New-York tribune., 1871-11-29
THE BINGHAMTON ASYLUM
SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVING THE HEw-YORk
STATE NgBRIATE ASYLUM.

members OF that BODY Will make Al aPPioP''"'"A '''
the completion of the NewYork State lnebrlate Asy
noar BiDghamton N " believe 1t not out OF placo 10
make few suggestions othc ways In which INC hs'
tuition could by the judicious expending OF sucn AL "p
Precipitation he vastly improved and preacnt s'a u"'y
attra cons to the many who come here seeking cnre
The north wing Of the institution should be completed
without delay. The Asylum In its present ooho''oh
barely large enough to accommodate is many pauo"''
and il cannot be doubted that when 1t becomes known
that the Asylum is at last eoWpe6d anu ihS'eu " no
ing accommOd atoms for " or 100 patenS' oou"'o ~
numter can find accommodations In place where they
can overcome their love Of strong drink tho A'!.
will bc crowded by applicants for adnssioh' "a .n''
Aaylufn were purely private UNDERTAKING IL "o"u po
hsra,drd and advertised throughout the length and
rooa, ~ tho country: certificates from former patrons
Of tho Asylum would show in glowing term" that they
u.ro cured Now however. such tricks are resorted
IN IN obtain PATIENTS and still the Asylum IL constantly
crowded with them Let the institution once pc coh
pIeted let 1t stand there longer mere experiment,
lint a complete success, and tho increased number oi
pat,epts 1t will be able to hold, who VIII emerge
from the institute cured. will spread ifs prcstiee
mara and more then the increased influx Of men seek
inc cre will be proof something must bc done to caro-
for the Asylum Before the north wing however Il COM
plced It's ar" furnished aud set apart or
their various uses it would we'll decide TO III mp two
or three OF the rooms in the hotar (TrkpD
and hot vapor (Russau) baths, Ask physicians or
have upon the druking and after hearing thor
opipons you will bc astonshtd to hear that any esta
shmcnt for thel Of lnehriates should he WITHOUT
tho readie,t means to force tho vainOus compounds
they have been drinking out of the patients system anu
body Ii fact which has repeatedly come under my
personal observation that man. even II stll uhder INC
influence Of liquor placed in ono OF these Turkish or
Russian baths he will III short time emerge from thc
same sober this certainly proof that the application
of such baths draws the fumes which bcmuddle tho
brain the body; and not only are these baths
blessing for this alone but bey are cer'ah euro
for cold neuraagia sick headaches. anu lnnincrable
other ailments that man Is heir TO- also enireat the
trustees of the Institution most earnestly TO provide thc
patients with proper bathrooms The present closets
which are only by courtesy called bath III no way
fulfill their object they close. dark. and uncOmfOrt-
able The athtnbs not over three feet and half
ength-rather too short for the average Sze OF tho
American incbriac The water supply Is limited that
the patients can enjoy the luxury of warm BATH
even if they set all other considerations aside and von
ture into the bathroom. Let the trustees remedy this
evil and devote large, wcll-ghted rooms to bathing
purposes let them give pcntcOus supply OF water
Certainly the expense of introducing water from tho
susoucbanna River which winds around the base Of the
plateau upon which the institution IA situated. cannot DC
great In an institution in which the inmates all strive
TO initiate the apostles Of Father Mathew M unlimited
quantity Of good water. both cold and warin should
a. ways be at the patients disposal.
Another subject which at the present time IL attract
ing general attention. IL the heating apparatus now in
use in the Asylum 1t is totally inadequate in every way
TO supply the building with proper degree OF heat In
great this undoubtedly due TO the fact that
the apparatus about feet from the building which
II Is intended heat In its transit from the apparatus
to the upper stories Of the Asylum the hot air gets de-
cledly cool. The quantity of coal which the heating ap-
paratus In consumes s cnormOus some l9oO or
400 tuns per annum and with the great expense
for fuel the institution is not properly
heated. necessary let new apparatus be introduced
which will only fuel. but will also yield sufll
ccnt supply Of heat. matter that is OF no little i'm
make the patients comfortable There Ia no
doubt that nothing should DC left unone to supply the
reasonable wants of the nmates. for they should In
everyiway feel cOntont.
That gasfxtures have not yet provided for tho
chapel connected with the institution Is an
other gricvOus mistake. That the chapel cannot be
heated is equally wrong The daily prayers ana services
on sundays, should no held in the chapel the place de-
signed religious exercises instead OF being held IN
the lecture ROOM with theatrical stage rs back
ground. think that there be no doubt that reig-
ious exercises when held In chapel or church. arc
great deal impressive than If held in hail. where
the morning our hearts to our GOd ana III the
evening listen to descriptions OF Liberia including reci-
tation of Jim BludsO," or possibly witness per
ornsce Of Box and Cox, Toodles Tho large window
In the chapel should also be properly repaired and the
center one should be adorned with painting represent
ing appropriate scene from the Bible. A. 1t s the
chapel is unnyiting barren, and cold
When some years ago the trustees set two apart
for the Of the OllapOd Club which organization had
then only just sprung into existence those two rooms
were undoubtedly large enough accommodate the
80 members Of the Club But now the Oapod Club has
some 60 resident members and the two which
originally answered their purpose very well have grown
too small to accommodate the constantly Increasing
numbers SO let the trustees with their usual good grace
add the adjoining (now used as guest room to
the two already devoted to the Of the Club and
the members Will feel highly gratifcd. Ono room |
could then he used a readingrOom. where tho |
devoces OF literature would not be annoyed by the gem
tIemcn o are interested the mysteries 6f crbage
scvcn.up, euchrc, kindred games, which are fire.
1uently accompanied by more or less NOISY though
friendly discussions and debates regarding rules. by
arranging the rooms in this every would be
satisfied.
Another urgent want of the institution IA hospital
ward t. e. a room In which all those who actually i'll
and require constant attendance would bc together II
the great room opposite to the superncndent's
could ovOted to this purpose ii would prove highly
beneficial all concerned. The room and its inmates
would be constantly almost under the eyes " the resi-
dent ply -ican and would furthermore be close to the
spensary aud the kitchen it IA well known how often
sick persons require hot water ice &C. all OF which are
within "a few steps from this The sick patients Ia
this room could always he enabled to max" themselves
heard without delay they wished for assistance OF any
kind they would be heard either by the watchman or
he att en,ants who make the fret floor. on which the
proposed hospital ward should be- their headquarters
As it is now an may he Ill and confined to his bed
in his room the number Of attendants In the institution
Is not large enough permit Of them to constantly
remain within OF the sick patient and 1t may he
some time before he IL heard when he wants help this
difficulty would be Obviated. as previously explained by
having all the sick patients in room, with attendants
constantly within call. Furthermore, 1t would DO more
plea sick to be in company instead OF
lying their rooms left alone to their not always pleas
ant thoughts and rc1eOtiOns.
The trustees do good deed In furnishing the inmates
Df the with the leading daily and weekly papers,
and with the prime pal ma gaines, and in doing they
show auable for the mental diversion OF the pa
ents But they should also provide the patients with