The Placer herald., 1866-04-14
HORRORS OF THE INSANE ASYLUM
Report OF the Legislative Investigating
COmmittee.--The Case Of Catherine Adams.

HORRORS OF THE INSANE ASYLUM.
Report Of the Legislative Investigating
Committee.--The Case Of Catherine Adams.
There is no doubt this lady was drowned
while receiving bath at the hands Of two
attendants in the Female Department of the
Asylum. There is in this case much to be
deplored, and withal something to be repre-
hended. She was received into the Asy ylum,
afflicted with mild form Of insanity, on
the sixth day of September, eighteen hun
dred and sixty three. She was apparently
in good health physically, though it is es-
tablished that perfect physical health never
accompanies mental disease. She was twen'
ty'eight years Of age, the mother Of an in
fant child, not yet weaned, and her breasts
badly swollen and hard from the recent sep
ara,ion from her infant. One of the rules
Of the Asylum required bath to be given
each patient on being admitted. At that
time the Asylum was not supplied With warm
water, and the attendants whose duty it was
to administer the baths used cold water in
all cases when not otherwise specially direct
ed. On the day of her admission into the
Asylum Mrs. Adams protested against re.
ceiving a cold bath, and the matrou, Mrs.
Davis, procured her exemption on that day
on account Of her condition being as above
stated. The following morning two of the
attendants, without consulting any one or re-
ceiving any instructions, but governed by
the standing rule Of the Asylum, which il.
seems contemplated the same treatment, 90
far as bathing is concerned, Of all patients,
without regard to their condition, proceeded
to give Mrs. Adams the customary BATH
Longer absence from ber child, no relief
having been administered, had Of course ag.
gravated rather than improved her condi'
lion; yet she was hurried to the bath room
against her protest, forcibly stripped Of bel
clothing, and in spite Of her struggles and
entreaties placed in cold bath, held there
by her attendants, though constantly strug
Cling to escape, until her strength seemed
exhausted. When her struggles ceased and
the bathing was finished she was removed,
only however TO be conveyed to the grave.
She never spoke, nor can the committee
find with certainty from the testimony that
she ever breatbed after being removed from
the bath. The Assistant Physician was i'm.
mediately called to her assistance, and
promptly pronounced her drowned" There
is something inexpressibly sad in the con-
temptation Of such an event as this. 1t is
not the mere fact Of death, but it Is death
under such circumstances, which moves hu.
manity and kindles in our hearts the deepest
sympathy and sorrow. A young woman,
wife and mother, not hopelessly insane, but
mentally disordered merely, and that per-
haps the result of the ordeal through which
she had a few months before passed, away
from husband and child, friendless, helpless,
and alone, struggling against her fate as if
her very instincts told her death was before
her. 10 all it's features it present sad illus
tration Of that want of skill or care on the
part Of some one, which ought not to be toll
Grated in such an institution.
In this case there was wrong somewhere.
Such an incident ought not to have occurred;
and the plea that such things will sometimes
unavoidably happen 10 such an institution, it
seems to us, should not be listened to in this
case; and yet it is difficult to say definitely
where the blame should attach. The at
tendants could not be censured for adminis-
tering the bath. II was given in compliance
with an in6exible rule Of the Asylum, which
required them to give it unless otherwise
directed. The only question so far as they
were concerned would be whether they ex-
ercised due caution and circumspsction in
the manner Of giving it; and the only evil
dence that they did not is the simple fact
that death followed. The patient wre.tled
violently, aud exhibited, as the testimony
runs, - good deal Of strength" and by her
own struggles and efforts to escape, some-
times had her head under water, in spite Of
the care and attention Of the attendan,s.-
No one suspects there was any design, malice
OF even i'll temper, on the part OF those at
tendants; no one doubts that they proceeded
with usual and commendabe care and eau.
ton. But the question still remains-If, as
We believe, the patient was drowned, would
not the exercise Of still greater care aud
caution have avoided such result? But
another theory of this case is set up by some,
and it is not altogether inconsistent with
portion Of the testimony. 1t is claimed
from the effects Of the bath operating in
other ways. 1t may be readily conceded
that in her condition she was quite as likely
to die from the effects of the cold bath as TO
survive it; and in that case the wrong would
be found 10 the existence OF an arbitrary
rule which compelled all patients, regardless
of their physical condition, to be thus treat.
ed. Such rule, it seems to US, could not
be too severely deprecated.
We are not physicians, nor even students
Of medicine; but common sense, daily expert
ence, and our observation teach US some
things quite as emphatically as could msdi'
cal books, professors, colleges, and lectures;
and while We concede that ~ . rule patients
should be batbed on their admission into the
Asylum, we know equally we'll that the kind
of bath which would be most beneficial to
one, would be certain death to another pa
tient. II baths must be given, surely some
one competent for the duty should first ex'
anime each particular patient, and prescribe
the kind and character Of bath most suitable.
To apply, as seems to have been attempted