New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-11-09
ABUSE Or LUNATICS,
SECRET MEETING OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF
CHARITIES AND OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
IMPROVEMENT ON WARD'S ISLAND.
Nel0- York, Nov. 8, 1872.

SECRET MEETING OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF
CHARITIES AND NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
IMPROVEMENT ON WARD's ISLAND.
The Commissioners of Charities and CorTec-
ton held secret meeting yosterday IN relation to
various charges when have recently Deen made against
the mana cement Of the NevYork City Asylum for the
Insane on Wards Island. Commissioner Bell, whom
questioned by TRIBUNE reporter rs TO what
action the Board would take tho re-
commentator addressed TO II by the Jury in the
samuels case replied as follows: We don't have any
thing 20 do with samues, and don't intend to be die
tated to by COroner's jury; intend TO keep the
management Of affairs in the Insane Asylum in our own
hands" In regard to tho retention Of the present
corps OF attendants who all sent in their resigna-
tons on Monday last, Commissioner Bell further said
no not uceopV 'DviI ivesh"uohs occause mo
think they we're made in pet the fuss EccheVeTa
was making about the of the patients; there Is
GREAT danger OF making mistakes II you do things in
hurry and have thought we would look over the
names the attendants from day TO day. and discharge
them as we found them unfit but shall not dismiss
them In q body"
Commissioner Nicholson being asked the business
which had called the Board together said to the re-
porter: We are discussing that Wards Island matter
shall probably discuss 1t again and again there is
use whatever of your staying until the meeting Of tho
Board is over; you will get nothing. NO Information
concerning this matter will be given to you"
THB EMIGRANTs ASYLUM.
The conclusion Of the investigation, ny the Colntn
soners into the management and condition OF the Em
grant Lunatio Asylum Wards Island promises
10 lead 10 very beneficial reforms. Until the new
buildings, now ready for their roofs, are com
pleted no radical changes oan DO made In the
accommodations for the patients The cold weather viii
coon prevent them from passing the day in the yard
and the meals Will TO be served in the apartment
IN which are the beds These ana many other inconven
ences WILL 1t is apparent, have TO DO endured dur
ing the coming Winter Every effort IL, however,
making by the Commissioners TO render tho poor
quarters as comfortable possible. In the
great and radical improvements will be made
over all existing plans. Florence Nightingale, who sug
Qested the plan the Verplanck Hospital Wards
Island was the first advocate OF the pavilion system
for insane asylums. The want OF absolute CLASH
fcatiOn is felt in almost every institution In
which patients affected with brainal disorders are con-
fined BY means OF the erection Of six or moro separate
bndings each TO constitutea single ward for different
class OF patients the most complete classification can
he had Of this eystem Is expected 10
work very beneficial resutS In the treatment. The
present irregular condition OF the Asylum has grown
ont OF the incompetency or neglect OF the
physician in charge Upon his own admissions
minutes per day TO the examination OF patients IN the
Asylum. Others most positively that he did not
give is minutes per day. 1t not believed by
the Commissioners that the physician was 80 much
as inattenve They therefore temporarily
Abolished tho Office OF physician In charge 80 as TO get
rid OF the obnoxious person. The asylum viii De ADDED
10 the hospital and will DO assigned 20 member OF the
Hoard OF Physcans aud Surgeons IL Is very probable
that the ONCE viii DO reEstabished 80 soon as the
Mt incumbent has left