New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-09-15
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
THE TRrATNrNr or INSANITY.

The purpose Of this interesting Volume IL 10 uiNah
s,e interior Of Gn American insane asylum, from
srcts and Impressions obtained from personal eXpc-
rcnce. Although Tie name of the author is with
held. the work is evidently the production of
sincularly intelligent and cultivated writer, familiar
with the sources of literary illustration, with no
ordinary command of expression, ard an exact and
discriminating Judgment No disposition is shown
IN exaCCcratC the nfeliCities that portrayed OF
10 demand improvements OF romantic or lmpracu-
cablc character. There is no complaint OF per-
,opal Entertainment no bitterness at the remcm-
hrapce of great suflcrings during the period oil de-
tanton no spirit of captious fault-indlng Win the
government and discipline OF any lnstltutl"h put
tbe general system of the management OF the insane
adopted in this country is subjected to searching
sritic,sm. which is fully sustained by calm expo
s;,ion Of facts and forcible illustration of details
The writer has no doubt Of the necessity and i'm
r,rtance of insane asylums. None but the pro-
toundly ignorant it is justly remarked, could hint
At any objection to their maintenance ana communal
support. 1t is false philanthropy which would
open the doors of the asylum, and launch at once
upon society host of helpless beings incapable OF
selfprotecton. Not the principle of action but the
Arrangement of system is denounced Ill the present
volume.
In the opinion of the writer, neitherth the PHYSICIAN
NOR the attendants can enter into the real sulerngs
ecae condition of misery that it is to them merely
tiresome as business, without winning tEcir SYM
PATTY or awakening any reflection upon its actual
warfare against the most sacred flies OF the lndi-
The treatment OF the insane physical and moral is
topic that has frcttcd the scientific sound minds Of this
country and Europe from the dawn of science itself
Rut notwithstanding all the experiments to which it has
subjected, very few have resulted in hitting the
Desired marx, and very little light has out of the
darkness. Much am"lioration. however, has enslcd.
which the result rather Of modern philanthropy than
due to In t9 let not he ~, left gnad %qen
that no diminution OF the disease has followed upon
these benevolent efforts. On the contrary the ntr1ity
has steadily increased aud Kept inharnonious pace with
thc advancement Of modern civilization and prHgesS0n
the increased complication 81 modern pursuits requir-
Ing more intense application Of the faculties OF the
mind, ami more constant strain upon the physician
powers. hps led lais,y TO multiply its forms ana
manifestations
Among the evils Of H." prevailing treatment ct the
insone the writer dweiS at length upon the arrange
mcnts in regard TO the sleep of the patient, which,
~ they are practically carried ont become the occa
non of intense suffering. In addition to the me-
ehancal OF personal appliances that arc forced upon
the inmates the hospital there is corps of attend
ants called watchers who are required to keep guard
dnring the night visiting the premises from base
Enent to attio until morning. In case of sickness
disturbance danger of any Sort this is necessary
Arrangement but in the ordinary routine it is made
O source Of constant annoyance aud irritation.
These watch attendants lanterns aud this is the
aeiishlful use for which they employ them patent
and to that patient who is found tagging behind The
rule. OUt the eht, and ladies' or gentlemen, who
wants, here ordered OF like children to bed in the
derk, and HHd themselves chang; places with ser
wants. Indeed lle niaucrs ci tunie Of these Yankee
attendants are hardly on footing with those or me
suavlly among these last which are rot always found i'll
EewEugland, and the courtesy OF Erin lost sight of
have Just fallen into doze or lie may be "dong well"
IN the achievement OF sleep. and by simple and natural
lef MI, ~ ~
Su presently catches tie sound yet the sight.
OF tie lantern clnck cncS. rattle, rattle it swings
thc door Of every rGucH WriI II stops at his
the wall ceiling, and then i bangles in his
very face the nurky light plies boldly into his eyebals
which are reused from their sockets IN moments; he
looks at watcher ana lantern IN SieIc1 and hrwider
awake, vaniehes for another hour.
1ru- YOU see, re.dcr tey wakc the patient up TO s'e
sncoGrt gcncr OF one Of the established and most i'm.
pOtant requirements for the ameiortve treatment of
tOn 10 new parnt is always REQUIRED TO by him with
awful productions aud associations aerward and this
10 why III" fs! night Of III asylum Ia 80 terrible TO MANY
1t haa been compared to night III HE'LL 70 everything
tS2t ,as o. DG Of h3G cD U eG mnG itr mus, r ne
enhances this tenor and this together with lie TACT of
srsSn or such barred windows the rcScd
doors. the rattle o. The attendants keys, the en-
e1 &" iSo Viii Sfc Is d dose Of medicine
tSe pers6f II -a: u t"Scio;r-al this we're enough,
s"0 tbau enough, to render the hst lisht OF al
faen to tie pcviois experience the patient. IT
be said that the ncc slsh OF boy OF Srl WitH h'
or that we meet with everyday 1e st l.t 1t be
tskcp ia connection with wnd already full OF apnt-
1-l1s Ion and Il inca tc00,s sOlt Of cumulative
horor Tic patients. among themselves, discuss. to
much extent thei. relative nucs sonS. anccs fearsand
deldsi0ns and ore often finds tie inn x of himself iii
frvudiy mirror and meets correspondent thoughts and
ideas III oucr breasts Ccho!ng 10 the annals Of his own
Rizc that II is one and the snme disease that afcts then
and they are uOrt easily taught to overcome that error
which has found them out. Among other recital, liat !
have been taken note OIL perhaps none has lett stronger
wit has oft. had the eject Of Gown, nr NOR than
ore patient lna ol u, tGS time i'll tAor live, they had
actually seen ghost! =. -
The minute description presented by the writer Of
the architectural character of all insane asylum /
affords vivid idea of the comtortleas and harassed
life of the unlappy VICTIM inquired within its walls
IOnc halls or galleries, they are called are the
wards ia which he patients confined le:f are On
the lower aid ll and upcr storl": and III laet eath =
lOrs and cd-iuOHs, all range. TIC bedrooms
open IRON the gallery by doors wblchnay he locked only
ing to the condition az the patient who occupies them,
ana by direction Of the aon, physician or attendants
correspond one the Otter throughout the housc, each
containing one window ('arrcd. bed, table, bureau,
chair, painted floor without carpet although marrow
strip Of this usually ared ny the slde OF INC e me
condition OF the patient and give correct an image OF
their occupants that may judge by passing glance
the rooms, OF the state OF mind OF those Who dwell III
them. For Of course, such patients capah" OF
taking and proper interest III their surroundings
viii soften down Inc bankness OF the by the ad Of
personal taste, and certain air of comfort may I've lent
10 the most barren mature OF thngs hut those who are
aducs Of bed chair aad uncOngenia enough Is ter
aspect. ,... 49,. -.
social comfort il desla able, and attempt at do
estic appearance more essential than efforts TO he
lection 10 the State Hospital In Massachusetts,