New-York tribune., 1872-11-07
LOCAL NEWS.
THE EMIGRANT INSANE ASYLUM.

ing the nadcQuacy Of the Emgran Insane Asylum Tor
the accommodation OF such class Of patentSi the IN
competency neglect Of the physician m charge; anu
the horrible condition Of tho Institution have ieo
material reforms IN the treatment OF insane emgran'
The Committee in its report given below sustalhs IE
TRpuNr In every instance and has taken proper means
70 mitigate or abolish existing evils Az meeting Oh
the Board Of Commissioners OF Emigration heo aV OAs
tie Garden yesterday. the special Committee appOh'ed
to investigate the condition OF the Asylum ior insane
Imigrants reported that began the examination OF
witnesses Sept and continued for several days
During this time Drs. Henry Rede the physician OF the
Asylum George Ford the chief physician iof Wards
Island and John Dwyer the resident surgeon, Leonard
r Wees warden. Mrs. Catharine scully, matron, Ann
Kavanagh nurse. Pierce Butler orderly Of the Asylum.
and the Rev. Joseph Prachensky, chaplain Of Wards
Island gave testimony IN reference 10 the management
OF the Asylum The Investigation developed the follow
ing facts:
That the Wards Island Committee, by resolution ap
proved by the Board separated the management oil the
bunatio Asylum from the General Hospital and placed II
OF the Lunatc Asylum, VINO entered on his duties IN
July, 1870; snce that time down TO the inyesugauon
$50 patients of whom sS7 we're discharged trans
fer ed TO other institutions and wards, Whe elOped
and % died. leaving at tho date OF the myestgauon los
patients in the Asylum. OF this number Il appears ny
the examination, not more than ~ are 9naer %
The rest, numbering l4s being under nIe
Physc Of the Asylum as Is shown by the testlmohy
fuTnSshe5 Nth Case BOOK and Register" which
furnished TO him by the Committee IN aceofu-
sidered necessary and important IN all asy Tor
tho treatment Of tne insane, were dscohlhueu AtSL
Nv from the Wards Island Committee. In reply 10
An inquiry by the Committee as 70 post PCstm6Sti 6i.
connection with the Asylum, period OF over
two years, he had made six, but had not kept any
sficia record of them The reason first assigned Dy
him 10 the that he had not the necessary means 10
make "aualy zatOns') subsequently modified by
his alleging that the reason for making few the
repugnance and objection OF friends and relatives
A 10 the time consumed by the physician, IN bis day
VISIT Inspection aud examination OF the inmates Of the
Asylum he stated that he devoted from 45 minutes 10 an
hour but that he made suo quent visits ana wa
ready 20 answer the calls OF the attendants Inc
balance the time two days IN each week. ne statea
that ne devoted 10 RECEIVING az nls rasnond
ing inmates and attending 70 the cOrresPOnu
four days in each week. he claims that he deIOtes tne
10 the study and examination OF ms Ctses, ~ ~ it
aeed for tne records the examinations ana the result
OF his study. he said he had some on loose sheets OF
paper Others in private 10y & 90 & anu iT
visits the directed the attention OF the physician
L.IeF ex4ninne her he concluded she was not
The patient delivered Of healthy flgrown child
three Our days alter and had not the ATTENDANCE OF
physician. On being questioned whether he had made
ned cal examination before deciding as TO the conai-
being asked by Of the Committee why he had not
done after his attention had been called TO the pa
uent and her apparent coudton ne replied lnai ne na
satisded himself that she not near her confinement
and by way Of further explanation he added that the
hdtrOn Aad On a previous O00tsiOn |alou tarS Ia
attention another woman whose outward
~ while she was not eneieHte at all.
The PLY scian called the attention OF the committee 10
agemeni Of patients by the Chaplain and 70 refusals
on the part the Warden 10 carry out his wishes and re-
quests promptly reference 10 the alleged lnterfer
euce with authority Of the physician Dy the Chap-
lam, TINS gentleman contradlcted einphatedy an. uie
euvucay the OF the ply siclan; and as TO ms
niarry ing "a patient whom the physician had decided
cured and whose discharge simply awaiting the ar
planned that the person VINO came to receive ner was
her intended husband, TO whom she had been long un
der an engagement Of marriage ana who designed taxing
her 10 home In another part OF the country ana
tuat be deemed II his duty pOth parties desiring ~ 70
unite them in the holy bonds OF maumouy. As tins
occurred more tnan year ago, ana as tue physieian
the Committee nave not heaId any tAng from tue
persons question, II must be- assumed tat the ev re-
anticipated by the physician, and which he claimed
the reason for the charge against the chaplain IN
this case, nave not taken place 4le warden was |
anegaJions against him by the physician and from ms
statement IL appears tna the complaint IN reference 70
DS td ibe orderly 10 tell e cook that vegetables were
physician reported the matter 70 the warden, by whom
i y,.s Attended To- as admitted by the physician
Another allegation OF the physician against the war |
den was, that latter had not discharged nurse
wbOnl he had reported for throwing a patient down !
stars but on the contrary had transferred her aud
placed her in charge OF medical ward. Inc warden |
stated that e1nent spoken Of by the physician
was on the occasion the confinement OF the patient
already referred that the Otner inmates seeing the
excitement around TINS patient ana hearing inc crying
OF Tie infant crowded about the place where she lay
ana were interfering materially WIN tAe @ nurses IN
their attendance on her, whereupoh the neau nuIse
ordered the nurse complained oI 90 10 eet Tue
oeeded 10 do. and as she cials WIN as iVtS @ %
sry force as could that after she had put them
frinped on the stairs fell down. such the Warden
stated was the result OF the examination INTO lhe case
made by him al the tme ana which was repeated sub
sf9Eenty ON this Investigation by the nurse herself
The xamiuatOn Of Tie Physlcann-C Chei and Resident
Asylum, did elicit any important facts otner than
as referred above The mVestlgatlOn' however,
brougUt 10 the knowledge OF the Committee that the
Physician Of the Asylum has Deen IN the hdDlt
of receiving the Asylum patients not legally com
mitted thereby violating Lhe ia" OF 4c otato anu to
aoopted by the Wards Island Committee III November
IgTU and 4 ID
tne orders OF the Committee was that he dd not CON
sder present building an asylum hot"lthstahdins
the fact tuat this buGng has Desl ana Is useo LoI e
reception and treatment OF al insane emlgrans legally
committed 70 the care OF the COMMISSIONS
Of Emigration, and contains tAe PauSals, SnoiA tA
tbis physician more than Two years since |
appointed treat, under tine title OF PhyslcIn ot the
winch is always used in all official letters written by
him. During the examination OF TINS oihcer ne eon'nu
ally referred 70 emDatrasshehts suIOululuk hIls anu
dcultes placed his way by other Oucers, ana mat
tenuons the part OF the Wards Island COmmltee 10
his suggestions and requests and when caieu on Iof
his Official correspondence on these points, no dld not
produce any, admitting mat ne had none, ana aegng
a. an excCse that he had once and mad Deen waiting
for the erection OF the new asylum
The subject OF the Asylum Is familiar to all the
older members OF the present Board ana tAe want OF IL
has been felt by every Commissioner One OF the build
ings viii be ready for the reception OF some OF the pa
uents during the ensuing mOn1H anu .1 . VIII ue
completed early year IL hoped tnat these build
wlll by tue Increased space, IONS anu
improvements prove adequate " tS PtOPSI snu saeis @
factory treatment Of the patients Although tue pres
cut building is not fully adapted TO The purposes VI an
asylum, the wards we're found 70 be cesh 4e eomnlt-
tee recommends an increase IN the number Of nurses
Orderes OF the asylum ana In the compensation
plid " these employ es Ia separating Vne uethen OF
the insane from the medical department and placing the
aslum under the charge Of medical 0ficer independent
Medical Board, the commissioners Veoseu llat
Luat they would obtaining the services OF py sclan
thoroughly oOnyersant Nlth TINS prabeh 9I msdcdl SCI
ence aud possessed Of practical knowledge OF the sub
eot Of the treatment OF insanity materially dement, TINS
Unfortunate class OF patients Neyertheess ths pan is
approved by many able physicians wheTe the treat
nent Of the insane Is branch OF general hospitals,