New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-02-13
THE INSANE.
The NEw-YoRK STATE LUNATIC ASYLUM.
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principal asylum for the State of New-IOrk. IL mas
q front of $50 feet with two wings at night angles
each of about the same extent, and part Is four
andthe other three stories high. The view is mag
ni6ceht In the rear are structures IN which the
varioas industries are carried on there steam
engines which pump water. which operate ahuee
fan for securing forced ventilation in every part OF
the Asylum-which furnishes power for the kitchen
wash room. and laundry there are barns and shops
and in short whateverisreQuredf for the comfort ana
convenience Of such public institution
This Asylum was opened in 1913, under the superin-
tendency of Dr. Amariah Brigham, who had peeh
having charge of the Insane Asylum ut hartloiu'
Conn. Dr. Brigham must be considered one OIL ehe
founders of the new system for treating the insane
and TO his habits of thorough investigation arc que
the successive steps by which TINS system Was u e.
fablshed To a great extent he was seIt-made
man as he received little assistance from schools OF
Instructors; still he was diligent student: and
after he entered upon the practice OF medicine ne
was in the habit of taking TO the bedside doom
that he might have all the assistance possible IN
treating disease Coming to Utica, he entered upon
his duties with great energy; he discovered many
new facts and helped establish new methOds' IN
addition to the care of the patients lac commenced
the publication Of The american Journal o Ias .
which is still continued and which is OF great value
not only to physicians and Legislators, nnt 10 an
Others who seek what reaysconstiutes liberal edu-
cation Dr. Brigham died in 1872 His successor
was Dr. n. D. Benedict, who resigned in 1874. when
Dr. J. p. Gray was appointed and he IS now aeung;
Having visited this institution that the readers OF
THR TRIBUNE might know how IT IS managed, anu
having stated 10 DR. Gray this object, he expressed
great Willingness to show me through every depart.
ment and although he had recently been SO ulsaosu
Inv an accident as to be obliged to use clutches, ne
himself conducted me through all the wards deYOted
TO the men. Usually, visitors are shown only the
cOnvalescent wards of the two sexes, where Dut lew
evidences of insanity are apparent. Ire patlehtS
are neatly dressed and the rooms correspond 10 par
lors and parlor-bedrooms To the wards where the
excited, demented, and wretched patients are con-
fined they will not be admitted. ms general RUE
has been established for the reason that there are
crowds of people in this world VINO 0eslre SIMPLY 10
see sights Many are impertinent and they do not
seek nor they capable Of receiving INSTRUCTION.
Besides take such apply through all the wards
would be injurious to the patients, and double the
number of officers would be required. But county
officers members of the Legislature, OF the press,
and professional men, are shown thr9ngh all the
wards: also persons of standing and intelligence, who
seek be informed subjects OF vital interest 70
humanity, and who have no desire to CRAFTY ld:e
curiosity. TO sensitive ana renectlng person ~
can be a privilege only in view Of the knowledge to
be acquired for aside from this and in conslderaton
of the great number of patients there VIII he slghts
which no refined and well-dsposed person will wish
TO see Formerly in England, where the insane
were treated worst and where they were fogged
upon the recurrence of periods OF great mental DE-
rangement, they .were exhibited to the public for
The males and females occupy separate wings. DR..
GRAY said that properly arranged asylum Womb
have still greater separation; that instead OF lnoos-
ing and opposite wings, the binding should extend
in straight line, or better still there should be Two
separate buildings each nclosed by itself, and this
is not in consideration of the men alone. we, en-
tered by communicating doors into weli-hghtea
halls with rooms either side, all well 1nrnlShed
and kent in complete order. The ventilation is so
perfect that no odor was detected. There are IL
wards for each SEX and IN eaSn Ward are PaSeG pa
utmost Importance Some rooms contain each one
bed; other rooms have each two or more beds. SUI
eide is prevented by having at least two lodge IN
room Self-murder is never committed except in
solitude. OF two suicidal patients each thinks that
he has sufficient reason for committing the act but
hath cnfnDauiOn has not. and they WatCn eacn
other tn prevent il. The first thing to ascertain re-
garding new patient is whether he Is inclined 10
suicide. A prominent object on entering was q me
model of ship made by an inmate who had been q
sailor complete in proportion and IN all IT'S details
After recovery he attempted TO make anotneI, oue
was unable even after many attempts. Inns Is one
of those of insanity where the nina Is c0nCen
trated upon one object, and more Is accomplished
than in a sane condition. Even IN what IL calieu
health there are corresponding conditions. One who
was in sound body came up and borrowed the doctor
crutches and be started of through the hall with
one leg doubled up, while he twisted his face and
body as if he was in the most eXcruciaing PAIN One
had made knife out of little piece OF TIN with
which he cut the buttons OIL eyeryb0dys coat, ana
he showed 800 of them TO his friends, saying he had
made so many dollars while there in speculation.
Another who looked like a country JUSTICE OF the
peace said: "There are two house flies the engine
which runs this establishment; he who hath ears 10
hear let him weep" One became insane from haY-
ing had the ague, and he was IN great trouble be-
ca1se the Government was going 10 war with En-
gland when many people will be Killed In room,
among crowd of curious looking folks was one VINO
family after being admitted be attempted 10 tear the
wound open but when he saw so much pains taken 10
heal him he became interested in himself and he for
got his troubles. When We went into another ward
man commenced Immediately 10 take on MS
clothes and he worked at all his garments at once as
though be thought he was doing us q great service
but a few words put him in another frame OF mind.
This is a little trick many of them undertake as
though it was set down among the duties OF the
place Another like character. not willing to obey,
had on handouts. We saw one idiot. who during
the war had been made volunteer that hls reia-
tons might get his bounty money.
The demented were sorrowful sights Some showed
such relaxation of muscles that their heads bent
over like dropping plants. There are many of this
class through the State mostly in Poor Houses.
Those in the excited wards active as kittens
and they lowered around and behind us, and, If
ones coat and pocket-lds and brushes, and whlsks.
and fittings, but no violence was offered.
In our walks We came to adlnng-room. where over
90 were seated at table, and the order and behavior
were unexcepti0na5le. i was pointed to one man
who had been chained at home the terror OF his wife
and little children. and he sat at the table as quietly
as any. was pointed to another who once held an
important State Office, and IN this position ne haq
power to help the Asylum often and he never refused
When the building of this Asylum was commenced
il was under the direction of who had little idea
of the treatment, and 40 strong cells were con-
structed in the basement. They were soon dlsused
and the whole range devoted TO other purposes but
one cell remains unchanged. 1t is like prison cell
and has a loOphole six inches square through which
the sentinel could watch the prisoner saw several
bedsteads, or cots, made like crate with a I'D OF
Stats which closes down upon the patient and locks
These are for the confinement of the restless and
violent, that they may sleep. During waking hours
the hands of the violent are confined III a leather
muff fastened at the wrists by clasps.
In entering the wards for females, we came first to
the convalescent ward, where everything was ex-
ceediDgly neat and where the ladies. TO great ex-
tent generally were well dressed, and they presented
few signs of insanity Still, they had passed as
patients through the various wards and many had
arisen from the lowest depths. One said: Now, do
YOU not think am able to 20 home; am certain 1T
would do me good. and want to my children.
Can't 20 ~ well, not now, but you are improv-