The New York herald., 1869-10-05
CURE OF THE INSANE.

meeting OF the Board OF Managers OF the new
hospital for the insane. In the OF erection
near Pougnkeepsie, was held few days since, when
the following historical statement, descriptive Of
'ne structure, aud other Interesting matter was
presented to the Board OF Managers by Dr. Ceye-
land:--
ORIGIN OF TIE PLAN
IN the spring or 1868 the Legislature authorized
tne appointment OF commissioners TO select suita-
ne location for the Hudson River state Hospital for
commissioners reported to the Legislature that they
Lad received from the citizens OF Dutcness county,
as Hee gnt 10 the state, site consist
ing OF Ioo acres near tho City Of Pough.
ksepsie, and fronting upon the Hudson river.
purchased by the citizens OF Dltchess Tor the sum
ol $4,000. The location, as respects the eastern
ricf, Is geographically central easily accessible ky
river ana railway, and distinguished Tor its salu-
brlty and commanding beauty.
The following gentlemen constitute the Board OF
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. A. w. Palmer, William Kelly
Cornelius X. Agnew, AInasa ]. Parker, Edward t.
Bead.e, George clark, Joseph Rowland ana W. c.
Benedict.
DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW BUILDING.
A brief description OF the pan OF the Hudson
Hiycr Hospital and an account or some or The
embarrasIments attending Its construction we trust
may not prove wearisome.
me general form OF the hospital buildings 10 that
OF an extended " the point OF the letter represent
ing the central edifce fronting westward, aud the
lines the two Wings which, however, do not recede
IN ohllquc straight llnes but ia back successive
Offsets at right angles with the direction OF the
main front, so that IN each wing there are three
longitud MAJ portions ranning north and SOUTH and
two transverse portions running east and west The
direct distance between The extremes OF the wIags
is about I,400 Feet while the central building Is about
500 feet In advance OF the rear line.
The hospital IS planned to accommodate about 200
patients OF each sex, the wards for men, consttut-
Ior women the entire wing to the north
OF the central building, which Is devoted
agement Tue chapel is placed Svee between 'tte the
wings and in The rear of the central building SO that
patents OF one sex are prevented from looking
the wards or yards or patients OF the other The
Kitchen and general service department Is located
tho rear OF the chapel.
The department for each sex consists OF four
wards on the principal floor, four wards on the
second floor, one ward on the third floor, and an
ndrmary ON the third noor separated entirely IRON
the rest OF the wards.
Each ward is furnished with hall and nre-proor
staircase on the front line OF the building, and roads
give separate access TO the entrance hall thus at
tached 10 every ward. A hall, with re-proof'
staircase communicating with an airing court, is
arranged also in each ward on the rear line Of the
building
The wards for the more excited patients are fur
thesL removed from the central building, and have
bedrooms only on one side OF the corridors. For
the sake OF economy this plan not followed
throughout, bedrooms being placed on both sides or
the corridors in the wards Tor quiet patients In the
portions , o. the building g thus arranged open spaces
ton for light and circnlaon Of air TSese ess
marked .Ombra" on the plans, are intended also Go
be used by patients in mild weather for open air
10 which they are attached.
!, win be observed that in the wards containing
bedrooms on both sides or corridor the living
rooms avatories. &C., are arranged on one side only
or separate corridor that runs at right angles TO
bed Dom section Every ward, n addition tits dor
miories is provided with q living room OF large
dimensions, having windows on three sides OF it;
dining room, with pantry attached, communi-
eating by lifts with the basement corridor connect
Ing with the service department; lavatory O room
In which patient may be thoroughly washed from
head to foot either in slttng or standing posture
fp ctx
inches IN height being made watertight. and fitted
Win a. wash wash Pipe e. bathroom with The hash placed
dressing space attached; room containing water
closets and urinals and sink for the nse OF tue
attendant; q linen ana clothes room, and dirty
linen shaft large enough 10 be used for hostway
purposes.
Each ward is provided with one single and double
bedroom for attendants. AT the extreme end OF the
fSSsPshssss 5 sss MsIf pheq qq enas taa winch
The chapel has 400 sittlngs The upper norton of
the cnapel tower VIII contain the main distributing
reservoir for supplying the hospital with water The
bic from almost every ward fae TSsa SDSRanw WI be ysi.
connected with the bell in the befry. In the base
Turkish baths and large general storeroom.
Over the building used for Kitchen offices is
planned an amusement room and theatre, which
can be approached under cover from eacn wing
Attached to tho convalescent wards on the mems
side are library q writing room and billiard
room, ana In . corresponding position the
women's side, library, sewing room and gym
nasum. The tallors' room can also be approached
mems side, and the ironing room from the wards
on the women's side The kitchen and general
service service par are 5
lever with the basement floor OF the main build
ing, so that railway may run from the kitchen to
to the lifts attached to the dining rooms Of the
various wards The laundry buildings will be placed
near the river. Bedrooms for the servants are pro-
qpe ana are planned IN the
vicinity Of the kitchen building, and q boiler
room with engine and fanrooms, are LOCATED
thn tran rff fbn ry1toa
by the service department and workshops.
In each wing cold air shaft, running under the
arranged to carry resn. cord air BY means Of sepa.
rate ues to every room in every ward and In winter
steam heat ts intended to be applied on the base
vertical ues branch from the general horizontal air
shaft yentIlating iues provided for the different
apartments, and terminate In chimneys or under
Each wing is connected with the central building
through q one-story corridor, TO which conserva.
tory plant cabinet Is attached Il s Intended that
this structure should be furnished with shrubs and
plants OF somewhat hardy character so as to pre-
to patients and visitors, without any great exponse
for maintenance. II may be observed IN this con.
necsion that on entering the 6niang the view
the detached chapel and that generally 1t has been
thought Q matter Of considerable Importance to
secure o cheerful liberal nrst impression IN connec-
tion with the main entrance to the building.
The board room is on the principal floor of the
reo FOR paens and the oes for the medical
department. and for the steward and matron. The
upper stories OF the central building are designed
for the medical and other 0f1cers Of the hospital
The general character Of the elevation Is simple,
the lines following strictly the necessities OF the
plan, The materials to be used hard North river
brick. with @ better quality for face work. ONO
stone has been chosen for strings and window heads
with blue stone introduced sparingly to increase the
artistic effect. The basement Will be constructed
entirely OF blue stone ashlar where 1t shows above
ground.
All the interior walls are to be solldly built OF
brick the loora Will be deafened In the most efrec
tual manner lreproof Etairways will bo adopted
throughout and all possible precautions will be
introduced for the safety OF patients.
While the interior arrangements and finish VIII be
attractive the exterior Of the structure VIII be made
bright and inviting to the eye, not by columns
entabaturee. carvings OF heavy architectural
details bnt hy the varied outline OF its walls and
roof the arlisac spacing OF its wall openings, the
deep shadows OF the window rccesses and the skill
ful contrasting OF coors in the arrangement OF the
stone aud BRICK OF the walls.
TgR WORK UpoS THE EDIFIcr.
WORK upon the hospital was commenced late In
Tho season of 1857 little done that year upon