The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-08-08

9S % SS0lclo1 AUnocys
The tales of sane men imprisoned in luna
tic asylurns are not pure fiction. Such GER
tainly is the natural inference from the recent
Developments in regard to Bloominedale Asy-
lum. Small reflection is wanted to force the
conviction that it is quite feasible with the
requisite money to deprive any individual of
liberty and estate by the legal use of those in
situations which are intended by their founders
to serve only the purposes of human charity.
Suppose an elderly man possessed of
comfortable estate. He becomes i'll. On the
purchased certificate of men who write NJ D.
after their names a magistrate authorizes his
committal to an asylum as an adjudged luna
tic. This can be done without even notiAca-
ton of intention to take such proceedings
being served upon his own children at hand
Then by second step committee is author
lied to take charge of the person and estate Of
the so-called lunatic after which, for oil chance
he has to even obtain human justice, he might
as well be in his grave. Horrible
cruelties and shocking neglect are at
tested by the afadavits fled on the
motion of Mr.. Van Week, who, though never
insane, as he alleges, was confined in the
asylum more than year. AS this testimony
is er parte it may be untrue and eventually dis
proved; but the circumstances which cannot
be denied are full Of frightful suggestions.
They make it apparent that radical modifca-
tions are needed in the laws which provide for
the care Of alleged lunatics. Spite or covet-
BUSINESS, armed with perjury, can too easily
procure the taking off of any person whose
care is too onerous or whose property tempts
an INSCRIPTIONS relative or custodian.
Though Bloomingdale may not be an unpleas-
ant institution and its management may be
perfect it is an unpleasant reflection that one
might be forced to reside there for years while
perfectly sane or might be transferred to an
other asylum even less inviting Paralysis
might deprive man Of the power to speak or
write, while still capable of exercising oil the
mental faculties. Should such case be con-
signed unwillingly to public asylum while
the victim has ample means to pay for his
support Even, as it appears in the case of
Mr.. Van Week, man in sound health
and sound mind can thus "closely be
mewed up" with hardly the ghost of o chance
for regaining his freedom till death brings him
acknowledgements. Nothing is more obvious
than that adjudication of insanity should be
most carefully guarded against abuse. En-
tirely incontrovertble proof and absolute pub
icity should be required before it should be
competent for o magistrate to authorize the
restraint of individual liberty, without even the
allegation of an offence. Some method should
also be provided by which the inmates of
asylums can communicate with the outer world
without the aid, or in spite of, the jailers to
whose care they are committed In Belgium all
public and private receptacles of the insane
are furnished with letter boxes, which the
keepers cannot open, in which the inmates can
place communications to the local authorities,
who ore charged to investigate all suspicious
cases. Our asylums should present their
prisoners some such method Of escape from q
restraint likely to drive the strongest reason
from its throne. In the reformation Of these
institutions and the laws which regulate them
is fair field for the exertions Of the humane
and the lovers Of justice.