New-York tribune., 1872-10-07
THE EMIGRANT INSANE ASYLUM.

| TESTIMONY OF THE PHYSICIAN IN CHARGE.
| The Special Committee of the Commissioners
of Emf grafton resumed on Saturday ts inquiry into the
management OF the Emgrant Insane Asylum on wards
Island Commissioners OGorman, Hart, Wallach Kauf-
mann, Lynch, and Forrest were present DE- Ford late
physicianlnchef of the EmigraDt Insane Asylum was
first examined.
He testified held this position from 1853 until 1870;
there in the Asylum Dec. 81 1869 1856 patients
during early part OF 1910 this number decreased to
Ill; there were admitted to the Asylum during 1862 800
patents there were l6 deaths, t"o eiopements case
of supposed drowning; there records kept dur
my term Of Office distinct from those o te general
hospital we kept books in the wards OF The Lunatc
Asylum which contained records Ot the cases; bad an
the necessary to make pOsmoItem examinations;
except in particular cases Tor my own reIerehce; the
books kept by the nurses; anything particular
or suicde-and the facts of the were given In my
reports the object of the treatment was to cure the in
cure that also; only visit the Lunatlo Asylum now
when called upon had charge OF ue hqnauo q @ yti Asy
which have In charge keep record or discharges
aud registry of Deaths we have no regular case book or
Dr. Dwyer testified am the resident surgeon on the
by me- and the particulars special there
no legal necessity in general hospital OF keeping
reports of minute character; have always kept
book with the cases entered in general terms 1t Is I'M
possible for three physicians to record 1850 patients
Dr. Redel physician in charge was recalled by Presi-
dent O'Gorman and testified: L came 10 this country
three years ago; employed by the Commission last
July; have never been specially In charge OF llnac
asylum before; have continually complained to the
Commissioners OF ucUcleucc5 i'll
isand never wrote any letters 10 the Board; there s
scarcely day in which do not pay more than two or
three visits Asylum; ready at any moment
to give full account of any patient; L remember Il
woman delivered Of child in the Asyium Mrs. sclly
called attention 70 the WOnans beng pregnant;
looked at her closely but there no sign OF her being
near her confinement; 1 made no special examination;
my attention called by Mrs. Sculy TO q woman who
was injured about the head; under the impression
that IL OH the same day that II occurred; saw
this woman with patch OF plaster OH her head
when Mrs Sculy called my attention to II, and not
before keep this register book; began ~ when
the island and then stopped II because did not
find il practicable had supposed ana few weeks
ago L began again; continued the book until was
obliged 10 make my first annual report wren found
for my second annual report 1t would not be pac
cable my first step my accession was 10 report Its
oYercr0wded condition. the patients now enjoy greater
freedom than anywhere else, but this is cause OF too
great anxiety to me- suicides have occurred although
there have been elOpements no visitors are al
lowed in the house without first seeing me- have di-
muished the number of admissions; have afforded
the institution has remained tho same ever since have
been in CHARGE patients are confined mere without
mtmcnt OF magistrate: L do not know that
legally this il lunatic asylum; L used to
confne patients without commitments, but stopped
after / Informed that 1t was illegal;
do know OF any further improvements that might
be effected in the present building far as know;
never had any written rules the government of the
rules aud regulations few weeks after came to the
Island but they acted upon; have not kept
copies correspondence with the relatives OF luna
ties there scurvy In the Asylum at one tne caused
bles, il not fulfilled; was troubled for weeks
before got desired vegetables. and had made two
complaints IN regard to them first
Tho Chairman announced that the testimony was
closed and Committee then adjourned subject bis
call