumstances. Your com
mittce think it would be strange if it
were otherwise in the management of
such an institution for sixteen years.
with so great a number of patients and
attendants. it would be very rcmai kablc
if no such instance had occurred.
Your Committee all concur however
in the opinion that the patients must be
held under control. or the usefulness of
the Institution would be wholly lost.
But it is indeed difficult to define the
precise degree of force which il nccessa-
ry to accomplish that object.
Your Committee did not differ in
opinion SO much as to make it necessary
to offer more than one report Of the re-
suit of their investigation for all con
cur in the opinion that the Asylum has
been well managed that its manage
mcnt should be rather the subject Of
commentator than of censurc that un
firing pains have been taken to employ
respectable and intelligent nurses and
attendants that they have been take,
from the families of our highly rcspec
table farmers: that the sanatory rules
of the Asylum have been well cared for
and great pains taken in regard to the
health Of every patient.
Your Committee beg leave in conclu
sion to say, that in their opinion tn,
! Asylum in all its departments is II:
well managed as could be reasonably ex
pected; that its usefulness under tho
present worthy and skilful Supcrintcn
dent, Doctor Rockwell, and the able
Trustees. is increasing from year to yeal
with their increase of means; that it il
now highly useful and honorable to thu
State and well entitled to the patronag,
of the public
Your Committee therefore respectful,
recommend that said Petitioners an,
mcmorialists have leave to withdraw
All of which is submittcdbv
JOHNF DEANF.