The New York herald., 1872-11-07
TIE EMIGRATION COMMISSIONERS.
The Mismanagement Of the Insane Asylum-A
Physician Totally Unfit for His Place Re-
moved Special Reports Of Committee,
Majority and Minority-Improve-
ments Needed ON Wards Island
and Being Made There.


ments Needed ON Wards Island
and Being Made There.
More than usual interest was attached to the
meeting OF the Emigration Commissioners yester-
day, because 1t was understood that report OF
special committee ON investigating the manage
ment OF the Insane Asylum at Wards Island,
which had been laid over at Q former meeting,
owing to the absence OF President O'Gorman, was
TO be made yesterday. Hence the reporters were
on hand early, and some OF them esssying to enter
the Board room were indirectly, but none the less
unceremontously ordered out again by Mr.. Lynch,
VINO subsequently stated that the Board did moth
ing further after the press men had left. The
minutes OF the Board and OF its several committees
OF former meetings were read and approved. The
salaries OF nurses who have been on the Island for
TWO years and upwards were increased from $12 to
Slt per month, and those who have been i've years
and upwards In the service OF the Board there
rom $12 to $18 per month. The appointment. OF q
man to take charge Of the unatics in the yard, at
$l6 month. was ordered. Mr.. Kaufman an
nounced that he had found lady who would take
the position Of N
GERMAN MATR0N ON THE ISLAND,
lady In every way competent. and whose accept
ance OF the position, indeed. he considered favor
dent there-and he moved for her appointment at
salary OF $4oo year.
Mr.. Lynch opposed, for the reasons which he did
not fully state but which had no reference to Mrs.
Schmidt. The institutions had got along very well
for two years without German matr0n, and he
thought they might continue 80. There are now
three matrons on the island-Mrs. Scully, who has
been twenty-four years there, and Mrs. Molloy, q
few years less. and Mrs. Coss about two years. He,
therefore, moved that this motion Of Mr.. Kaufr-
mans be referred to the Wards Island committee,
with power. Lost. The original motion was then
carried A recess for ten minutes was then taken,
to allow Mr.. O'Gorman to put In an appearance,
and during the recess Mr.. Walach wanted the
Board to request the Wards Island Committee to
instruct the architect to construct the church
now being built on the island that 1t can be en-
ployed for their own use. Mr.. O'Gorman having
arrived, business was resumed by Mr.. Hart calling
up the report Of the special committee on the
AANAGEMENT OF THE INSANE ASYLUM ON WARDS
ISLAND.
There was majority and minority report. The
former was signed by Messrs. E. b. Hart, Chair
man; James Lynch, George J. Forrest and Richard
O'Gorman; the latter by Mr.. Willie Wallach
The majority report sets forth that the committee
commenced the examination OF witnesses on Sep
tember g. ult., and continued it to October s. dur
ing which period they had examined Drs. Henry
Riedel, the physician Of the asylum; George Ford,
the chief physician and John Dwyer, the resident
.erine Sculy, matron Ann Kavanagh, nurse; Pierce
Butler, orderly Of the asylum; and Rev.
Island, in reference to the management
OF the asylum. The report then recites
me circumstances % ogd under which Dr. Medel was ap
rated from the care Of the Medical Board Of the
sland that from that time until the investigation
mitted to the asylum $50 patients, Of whom 337
were discharged or were transferred to other in
died leaving at the date Of the investieation Ies
patients in the asylum Of this number, 1t appears
by the examination. not more than twenty are
under observation.
The details OF the examination SO far as reported
show that the management Of the asylum was all at
loose ends. DR.. Riede complained OF nurses, order.
lies. physicians the chaplain and, indeed, Of nearly
every one on the island or connected with 1t, not
excepting the Wards Island Committee Of the Com
missloners. When he first entered on his duties he
asked for and received "registers " and case
books" but alter few months he discontinued
their use Of his own motion. During his admins
tratiOn OF over two years he had made but six post
record. His reasons for these omissions were con-
Trajectory and OF little worth.
THE TINE DEVOTED TO HIS PATIENTS
according to his own showing was from three
quarters to one hour daily, as regular duty then
he occasionally went around at other times, and
Is shown in one instance in which matron called
his attention to patient who was enctente and
near her confinement But after examination DIR.
Riedel declared she was not but the woman her
self contradcted his testimony by giving birth to
healthy, full grown child three or four days af.
terwards, and had not the attendance Of q ply
sican. On close questioning the Doctor admitted
that he had not made an examination, but had
Of ae sS case ey Outward
DR.. Riedel's complaints against the Warden for
refusing to change the diet Of certain patients was
for marrying o female patient in interference with
his authority was contradicted by the facts proved
TWO weeks before but ' had waissa GSese there
| for her betrothed to come and take her to his
home, and at their mutual request the Chaplain
performed the ceremony, and they left and nothing
more has been heard OF them. The Doctor further
more allowed scurvy to break out among the
rather than as preventive, and only when it was
| brought to his notice as remedy by member OF
the Investigating committed T6e Charges of the
Doctor against the Onicias the committee declare
are frivolous and unfounded. The committee ascer-
tanned also that Dr. Reide has been in the habit Of
receiving into the Asylum patients not legally CON-
VIOLATING THE LAW OF THE STATE
and the rules In reference to the reception of in
sane emigrants adopted by the Wards Island Com.
mittee, in November, 1870, and copy OF which he
admitted having received. His excuse is very
present building an asylum though he knew it had
been used as such before and since his appoint
ment.
The committee say further that when the Asylum
was separated from the other institutions under
he care a o the e Medical Me- board It was designed for
now as II is the opinion OF DR.. Shilling the late
consulting physician. and the medical men, that
the separation Is not for the best, and that the
good intended has not been accomplished. The
committee, therefore, recommend the adoption
OF the following resolutions
Resolved, That the office Of Physician of the Lunatic
Asylum be abolished and the Asylum be placed under the
charge of the Medical Board.
Resolved That the Medical Board be directed TO con-
Asylum. -
Resolved That II be recommended to the Wards Island
Committee to increase the number of the Asylum nurses
tn his
class OF employees
The report closes with detailed statement of
the mortality In the Asylum from September /,
1869 to September l. 1872 giving the Names date OF
death and the causes thereof. The total number OF
deaths was forty-nine.
Mr.. WALLACH read his minority report, which
agreed substantially with the majority In the un-
htness OF Dr. Reidel for his position, but objected
enough or far en enOuUh into