New-York tribune., 1870-05-30
EXPERIENCE IN AN INSANE ASYLUM
To the Edftor OF The Tribune.


SIR An article in your paper of May A. con-
cerning the treatment OF the insane, contains good deal
of truth. have been patient in two different asylums,
and received my discharge from one of them not more
than two years ago My eyes have behcd sights cruel
and inhuman to chill my blood. One patient refusing
to give the supervisor a book when asked in vulgar
way was pounded badly, then pushed into chair, called
dirty beast" and struck while sitting. The patient
demonstrating, several attendants put straps" upon
him. tied his hands, and showed him into room. Then
the brues in human form kicked and pounded the poor
fellow for about 20 minutes, until he black and blue
are tied str Those the patients who were looking
III at the door were driven away; but the unfortunate
man told subsequently that he thought three OF his
ribs broken He hurt so severely that he could
hardly walk for several days.
one old gentleman, gray, bent with the weight or 10
years, thought he must have bath He went into the
bath aud got into the water but as 1t was not the
regular bathing day. rough, ard-hearted attendant
pulled the old man ont 6y he mar Ot hs hedd, Kicked
him, and said, You old devil will learn you the rcgu
atiOns" The old gentleman was the next day removed
to one Of the back halls and few days aer was carried
out to the dead-hOuse
Patients were sometimes punished in underhand
was myself locked for six weeks III the hottest
weather. not allowed to 20 once out into fresh air for
exercise, and tobacco taken away from me to make
the punishment greater, WIS very nervous ana the
physicians permitted e To use it, The only reason OF
this treatment because had told the attendants 1t
not right 10 pound and misuse sick and insane men,
such treatment rendered me tmOrouS, and aItcrward
dared not 20 to bed until had secured myself in my
room by pacing my bed against the door some of the
attendants not lit 10 be- placed convicts. They
have locked up patients before the regular time ut night
in order to go into the city and visit houses OF ilfame
have heard them boast of this.
Letters written 10y patients not sent Most OF my
letters from my mother were stopped, have since
learned. Many sick patients suffer for want OF good
nurse. In INSTANCES where patients refused TO take
medicine, fancying 1t contained poison, attendants
pried their mouths with piece of rOn and II they
had much trouble, would pound the patients, they
expressed it, To teach them To take their drugs" one
man when he came sick, but not violent. He gave
good deal Of trouble Ia them and they used 10 pound
and bruse him accordingly. l. one day, passed the
where he was, and beheld him locked in IA crib or
cage. His head nearly twice its natural siZe and
his eyes blackened IL was hard for 10 recognize the
man, those wretchcs had bruised him : badly. His
wife, finding him In so bad condition. took him home
We heard that he died after arrival at home AT
the asylum they assured his wife that he bruised him
self :" but ii was not SO.
The beautiful grounds trees walks, &C. look fine; the
asyums beautiful structures. People admire the
places, and say How kindly our insane cared for"
But in fact they see prisons and locked within 1t
people, who II they lost have certainly
recovered their reason; who harmless, and
would be better of outside; made by harsh
treatment going down 10 the grave in SORROW, when
Kindness might save Ifthcse statements be doubted
can prove them true by Others who have been incar
cerated. do not write this through prejudice, hut as
duty aud matter Of humanity. promised patients
whom bcleye to DO sane, when left the as um 10
make this public C. D.B,
BdH, N. L., May 10, 1870.