The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1869-06-08
visitations sOfLunattc ASyiulrls. =.

\ recent case of death from unneces-
sary violence on the part Of the attend
ants, in the Insane Asylum of MasSach-
usetts, has attracted attention, and is like
" tC lead TO measure Of reform. The
circumstances were these; James Parks,
q hnatic, was sent from Cambridge to
the asylum at Taunton. He was what
we should call troublesome customer,
and, the atten,Hants were impatient, per-
haps unskilled, and, in order to subdue
him. used violence, which resulted, ac-
cordinT to the minority report to the
Legislature, in the fracture "of all the Il
ribs and the breast bone" The majority
report makes out q hetter cause for the
managers OF the asylum, alleging that he
bore marks on his person tending to show
that"une or more Of his ribs were frae-
tured" before he was taken to the asy-
lum The evidence, however, is so strong
that he sustained njuries at the hands OF
the attendants, that the Legislature is
about to pass a law requiring Judges Of
Probate to visit lunatic asylums twice q
week without previous notice, and re-
port fully to the Governor.
Cases similar to this have occurred in
asylums in other States, but investiga.
tons have been sQuelched, or not persis-
tently carried out 1t is often necessary
to resort TO physical force to restra II the
violent paroxysms of the insane, and
even with the most humane snperinten
dents in charge, attendaht5 may abuse
their discretionary powers, actuated eth
er by fear ofthe patient or by passions
aroused by his demonstrative combatiye-
ness. There can hardly be an excess OF
light upon what takes place in such in
stitutions, and it may be question for
consideration at another .ime whether
such visitations as Massachusetts is
about to order, ought not to be made to
all similar institutions throughout the
country.--CiR. Commercial.
&The Auditor of State, Mr. God
man, by the advice Of the Attorney Gen
eral, Mr. West, refuses to allow the
Morgan Raid claims. Waving the ques-
ton as to whether the act of the Gener.
al Assembly which authorized such paw
ment was passed by constitutional ma.
jority,--that is to say, by -thir0s
vote in each branch,--we will Just re.
mark that, if John Morgan and his band
had gone through the Western Reserve
counties, instead Of those in Southern
Ohio which he did visit, these claims
would have been paid Off, long ago, and
even paid twice over For twenty years
to come, the Legislature would not heal
the last of them. Every cheesemongel
who had heard the sound of Morgan:
name would feel himself entitled to com
pcnsatory damages on that account.
eAT Mr. Burlingame and the rest of thu
Chinese embassy are having right Or
iental time Of it in Paris. Mr.. Burling
amc and lady are sat home" at thei
house in The Rue de Belrespiro. where
evening after evening, according to th'
Paris American Register, such Assem-
blages as the following convene: 9Th,
financial, political, and artistic world ar,
duly represented; foreign ambassadors
whose breasts are burdened with orier
and insignia set with precious stones
and dukes, princesses, with all the adom
ments suited to their rank and station
Flowers are everywhere arranged il
taste and symmetry, upon the deli
cious perfume Of which the sirens seen
to live, breath, and have their being
when not engaged in the dance or do
ing justice to the delicacies provided il
the buffet"