New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-10-21
INSIDE AN INSANE ASYLUM.
A PHYSICIANS STORY.

net ana roport the defects In tho managementoi tno
ward,s Island Emigrant Hospital for the insane Dr
Eehevorria has made report IN which s'"'ouoi'S 'u'
stantially as follows occur;
regarding cleanliness found the different wards oc-
cupted by tho insane In very credtaole condition
There we're no pictures any attempts at ornamental
ten in any Of the wards or in the common dormitory
remarked that some benches and dning-tabe placeu
at the end Of each ward the principal articles OF
furniture beside the iron bedsteads provided WIN COM
Portable straw mattresses and the required bed co'hn
The stoves In the wards were surrounded pS a pro-
tective iron CRATE and seemed to DC N goou orueI %
light was satisfactory in all the wards Out un Vi 'o
cells I'm the male and female divisions respectively were
Az tina cells IN the basement were clean their ca
oc,tv hardly reaches $50 cubic feet and as the windows
are not always kept open. their ventilation has
20 be principally derived from the hail. at
the end OF which there IL Stove
TO heat the cells and the whole basement
Tho wards generally appeared OyercrOwded, and al
though some OF them had better means OF ventilation
than the cells should yet think that in Winter the air
I'm the wards be found foul The waterclosets con-
nected with the building specially devoted to male ana
female lunacy in respect Objectionable Inc
.tar-eases leading 10 the wards without the side
protection SO much required In a lunatic hospital
bath has been recently ed adjoining the female ward
on the second oor and another In the male ward In the
basement Both supplied with hot and cold water,
nud heated by stove; but the first is not accessible
without passing through unsheltered balcony which
necessarily must be OF great discomfort and
danger 20 delicate female unacs during the cold season
OF the year. There dinngrOOm for any OF the pa
fonts who take their meals in Summer under tho shed
I'm the airing court connected with their respective
wards or within latter during the Winter. The de-
feet OF this arrangement is too obvious TO need further
comment. The great distance from the wards 70 tho
kitchen must necessarily the meals to be served
cold TO the patients.
was most ayoraby impressed by the condition OF the
patients All those 1 saw both and women. were
ro1o1 vlO IRE n
taut TO wear shoes we're barefOocd could not detect
any marks Of violence signs OF scurvy In any OF the
luuatics. In the male department. was unfayoraoy
struck 10y the indiscriminate association in the airing
court Of excitable maniacs with quletr patients
Two attendants mad charge Of fifty male lunacs in the
ward As have already stated the clothing Of the pa
tents and the supply shown me in the storeroom we're
of neat substantial material but not satisfactory to
the Resident Physician The number OF patients IN the
Emant Hospital for Insane the time of my visit
was I65; or and 50 women. They were not CLASH
fed Among the men found under medical treatment,
one out Of the fifty in the airing court; another
was under surgical treatment in the infrmary, the re-
manning six lunatics confined therein being unable to
get ont their BEDS though undergoing no treatment
whatever. There wero also one male epneptic aud
another with gastric disturbance, under treatment
fn tho so-called cOnvalescent ward, not fully
occupied by convalescent patients. The total number
OF men under actual Of treatment then four,
one OF them, as remarked also undergoing surgical
treatment. Among the women three OF the "a in the
Indrrnary we're taking medicines and OF them had
typhoid fever I must notice, incidentally, the grave
dangers Of spreading peslence by not isoatng
the with typhoid fever from the others occupy
ing the dormitory. None Of the maniacs in the
cells we're taking medicine OF tho women, very wild
aud boi,terous was tied by straps to her bed; and the
only man found secluded in a cell had just been i'd
med to hospital, and during visit released
by the Resident Physician. Twas shown two prescrP
zion books for the male and the other for the female
81 aQrV ffn oo1r lpn
hospital Of the department by the attendants Of the
different ward containing the date OF admission, name
ana age the patient, date Of his discharge etc but
which not intended TO commit any particulars con-
corning the medical treatment and progress Of the
patient The prescription book, every order for med
cnes and the directions FOR use with the name OF the
patient for whom it intended written by the
Resident Physician. Stimulants, however, are ordered
without the OF the patient requiring them or
directions for their administration; q practice
which should be condemned as very unsafe.
No copy or vouchers are preserved at the Drug Depart
mont ~ the medicines dispensed for the Emgrant Hos
pitai for the Insane, ana III must eonsequentN %
m n mes ISo or tbe Insane HoSbtai in this i'm
p0Itaut branch Of its administration. was informed
by The apOthecay that he puts up every day from nVe
20 prescriptions including orders Tor stmula9ts Tor
the Hospital for The Insane. This Is ordinarily dcne In
the forenoon and is rare thing that the apothec9y
i called upon ln Inc evening 10 9lspTse any
for any Of the insane wards, inc RESIDENT fy eGIah
making regular evening visit 20 the hospital The
nurses or orderlies and sometimes the helpers brDg
the prescription down TO the apOthecary shop and are
cnes and stmuants 10 the wards. The evils OF this
system selleyident: It keeps the attendants far
from their respective wards, II leaves them en-
trcy liberty 10 dispose as they choose OF the stm9-
lants ordered IN the loose manner already noticed and
finally 10 turns the apOthecary shop into sort OF
reunion the attendants Orderes, and helpers, which
HE dietary table Of the Hospital for the Insane does
differ from the manuscript copy saw OF that OF the
General Hospital Of the Department OF Emigration II
well calculated 70 prevent scmyy; but the Resident
PLY ciau states that II has not usually been followed,
the having discretionary powers TO regulate the
general slci OF me %gn ,nHo IUe % ~ V tL
Pedent Pbvscian who gives the necessary orders 70
thai effect An the patients in the female cOnyalescen
WardaDOu Jare supposed 10 be able 10 Work some OF
the women in the other wards are also empoyedn sweep
working ia the building, but should think that
larger proportion OF the % men saw in the airing court
manual work with more benefit 20 themselves than they
derive from remaining IN ldlenesS Wh olneT lunatles
the without being previously committed by
MAGISTRATE chs course is adopted IN VOCATION OF Ius
or Who are sent 10 the Hospital for the Insane under OBJ
servation. The practice OF receiving lunatcs without
commitment was general until short time ago but now
Commitment required by law. II is, however fair to |
that OF the old residents OF the Hospital
Ion the Insane confined therein to-day without COM
pjtmept whom a patient is brought to Wards Island |
he is taken into the general reception once II on hls
H. R,Iidept Physician admits him into the /
Insane Hospital by writing on the card the ward |
where 70 be confined according 70 the rules or adj
mis- 10 the Hospital but without signing his
name 70 such order superficial examination OF the
Innate h made al the Office where the requires
necc eders the resident physician goes at once the
hospital with the patient who is Otherwise removed
thereto by orderly No medical notes are tske9 OF
Of the patient instituted TO ascertain whether there
any fractured bone or injury OF any other character
inflicted before the patient is admitted 70 the hospital
Unless especial reason shall occur 70 the
contrary the resident physician does not ordinar-
sbed until his next regular visit 10 the hospital on the
fOf