The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-07-16
NEW YORK HERALD SUNDAY JULY 49, l87.-rRlPLE SHEET.


the keeper told us that to the violent patients they
dare not give beds Of that kind for they would take
the rods and beat each other TO pieces. Except
cells nor indeed was there room for any. In one OF
the rooms, lying nat upoa his back and
NAKED AS WHEN BORN,
we came upon man OF thirty-hve or lorty-years OF
"Why Mac,r the superintendent said ''what are
you doing, exposing yourself IN thus wayr'
''Oh well reckon there's nobody here VIII be
much shocked and It's cool this not weather."
rne quiet, sad tone OF the man Induced inquiry "a
''fle is painter' 1--WE were told>. "and he used to
40 good business over in Aiglers, but ne had do
nestle trouble ana pecuhiary losses"
"ls he insane Yn
''He's been regularly sent here as insane by an
order OF the PROBATE Court, at the request OF his
what for9 was he threatening themS'
"Well, ne was wandering about the streets. ana
they were afraid OF him.
A few months OF careful treatment in o proper
asylum might have restored this man to health and
the enjoyment OF life; but shut up by the provdent
care Of his "frends' among such scenes oil horror
as da meet e eye MR. 'y and
to alleviate it, without amusement or healthy EN-
pioyment without fresh ar or change Of scene, MS
there OF his becoming anything else tnan confirmed
lunatc2 AS the Doctor, none TOO iorciDly said;
"Why, Sir, take a sane man OF weak Intellect ana
shut him up here for week and 1t Will drive nm
mad And yet there are mcurabe cases here that
have never been outside these walls Tor ten years."
THINK OF IT.
Ten years shut out from the light Of day In
have seen blade OF grass, never TO have smelt the
fragrance OF dover, never TO have heard the
friendship. That any human being could endure
SUCH late ana live seemed marvellous; still moro
SO that any combination OF Official neglect, p0tlcal
rascallty and public indifference could for ten long
years, lnnct such unspeakaoie misery on the help-
less anu the insane.
1t Is but justice 10 The superintendent and the on
of the asylum TO say that no part OF the blame
rests on them. All that they eau do 70 mitigate the
cruel sufering5 or their unhappy charges Iney
are OnerOus, and they have not the first appliance
are put there to hold them prisoners IN villa
nous RECONSTRUCTED JAIL and they perform their duty
with az little inhumanity possible. Dr. Dutillet
has necessarily urged the necessity OF the removal
OF the patients to some suitable building.
ON THE wOMEN'S SIDE
OF the institute we found just the same sickening
scenes, and II possible worse were disclosel. There
Just the same number OF cells, OF presitey the
same construction and even more patients To crowd
into them, there being seveDty-live women to TWEEN.
ty-six cells. The crazy woman, who on the day OF
the execution raised much tumult, was quiet
now, and advanced to meet US with an insane and
meaningless smirk, more saddening, almost, than
her rawlings. In the courtyard tied by ropes each
TWO FEMALE "REFRAcreRIEs,"
white women both, and seemingly young. Their
closely cropped neads were each thrust through
hole coffee bag which formed their sole clothing,
ana beneath which their arms were loosely inuned:
One was suicidal, and her naked legs, swollen and
Scared and her bruised head, bore evidence to the
determination with which SHE had sought to tnjure
herself. Tie other was homicida and had made
several attempts the lives OF Others Neither
spoke a word in reply TO the inquiries addressed
we brony mf' sere NV
hard drinking, was pointed out, whom nve pollce-
men had hardly been able to mold. Drawn up IN q
doorway, III the gallery, was all Ola Spanish woman
gray hea led and blind To our inquiries as to her
health she ans yered in her native tongue, bad,
very bad the vOodhOos are IN my head and there ls
mad mule galiopping ut the top" This is the sole
Inflammation OF Vie poor Old ladys life-some
cerebral excitement which pleasant scenes and
the terrible rawlings OF the unhappy being III the
END cell. whose shrleks now disturbed US. Hasten
Ing to the door, we found the opening boarded up
IN the fashion the superintendent mad tOlu US he
had TO employ with the vioent men, and the cell in
total darkness and almost destitute of air. Witnn a
NAKED WOMAN,
with horrfying yels ana imprecations, beat her un-
protected form against the walls and threw herself
violently down on the stone paved nOOr The
sounds Of the blows she gave herself IN ner manaca
fury were sicKening 70 listen TO- and with Ieeng
oil shame that we could do nothing 10 alleviate her
suflerlngs we hurried away
There is but one female nurse to the women.s side
OF the asylum. AT night these seventy-five insane
women-some OF them suffering from nymphopno-
bizarre lefG IN charge OF one night watchman.
Throughout the whole asy lum there Is
NO CLASSIFICATION.
None indeed, Is possible, White and black, old
ana young, pure and impure, are all huddled TO-
eether. The vicious, foul niouthed s,rumpet whom
drunk and haru living have driven into deirlum
tgemens Cor even cases Of delrlum ueuens are sent
here) jostles against delicate women whose aberra
OF intellect is, perhaps, the result OF childbirth.
ar. Cooper has ofcially reported instances where
cases Of temporary insanity, resulting from sup
pressed menstruation. have been here, and the
damp floors OF the stone paved cells the incessant
aud terrible noises the want OF pure air and proper
attention, have converted into permanent disease
what otherwise would only have been a temporary
ailment. Not many days ago an idlOt boy was sent
mere by scarcely less idiotic Recorder to burn out
his little spark OF reason among tho rawlings OF
madhOuse. The charity OF the Society OF St vincent
de Paul happily rescued him.
The present Mayor Of New Orleans, Immediately
on hts entrance INTO Ollce, strongly urged upon the
Council to remove all the public institutions, now
Improperly located in the heart OF the city, TO suit
able buildings outside but no steps have been taken
in this matter. Some etIoi ts have also been made,
without success, to yet patients iut0 the state
Asylum, at JACKSON, which Is crowded with private
patents and to which tue city Of New Orleans Tor
ten years has been unable to send single patient,
thou pays than nalf the cost OF The insti-
manly and n blot on civilil alton.
"wHAT DO YOU THINK OF Irf"
asked the Doctor, as we drove away.
''Well, Doctor, 1t is hard to speak calmly after
what we have just seen. Having witnessed Mexl-
can INSTITUTIONS and having read of the doingS OF
the Commune az La Rochelle, incline 10 think they
were merciul compared with the slow, excruciating
and dlab0ical tOrments inflicted, without cause,
on tho Sc poor wretchcs In there.o
"What can dO" replied the Doctor. 81 have re-
ported and reported till l am tired. The answer
mas always been, The city has no money"
swell. Doctor, you have done your best; now we
Will try the force or public opinion"