New-York tribune., 1869-01-02
THE INSANE.
vxsy,v.yrA HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE

.effic
.rhois in Lis right mind. OF who IS only eo.ysdned
VII committed TO lunatic asylum and espeason
en- ipdeeuite period and for the seroperty.
,a+ bs relatives NAV get possession of h h,s courts
pooentlv. some cases before the Pmaaesgsatment OF
bave called public attention 10 the .;tol for the
nationts in the "Pennsyyania b'1o thorough
Insane" and came hither aud
inspection Of this institution -, and among the
This bos,itsl was founded in l7oi,r irr a. when the
arieinators was Benjamin md tho hospital
,tv had grown so much as 70 sui estate was sold,
,roperty, large portion of t9ad living two miles
nnd mara than 100 acres Of INand III about % years
west of tho city. was bOueD",+od 10 which the pa
AGO n large building was ~.ipal building was left
tents wero removed. me o1it,l in which the sick
for the use OF the city as ,ts were received max
and those lJ'ieu " almost every respect win tne
tng 1t correspond - Ion Broadway Inns hoSpl''1 I"'
New-loI hoSll'%t n.te. and its influence upon 'ne
been Ia hIsn iI of the country has been marAed'
tnedleaI kHoWieoh Insane has also had high repu-
ne no ptl rs l fbe first institution VI @ tle IN g.
tston, for Es We country and il was among Iu9 n!st
tablishod in th2 80 methods for treating the IN
TO lead tAg not only here but III many otcI IhSHaI
sane, VII been so superior 10 any hnoWTI h+I, ci
tnt IoIts noW the whole number ,peIII'a1 peII'a5~i''' N
GyeTag9o tti 10 nof State institution, Tor IL owes
lis existence the hqnam III | roHtrol is in hoard Of
ilzens OF dtoI nv t6e contributors and this board
Snponts visiting committee. WIN tne GuSI ~, 10 & ,l
~15tct tbe hospital once every week, Whch uHly mas
~ IoaH roriectel in a single instance. 30 well
,atis6ed have been the people OF theci'l ana 'S es
sIatnre OF the State with Inc nlaIGemcht h1neI "
Int tbo raaula iOns adopted IN ll3l are unchangeu
nS' .hi ~ aijtv has become established by virtue
# fbe common law nor does the cry maze aS?esS
rents Of any kind. Large sums nave peen t'icn Yen
aud bpoucathcd by wealthy citizens ana so great mas
zen t6e general confidence, that one gentleman
Tho had never been within the walls, Wllleq a very
aTge sum for the improvements 0l the cohUllioh uL
the insane For 2S years DR.. klrkhrde has Iled lhe
ssnonSiIle nositon of physician and of general man
aper TO tic institution, and he stu retains the CU
fdence of the citizens and OF the hQaT9 Oh 1tG
I'm 1859 the people of Philadelphia cohsiiD2utSyu
fuDds for new building to be occupied cAC.Gs'C Cl9
bv men, Ii has main front OF 1l2 rect WIN ny
wings each of 167 feet all three s'oles 6 w T
other extensive buildings are oi'Ii'4 VI @ aV
iocent There are also englne-hOnses shOps ana
btber structures Nor IS the Omldlng loi women less
comDlete or extensive Lach IS surrounded Dy
Scasttive stone wall including space Of more than
10 acres containing walks from one mile totwo
miles long. brick pavements GUOO leeI long
dens thus making the most complete and costly
sstobshmcnt in our country. Still, there have been
charges Of cruelty and OF general dsiegar9 Oh the
/ arrived at the hospital in the afternoon, entered
4 gate kept 10y porter, then, passing short DIS
lance in an ayenue 3ordereo py oVeIgIees' eale 20
The main 6Oor which opened into long carpeted
hall and passing 10 the further end 1 reached the
plfice where l stated my business. Al once, every
One entering lunatic asylum for the hrst
lime will expect to SEQ sad and horrible sights, ANA
hot unlikely viii fear to be suddenly assaulted by
some raying maniac. For our knowledge Oh insane
beople is derived either from English Literature or
from pictures Of the inmates Of Bedam with sunken
cheeks aud CHASTITY ewes, while they exhibit thelr
chains and declare themselves mad or, from those
sad sights IN some far OH country Slue' ana III tue
days before asylums had been erected and endowed,
where the insane We're confined IN the county
Jail or poor house, or were provided for by their
friends at home. Many Will remember having seen
in those days in some rural region, small hOyeI
near the farm house for the c0niuemaG Oh an insane
member Of the household son, daughter father,
or a wife and mother. This hOvel was about eight
feet square Oitenest built of logs that 1T might be
having entrance through the roof ana there could
be no fire Food introduced as II TO an animal,
and if one looked IN the captive would be seen
crouching upon bed of straw, or huddled IN cor
ner glaIing with rage, or shrinking IN fear
while the garments hung IN rags. IL HnJ Iase
manned. / knew father anu loui gIOMh M eos; f ,d s
,,I strono another eon the first born, was cOnhhcu
in a log house IN meadf'N by brook. IL was a q
IL One IN rWo weeks and on sunday morning, 1OF
The five To go thitbeT and unbar the sTObg HooI'
when. armed with clubs, they w0ald All Eusn ln'
grapple with the maniac anu ne MN WIN 4 ROPE
Then they would wash him, put on clean garments,
clean ont the howell and leave him for TWO weeks
more Thus the poor wretch lived, never Improving
always fierce said so to be- and 1t was thought an
act of great bravery IN the latter ana SOUS 10 per
severe In their care Ina very small room belonging
20 a county poor house. once saw woman, SUN
young. who sat Oh the floor with her lace Oh her
dirty mat for two years she bad not spnESh, "id
when she was cared for she resumed heI
posture. Once admired ahd Iolea bIo nSu hyrou iod
In the best society. This was not more tah thISe
miles from one Of the most beautiful cities IN The
Nest Across the road from farm house. ana IN
lone field stood log hut. with an opening DctWeen
tIe logs large enough to admit food aud water,
crazy mother was "A prisoner. orH out WIN ually
labor and watching and nursing a SICK Dabe whlch
finally died she had not strength TO WITHSTAND her
grief reason departed her husband could not care
for her. nor could she be trusted with her children;
and have seen those children on coig vc, S,1Gs teS
thrust in Il piece at time beneath shell OF Irost
and snow. There she lived from year to year, and
grew gray the light OF day or oi nome never shining
while the farm house abOunded with comforts, ana
where at last, another came to MI the place se had
left vacant and another race Of children fed her.
Taking the keys, the chief physician OF the Penn
svIyania Asylum led the way. At the head of the
staircase is large picture OF CbrlSthealing the SICK,
which was painted for this institution by beiJamlII
West ID IL celebrated piece, ana worth study OF
hours. Tor several years IT was exhibited IN the
olty, and large sums were received Tor admission.
The entrance is into long, well-lighted hall, with
rooms on either side. with beds in each the floors are
carpeted, there are white curtains at the winQOwS,
aud though the sashes of ir0n they ara painted
white, and do not look different from common sashes;
pictures hang along the walls, ana scripture mOttOOs
are over the principal doors. woman who had been
recently admitted sat the room assigned to her.
She believed that great calamtjes were Impending;
shat murderers, thieves and robbers were& every
hand; that she had 80 suned against light ard knOwl
edge. that there could be no forgiveness. AS we
passed along we several fOOus, each containing
TWO beds, one OF which was for attendant and
we saw few rooms sumptuOusly furnished, also
containing two beds which were for rich patients
Who could Afford exclusive accommodations and a
constant attendant Then wo saw a uiddle-aged
woman IN arockiugchar shaking with laughter
ana hayns her attention fixed upon q shawl which
she held n her arms folded as to resemble baby
and 1t seemed 10 be her darling and her low Another
woman aged as much as 30, who became Hind when
10 years Old, bat who married and was fine mother
of seven children, was active. seemed 10 hmve
worked hard IN some occupation, and reauesfed
that word be sent to such street and num-