New-York tribune., 1872-08-31
AMONG THE MANIACS.
FOUR DAYS IN THE EXCITED WARDS OF
BIOOMINGDALE.

FOUR DAYS IN THE EXCITED WARDS Of
BLOOMINGDALE.
A NIGHT OF HORROR AMONG RAvING PATIENTS
SLEEP DISTURBED BY AGoNIzED CRIES OF
THE DANGEROUS mIOTS-CLOsE CELLS, UN-
COMFORTABLE BEDS AND CHAIRS, sCANrY
AND FOUL FOOD, FILTHY BATHS AND RUDE
AND VULGAR ATIENDANrS--NO AMUsEMENIs,
GAMES, OR READING MATTER - IMBkCiLE
BOYS EXPOSED NAKED TO THE sun, AND
VENERABLE BLIND MEN BEATEN 81 EN-
RACED KEEPERS-INSTANCES OF BRUTAL
TREATMENT WITNESSED BY THE TRIBUNE
REPORTER.
Trrr TRIBrNE reporter who under orders from TINS
Office had so successfully feigned insanity, and had
been left within the walls of Bloomingdae Asylum
bv his two friends on the evening of Aug H. as de-
tailed at length in Thursdays TRIBUNE passed that
night in the wards for dangerous patients.
II had been at first contemplated TO felgn mere
idiocy. and have the patient indulge only in
eccentrcities and insane vagaries at the same time
protesting his sanity thus conveying to the doctors
who were 10 commit him, the idea that he was being
committed against his viii; but it was learned that
i this event he would be placed in the wards for
quiet patients ard have no opportunity for seeing
the ruder treatment of the Excited wards. Hence
the violent efforts by which the pulse was maln-
tuued mt an unnatural condition, and which SO COM
pletely deceived the physicians But when tne
Asylum was reached partly through physical exhaus-
ton hut still by design the patient appeared before
the "expert" Dr. Burrill. simply weak imbecile,
knowing nothing, and wanting nothing but sleep.
The examination by DR.. BuTTin, consisting merely
OF a hasty attempt to ascertain the movements OF
the pulse il will be remembered, occupied less than
one minute. No oinformaton was solicited or given
AZ the Asyuln in regard to the patients cOnstitu-
ton. temperament OF habits beyond a mere refer
eate to his former occupation. No reference what
10 4,4 of tba
at the hotel or The harsh experiences of the nurse,
and no intmations were given that the patient was
or bad at any time been violent. Neither the ply
sicians, medical student. nurse held any COM
muuicat:On with the doctor who received the pa
tient and not the slightest reference was made to
their opinions by the friends of the patient. On the
contrary, the principal theme in the hurried
conversation which took place between DR.. Burrill
and the patients relative prior to the admission of
the Young man was confined to the payment of
board and the necessity of subsequently obtaining
permit from 4 Governor of the institution. The re-
porter changed his role upon appearing at the Asy
lun. from that of a violent lunatic during the pre-
7lous n ght to that of bah-witted and morose pa
aent, and during the momentary examination made
bv D.. Burrill he had been very quiet. When placed
in the care OF an attendant, aud taken from the
ccy.on room TO a sitting-room he had even gone so
far as to express q desire to lie down. and had slept
lie had to be awakened from sound sleep to be con-
ducted to the room assigned him in " Hall Xl' His
friends had meantime departed, without the slight
est iGea as they have since stated, whether the pa
tient was to be treated violent lunatic or
harmless IDIOT.
ELOOMINGDALE ASYLUM.
Every citizon Of the metropolis is doubtless in
formed as to the location Of Bloomingdale Asylum
al ManAattanville the west side Of the city. from
the Boulevard to Tenth-ave., and from One-hund-
red-and- fourteenth TO Observation-Disclosures
sts The situation is elevated. cool, and pleasant,
and the grounds are magnificent and ample. There
are two large buildings for patients. The wards
for dangerous patients into which the reporter was
at once taken is called The Lodge" Of which the
following is a diagram compiled from rough notes,
made by pricking holes with pin in a small scrap
of newspaper. and concealed in the toe of the re-
porters boot.
T1fr IODcr FOR DANCFPore plTTrSTa