New-York tribune., 1872-08-31

| from the reach of the patients by heaVy IRON
| grating. Froms the rear end OF the buiidlng
wing ran off at a right-ange toward the west the
hall of which runs along the sde instead OF through
the center. and the cells ranged overlooking the
rear instead of the front yard. The dining-room
opened off the hall about opposite to the passage
way leading into the shaped wing. The front
room, about % by 10, was furnished in the most
| cherries manner imaginable. heavy center-tabie'
with one castor broken, two iron-and-wooden
benches and perhaps six solid wooden chairs CON-
pletes the inventory. These exactly similar 10
those at the sides of the walks of Central PARK.
They are evidently intended for persons intending
to rest for few moments only, for from the insli-
cient support given to the small of the back they Dc
| come really painful after long use. There are TWO
benches of the same kind in the long hall, and one
or two in the extension. The comforts when
would accrue to patients if even large split bottom
armed chairs were substituted many and great.
During his stay the reporter frequently heard the
| chairs complained of and the wish expressed that
| even this commonest of comforts-a comfortable
| place to sit down when tired Of walking up ana
down the dreary hall-could be provided
MANAGES MORNING MEAL
The breakfast bell is in every instance rung sew
eral minutes before the doors thrown open, and
by the time the patients permitted to enter the
patient over the delay. This should certainly be
avoided. On his first morning within the walls OF
the Asylum, the reporter shown to a seat at the
table by the side of the caterer, Mr.. Wilkins. A
portly parsonage occupied the head of the table,
while the tall attendant with the elaboratey waxeu
mustache sat at the foot just fat the reporters le
hand There nine patients at the table all OF whom
ate with eagerness and avdty with the exception OF
young the reporters right. He ate very slowly
4 yxpffhn f,o uIf.y faqt
The room long apartment, furnished with two
rough wooden tables such common in the gener'
aty OF Kitchens but larger The patients on the hal
above no. KILL took their meals In this room, md
ing admittance by doorway which communicated
through yestibule with the apartments Al that table
perhaps IA patients, under the care Of attend
ants Young and L0enecker-he former burly Hiber-
nian and the latter a portly German. The provisions
brought already cooked from the other building,
aud the breakfast was prepared by unceremonl0usy
budding together each plate small allowance OF
meat boiled potatoes in their skins. some sliced to-
matOes bread, and small piece OF butter. The Coffee
with only a trace OF milk sugar, doed out in
large white slopbows To the reporter who innoeenty
asked for sugar and milk, the answer returned by
Townsend that all the milk and sugar good for him
was already In the coffee. From this he did not at
any time or under any circumstances receive even
the simplest courtesy. Although the caterer subsequent
ly on three separate occasions, procured ad
dtional supply OF sugar for the reporter, slngulary
enough such couteres extended TO the others
The knives and forks evidently seldom cleaned
the handles and blades alike greasy and sticky, In the
same condition than those found in the cheap
est midnight lunch stalls OF Fulton Market Printing
House-square. The breakfast finished, and emerg
ing the hall the patients betook themselves to
pacing the floor, reclining the benches, standing
silently against the wall The long hours till dinner
time passed n,thoroughy studying the attendants
and patients, without making many advances toward
acquaintance. The newspaper taken on the hall ar
rived in the forenoon but the reporter could not obtain
sight OF it. so indusriously was it read by the attend
ADAY IN THE WARD.
The ages OF the patients Hall XI ranged from 10 10 70
years. and with two exceptions they net con-
sidered dangerous One OF these exceptions gener
ally understood to have frlghtfuy bitten patient 20
whom he dislike, and the other enjoyed the reputa
ton Of having attempted to kick the head of"
one in the building who had aroused his anger.
Dr. Burren and an assistant called about II m, and
simply inquired after the health OF their patient
whom they found seated on one OF the uncomfortable
seats near the bay window at the end OF the hail.
His examination Of the patients condition limited
the counting of the pulse and to the simple inquiry
"How do you feel this mornngP The pulse was found
more regular no doubt than he expected Another long
hour aud half tedious and impatient wait after the
ringing OF the dnnerbe and the patient was ordered
HOW THE PATIENTS DINE.
As a sample dinner that Of the following day Is
selected They are all very much alike from day day.
During the entire stay of the reporter never
served in either ward IL cannot surely be claimed that
1t Is unheatby the offered for not having buter
at dinner that it will make you blious.p but this
hardly applies to soup too. IL is neither expensive
unhealthy and is decacy which every patient would
delight in and ore OF the articles OF food most in by
neutrality-suspicious. in ordinary practice All the patients
sat down to long reddish wooden table, which the
meal laid As In all other meals-noi single ex-
cepton-the table was without 'oth hDi this Occa-
SION, as frequently the c. the boards had the
appearance OF hay wing been led with greasy dish
CLOTH Coffee or tea there me- andt only drink
permitted was OF the natural eratureof the spring
from which 1t was drawn. Thc ate sered 20 each pa
tient contained, heaped up In mass bOed sh gravy,
tomatoes and potatoes The supply OF af bread some-
times laid the top OF this incongruou ntange, was
on this occasion deposited the greasy dDle at the
side of a saucer OF boiled rice IT, pa euts are ex.
pected to devour this mixture wlthou, remonstrance,
and accordingly word Of disappDval is heard
No TO be had except on rare OCCASIONS than is
dealt out by the keepers The languageof majority Of
the attendants Is in many instances highly Improper
In this charge Mr. Carr cannot be nchded. The pa
tents who are slow told to hurry W in tho most
mandatory manner.
"sPEAK TO THE DocToL"
The patient anxiousy desired, after dinner, that his
clothing should be brought TO uis building. and
stated 10 Carr his Wishes Carr is SHIRT heayy-set En-
gllshman, the embodiment of Squesrs OF DOtheboys
Hail. who parades his piety and his experience In the
care Of lunatcs upon every favorable occasion. Al
though he is considered chi9 attendant In
Hall XI, he passes his nights at home
with his family, leaving the patsuts 10 the care
of Townsen nd aud the wilkins In this instance
in answer to his request for the clothing which in
his satcheIs, the reporter first encountered phrase
which proved be the most aggrayitng OF the many
petty annoyances which are heaped upon the unfortu
A. La. nfp