The New York herald., 1870-01-17
The Retreat for the Insane at Hart
ford, Conn. ~

Society for the Relief OF this Insane, was incorpo.
rated In 1922, the state giving $1,000 with the
charter, and adding afterwards sums that render
the total OF the bencfactons or tho State S24 600.
Beginning with 1912, the State Appropriated annu.
ally sums varying from So 600 to 800 900 nomlnahy
to the Retreat, ana many were mised into suppos-
ing these TO be gifts TO the Institution. but
they were simply appropriations to DO ex.
pended under the direction OF the Gov
ernor for the board of the pauper insane, the
towns paying In each case one-nalf. The Retreat
charged nothing for rent supervision or attendance
asking only reimbursemenrs the actual expenses
OF board. The arrangements was cheerfuy &C
cepted by the Retreat but the time arrived when
the demands OF the state were likely TO absorb all
the accommodations and resources OF the tnstitu.
tion leaving no room Tor private patients. The Re-
treat was relieved OF Its State patients last year ana
after an inLermlssion OF twentyseven years the d.
rectors were ut liberty to return 70 their original
policy. the Society for the Relief OF the Insane" or
Retreat as shall call 1t for brevity's sake. Is
not q joint stock corporation but purely charity
originating In the disinterested zeal OF individuals
prompted and aided by leading physicians who
found IL Impossible TO take proper care OF insane
patients III private dwellings, II Is an association
OF gentlemen without regard to party or sect. who
derive no pecunlars benefit whatever, and IN their
annual meeting EJECT the board OF directors and ex-
ecutivc officers; the board chooses the mana2 ing
ana resident officers OF the institution directs ITS
general affairs, and extends constant SUPER
vision and inspection. The only 'dlvidends" are
indicated by the percentage OF recovered patients.
The occasional surplus OF receipts mas been mostly
expended In permanent improvements, save that
fund Of about S25.OJ0 has accumulated.
TIE LOCATION or THE RETREAT
possesses lvantages 1t affords splendid view
OF the brOaJ Connecticut river valley ana the dts
tant mountains; its spacious grounds are near to
the CITY and yet no. embarrassed thereoy and are
artlsticaliy lald out and beautifully adorned by
shrubberv and lne old trees. SO far the new prob
lam
yet entirely euDstantal; was Necessary TO rebuild
The Board called In the services OF an ex.
nHanimoasly aaonted. The 1icnIi,es p nf adant'
Ing Old houses to modern tastes and naces-
sltiss ana to the greatly advanced demands
OF science are most happily overcome. BY artistic
touches the wnoie exterior effect has been changed,
making OF the severely simple collection OF barracks
ARCHITECTURAL beauty The great change Is evident to
I'D residents, out the internal alterations much
more extensive and costly About Sl25 900 has been
expended. Two buildings about forty by forty and
and TWO stories nign have been erected entirely re-
placn low one story connections between Old
buildings Two OF the other Old buildings, which
contained two rows Oi rather small rooms IN each
story. with narrow halls running between, have
supply tiers Of good rooms winnie broad halls occupy
the whole space oil one OF the old tiers that where
IN the Old buildings were TWO rows OF rooms with
hall, are now one enlarged room and one enlarged
hail. wnile through what was once an outer wall
are entrances to elegant rooms.
THE ARCHlrECT'S IMPROVEMENTS.
II Is impossible TO describe the changes They are
found In Inc enlargement OF rooms ana halls, the
addition OF bow windows with delightful views
and aDothecary's offices, the superlntendent's
and directors rooms, the vastly improved de-
cooking, &c. &c.--everywhere. in fact. 1t
Is q new institution. Formerly the Retreat could
even considerable ell aryements, its proper number
l. $780, though II coud possibly provide for 20b For
the s,OO000J OF inhabltants In New England and
New York mi ions OF dollars nave been expended
during the last twenty years FOR the erection or State
end city unatc hospitals, Dut scarcely one adapt Ell
to 80 well care for persons accustomed to modern
comforts and eiegances, or others particularly re.
curing rest and secNson. IL Is not prison. One
WITH pleasure that IN place OF prison bars
there s IN front OF the lower sash only tasteful lat
tlce work OF lron which uniIes grace with con.
ceAIed strength. The upper half or the window
closes the fact tnat the sash Itself Is O wrought iron.
The halls are wide, softly carpeed, with many pic.
bow windows, where easy chairs tempt to rest and
reading In the remodel,ed retreat the largest wards
contain fifteen, and that many can always be found
who can be associated, Dut there are other wards
accommodating less, even as few as four ana even
suits OF rooms having connections whatever with
wards. Tne smaller wards, containing four e.e-
gany carpeLed and furnished with every convenience
OF wardr0Des. bathrooms, &C., and In each wing
tour suits oi rooms. afordnk patient ms own par
lOr, bedroom, bathroom and water closet
PURPOSES OF THE INSTITUTION.
It's the purpose OF the institution to provide am
health aud comfort demand for even the huinbest,
ana spacious aud handsome rooms and suits OF
rooms Tor those whose tastes habits and wealth
quire them. Modern sclence views insanity as pure
y physical disease. Robert Hail. the great divine,
whoknew whereof he spoke, said:--"H we could take
from INSANITY the unreal horrors with which t Is In
vested should deprive the disease OF half mal
niIy." DR.. Brown, Of The BlOomingdale Asylum, re-
presents the common opinion OF medical men de.
voted to This specially in saylug:.It can scarcely
be too strong an expression to use, thai place
be considered too beautiful or too valuable Tor tle
temporary refuge or permanent home OF insane per-
sons accustomed to the higher comforts and luxurea
enjoyed bv many Of our patients when IN health >
ternal circumstances, how much more when the
marvellous harmonies Of the body and mind arc
driven by disease inio jangnQ dlscOrdl
THE "GENrLE'' TREATMENT.
A patient can be brought to the Retreat, exam
ined IN the private reception room and committed
TO gentle attendants without seeing another insane
person rs quietly Us II taxing rooms At Iirst class
hotel. There are no iron doors, no grating that
would be recogaized as sucn, no chains or mana
cles There are carpets, DOCKS pictures pianos, a
billiard table, chapel, an amusement hall winch
VIII soon be DECORATED BY The use o. Tho s.. 600
pose); in short, there is home where q
ruder man OF the roughest class or a refined
rested, restrained, comiorted and restored Tna
prices range from SIX TO thirty dollars per week.
The NUMBER OF patients at present IL 1885, There IS
generally supposed. Of say 140 patients the daily
average that requires bodily restraint by WAISTS OF
bandages ~ not more than i've or SIX. There are,
OF course, numoer tnaL must be watched every
moment, but In the great majority OF cases even
those VINO 40 come GOMEZ mere r ravns are re- 10 few days
that tney can be allowed the full freedom OF their
wards.
THE GOOD WORK DONE
The Retreat for the Insane has received about
5000 patients, Of whom about 900 have been under
the care OF Dr. John 5. Butler during the twenty
seven years oil his superintendency. II has always
ranked among the best Institutions OF the country.
II Is WITH great pleasure that he finds the intelligent
and generous board OF directors cheerfuliy expeud.
ing such large ~ perfect that which has so long
received lis warm dey0Ll0n and his delatlgaDe
and invaluable iabors. Both ne and the Retreat
were never stronger IN the confidence and respecC Of
the public than they are to-day. His and tine direcL
Tors sagacty and enterprise VIII unquestlOnably De
justified by an enlarged income and surplus giving
facilities for still further advances. The institution
has entered upon new era.
MORE OF DIR. SCHOEPPZ.--Thc Baltimore sun Of the
18th says I'VE mentioned on Thursday the publica-
tion III tie German papers OF letter from Carlisle,
Pa, signed BY three persons, VINO assert that the
Dr. Schoeppe convicted OF POISONING Miss StlnnecKe,