New-York tribune., 1869-01-02

thor
the boisterOus and strong would make both worse,
f,r one would shrink with fear, and the other would
brcome audaCiOus Tins arrangement corresponds
10 classification in the sciences tho advantages arc
os GREAT in one case as in another and without it
Il tle OF no progress could be made Another adyan-
tape arises from the assistance derived from such
patients rs arc in the process Of recovery for it is
found that they at once uso their newly recovered
faculties in helping their companions, since they
gyMUathiSe with them and know their wants even
better than their attendants and yet, thOse very
one may be tar from being restored, and they still
need assistance from the physician or those stu
more advanced. After they have reached q certain
stage IN their recovery they are removed to ward
where the condition of the patients corresponds to
their own. There is much in this similar to the
Lancastlian system of education. There are seve-
raj aged women IN tins institution, and some have
grown old IN II, having been here from 10 10 %
years. 1t is not improbable that if such bad at first
been treated by the present methods they would
nave been restored Tor nothing is better ascerthed
than lhat the CARRIER proper treatment can commence
the more certainty there OF speedy ana permanent
cure-that Is, unless the case Is attended with organic
disease.
In one ward was most cheerful sight. A lady;
perhaps 80 years old sharp-featured active, and
dressed in lluc and black drlaine, was playing tie
Devils Dream on the piano. while two lades not lar
from 50 years old danced reel ana they were as lOY
ing and gay as any young couple dancing IN coH-
try tavern Another dressed IN fire red: another
as an Indian princess, and another was the Queen OF
Sheha One seeming 10 nave an M ny coniu ,n
ucatiCn. came to the Doctor and told hln that wheh
she wanted TO leave she would let him know. one
was the wife of IN eminent man. one the sister Oh
another the names Cf which were whispered. AS we
passed along. one. well dressed and seeming every
way proper, gave to some OF MS wink.
In tho various wards, all grades are lncluueu, anu
thev range from the elegantly dressed lady VINO goes
with an attendant in carriage TO the city, to make
purchaSes-behg almost restored, or the great eaiah
ity is inpending-down 10 those VINO st s',enI' an1
seem neither tO see nor hear-wlth wasted halr, ana
paralytic twitcheS and IN whom reason seems IKE u
hame that iiickcrs in the act Oi expiring. Inc view
is series of steps leading from bT9ney domh w ho o
In - hgh Cpm
next another deficiency is superaddeu; IN the next
still another until. Mt last, all that makes woman
attractive and loved is gone, or. what is worse so
ito is left that the condition is rs IF the sun were
Noited from the heavens and chaos had come agalh
The last state is called dementia, ana 1t DIFFERS from
idiocy only in having beginning; sun, OF the
majority there are always hopes they are more or
less active they receive lmpTeSso ons thelr cohuuct Is
manly exemplary, they understand some things
clearly. and more than thieeiouIihs are IesIoIeu ~
Fyery means for affording rational amusement is
supplied; there is a gymnasium, also lectuIe-fOOhi
where lectures by eminent men are delivered, NAM
lv ON some popular branch Of the Natural Sciences
and exhibitions are held with the magic-antern ana
various optical aud chemical Instruments; several
carriages are kept for The patients usc IN short what
ever ant science. industry, or experience can con
tribute toward bringing the mind TO ITS iomeT COLI
diton Is literally and industriousiy applied was
shown every room the closet doors were thrown
omen; and besides, ] followed along the labyrlnths
Of the vast basement up to the attic and dome -,
Those patients who GO by the general n'me oi
ment and when they become wholly unlnanageaOie
they are placed in rooms containing only mattress
laid on the floor. These rooms correspond 10 the
grated dungeons of Bedam, where chains are hXed
to the walls. There IS narrow WludOw so Illgh tiiat
il cannot be reached and there IS transom window
over the door. If they contained o bed aud niue
furniture, they would be similar 10 many OF the
rooms in good New-lOrk hotel. Patients OF inns
class will readily commit sncide II they ca ana OIL
ten they are ingenious in seeking the means Inc
usual preventive is a garment which has sleeves
iolned together at the wrist, entirely enclosing Doth
hands. AS the patient rccoyere, q DedStSad Is
brought in, there Is removal To furnished room,
and finally to the society of one ofthe wards 1hlSeX
treme condition is OF short Duration often ~ Is IN
termittent. and mono among more thah %O Were
so confined on the day OF my visit, or seemed IN
any respect requiring it, the Improvement iii the
treatment of the insane over former methods must DC
manifest As to chains. dungeons, or any means Ior
punishment, saw nothing OF the knu. Nheu pa
tient becomes highly excited, the two attendants OF
the ward come each side, and each taking an arm
q transfer TO room IS deXleronsy, geii.iy, a,I1
must speak only In low unimpaSslonea voice; often
II rs found unnecessary TO speak at all, even where
the manifestations to the common eye Wou,a a%pSai %
sa ti1 ,aos, n asnIBrng m ieo IT pfi6s
while their passage is marked upon card within the
case of an ingeuiously constructed CLOCK. Inc
clothes of each patient upon retiring lae placed out
Tn The evening attended teaparty--for one was
given to the patients every wcek-that ~ To pol-
tion at time. and they look forward 70 lho osca
SION with great Interest All the OHccrs WIN thei
ladies' were present, and. notwithstanding ihis Was
a class much lower than others. with regard 10 tne
progress Of their cure had never mingled 10 con-
pany which showed more pTopuety; indeed nay q
sat ot festive tables where the company mlEhu 10
Taught something 10y the behavior OF these uhIor-
Mates After the dishes were re9teu scleia SUM- nv
were introduced in which most OF the patients tOOt
some interest, and conversation was intcrmingieu
Still there were those whom nothing could arouse
and they sat iisess and dOwncaSt On this occasion
was present lady with history Of the most interest
ing and affecting nature but II cannot be TOLD untl
in all probability the hand which holds this pen shall
be moldering in tie dust May tho enaicGs. M EST
ence. On the next eVoning was n lecture on tne
next, some other entertainment; ana thuS luis
part of the work goes on through the year.
Tho hospital building for men Is nearly half mlie
distant. Between are the two walls of therespecuye
institutions; and also, low valley; not lncosea, ~
thus making as 10 were, a gulf which cannot DE
passed. Upon little reflection the necessity ior
separating the sexes will be Obvious, but would be
sufficient reason Ill The fact tna many ladies would
not enter if tlev would be likely TO meet men who IN
after life could lay claim to an formedln
such place. The general plan. the interior arrange
ments and provision for comfort instruction.
amrsement and cure are the same as in the depart
ment for females. The number OF males IL, from
wear to year, abOut the same as OF females, winch
shows notwithstanding complainIngs IN certain
quarters in regard Ia women; that both are happy
and unfortunate in an equal degree.
Surely if anywhere, some OF the scenes OF Bedam
would be presented among the men. Inc aool vas
Opeucd II was neither an iron nor massive door,
nor did il differ from the parlor door IN ones own
dwelling. Here was the same well lighted ana cheer-
ful hall, with pictures on tue Wais VIII IL a..
cases Of insects. and various cnrosties but te IN
awakened activity and curiosity all eyes turned to-
ward us, and there was general movement on tho
part of each 10 position favorable for seeing
or hearing. A large buslness-lke man hustled up
TO rs With confidence holding in his hand petition
addressed TO tho President of the United States.
pIayng for an appointment to the Office OF Secretary
ppf State or of War or of the Treasury, or of the
Navy. or Pension Bureau, or as ambassador to En-
gland France or Russia. or, In case none OF thcse
Taccs sbOuld be ,acaut the Supel1ntenQtncy OF INC
limited States Mint would be accepted We did not
l,.a:.ot, 20 e;,,n his natifon bpeause could