The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1867-04-29
From the Pittsburs Commercial.l
A CHAPTER OF HORRORS.
The Illinois Inssne Asylum- Fright
fal CFueltics Practicea on Patients
-siekening Details OF Torture, Bru-
tality mud Su0ering

iaiity nnd suffering.
The frigl tful abuses practiccd in pri-
vate insane asylums have been exposed
in several American and English works
of fiction, but the public generally have
been apt to believe accounts coming
through such sources were exaggerated
by the imagination of the writers. Oc-
casionally, however, well authenticated
facts have gone to prove that no color
ing of romance could exceed i'll shock
ing ghastliness the revelations of
reality. Lately, circumstances have
brought to light some scenes and incl
dents in the interior economy of the
Illinois Insane Asylum, and such anoth-
er chapter Of horrors could scarcely be
found outside the records of the Spanish
Inquisition.
Within the walls of that terrible
building, given over. hopelessly, help
lessly, to the tender mercies Of n gang
of brutal, bestial doctors and keepers,
hundreds of poor dcmented beings have
languished through years of torture and
indignity until death kindly came to
terminate tneir sufferings. From vari-
GUS sources the truth is gradually com
ing out, and the details already pub
lished are so sad and sickening as to
make one almost doubt the possibility
of their occurrence, were not the evil
dence in the case thoroughly sustained
and irrefragible. There is proof positive
that the unfortunate inmates were, for
the slightest offenses-offenses, be it re.
membered, committed in condition of
utter ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS to the
most cruel and revolving punishments.
Think of delicate women consigned
to the fiendish discipline of the "screw
room;" and the case is one that actually
occurred. The wretched victim was
fitted with closely fitting waist or
"iacket,r with sleeves coming below
the hand and sewed up, having single
loophole through which a strong cord
might be passed. Her arms were then
crossed in front, the hands being drawn
tightly behind her, she was then
thrown violently upon the floor, face
downward, her clothing was removed,
and then she was beaten until her flesh
was mere jelly.
With what were called refractory or
obstinate patientdthe indescribable ago.
nv of the cold bath was resOrted to.
The patient was taken to the bath
room. tied hand and foot, plunged into
cold water, held under until almost
strang gled, for a moment removed only
to be again and again submerged until
life was nearly extinct.
A lady, employed in the asylum for
three wears and half, writes to fe-
male friend that one of the physicians
instructed the attendants how to choke
patients without leaving finger marks
from another attendant we have the
following story of devlish malignity
vouched for: ,.,..-----,
tient of infrm health resting on her
bed in the day time, in disregard OF
rule of the house to which no e&cep-
tions are allowed. To the peremptory
and insulting order which followed,
the patient yentured q word of self-de-
Tense. This was too much The !rish
attendant is not to be answered by
natiepti She seizes her roughly aud
draos her upon the floor with extreme
violence. The patient is reused apd de-
tends herself, or attempts it. We are
summoned to the attendants assistance,
and find her-a laIge and heavy woman
resting her whole weight upon the
lipyalid's body, with her knees upon her
stomach, and with the patients head
as hammer, the stresses1 Of her hair
serving as convenient handles poaNd-
ina me floor trlh all her Irish might.
To our exclamations and inter
eesaops, we get for reply the assurance
that the offending victim has got the
devil in her and mean to beat it ont.
Helm me Jacket her till get satisfae-
tion out of her! She put on the jacket,
tied the poor creatures arms benina ner'
dragged her across the hall to the bars,
tied each hand and foot firmly TO the
bars. tied her knees together, and then
seizinr her by the hair, again began
noundiup the bars as at first she pound
ed the door. Her Irish muscle was
fearfully effective; every blow gashed
the scalp and spirt,d blood over the
walls and the floor and her own person:
A great splash fell upon plate of food
one of ms chaueod to be hOldingv
Mrs.. Packard, who, though perfectly
s.ne Was, throngh the Vaccinations
of some Of her relatives, immured in
this horrible place, in q Published ac-
count of her experience, says:
aPstients are often choked until their
faces are black, and their tongues hang
ont % of their mouths. A lady Of refine
ment. Of pure and yirtnous character,
and nature remarkably pure to the
instincts of true woman, before being
here thirty-six hours, was stripped Of
ali her clothing except . torn chemise,
and laid upon her back on the noor,
DIR. .-- sitting astride her naked body
while four S"ivsrinr s,snpainis iimSs 'As strap
We had thought that the system Of
coercion and chasfisement had been
virtually dono away with, in public
asvlums at least. Rose eolored reports
had led us tosbelieve, that those whom
Providence had afflicted with the loss OF
reason received. at any rate, as much "f