The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-09-29
THE WARDS ISLAND INSANE ASYLUM
The First Days Investigation by the Special
Committee Of the Commissioners of Emil
grafton as to the Condition Of Wards
Island Insane Asyium-The
Testimony of DR.. Reidel

In view OF the disclosures brought to light by the
recent investigation OF the management OF the
insane Asylum on Wards Island under the super
vision OF the Commissioners of Charities and Cor
rection the Commissioners OF Emigration at their
last meeting deemed IL advisable to appoint a
special committee to visit the other Insane Asylum
On the island, which is managed by the Commits
vioners of Emigration, and to make search
Ing investigation into all matters appertaining
10 the wen-being OF the patients, as wei as
into all details concerning the institution
That such investigation needed the sequel will
show. On yesterday the committee, consisting OF
Commissioners E. B. Hart, James Lynch, George J.
Forrest Sigismund Kaufman and william Wallack,
visited the island at two O'Clock in the afternoon
accompanied by three physicians, and commenced
their labOrs by inspecting the building, which IL
large four story structure OF red brick. As
the persons in immediate charge Of the
Asylum mad ample notice of the intended visit OF
the committee, they put the house In order"
The corridors wards and halls were clean and
trim and as far as the eye could see the concern
was model OF its kind. 1t contains at present 1913
patients, of whom eghty-three are females. The
pleasurable impression conveyed to the minds OF
the visitors by what they had seen was soon to be
marred by recitas OF wrongs, INJURIES neglects and
misconduct which they were to hear.
The committee having completed the examina-
ton of the building, adjourned to the warden's
office for the purpose Of taking testimony. Two
witnesses were examined-the Warden and DIR.
Reidei, the physician in chief OF the institution.
The first witness called was DR.. Redel, who tes-
tilted as fOll0ws:-
am at present the chief physician in charge
Of the Insane Asylum for Emigrants on Wards
Island. and have been such for two years past;
when first took charge OF the Asylum It contained
las nmates it now contains 1853; they are CLASH
fed, as far as the accommodations will permit, &C
cording to the nature Of their diseases; our
classification as l should desire; they are
sufficient TO enable me to classify the excttable
regular register Of the patients and make such
entries as l consider proper concerning EACH
commenced keeping a register when was ap-
pointed, but was unable to continue, as one
physician, unaided by clerk, is not adequate to
Mr.. HARr-Is the medical force suniclent2 A.
It is well established fact that for every one
hundred patients one physician is necessary. Mr..
Lynch objected to this manner OF testifying as he
thought the answer was Of dscursive character,
and the witness c0ntinued:-I stated to the
Chairman Of the Wards Island Committee (Mr.
Lynch repeatedly that the physician cannot keep
the history of the 160 patients without clerical add
] have by the
Kept the history OF the principal ones; all the
patients under my daily observation; have
not history Of all the patients that came under
my care since was appointed; am daily engaged
In the examination OF my patients nom three-quar-
ters of an hour to an hour.
o. How many deaths from disease or suicide and
how many escapes have occurred since you took
charge OF the Asylum? A. will answer that ques-
ton In detail; shortly after was appointed Polish
woman escaped, suppose
SHE ESCAPED BY BOAT;
her disease did not induce a tendency to suicide;
che was never heard from since; another patient
who was suffering from melancholy escaped
morning with some workman; the body Of another
patient was
FOUND FLOATING IN THE RIVER,
and Coroners jury found verdict OF acct
tent escaped and was never heard FROM
subsequently q young Englishman named
cape the keepers and was drowned; think he did
not intend to commit suicide; shortly after that
occurrence patient named Michael OHare jumped
Into the river and was also drowned; he did not
suffer from any disease likely to create a tendency
bath one hot day. on the eve Of his dscearSe Was
drowned; another patient dropped dead few mo-
ments after his admission
2 In cases where no have no knowledge OF the
patient what course do you pursuer A. The first
night pnt him In a strong room,
WHETHER HE is QUIET OR NOT.
This is to ascertain the nature OF the disease, be-
cause it often happens that persons suffering from
acute mania and whose disease is dangerous are
for the time quiet, owing to the strange surround
ings, but liable at any moment to break out.
z. What is your system OF treatment, or have you
anyY A. treat patients IN the way learned to
treat them in Germany; in cases OF melancholy
used to use opium and other narcotics, but have
arrived at the conclusion that what is CO. ducive to
aspeedy cure In Germany Will not operate in the
same manner In this country l have now given up
the use OF narcotics and
LEAVE MY PATIENTS JUDIoroUsLY ALONE.
The medical force OF the Asylum is not sufficient
to enable us to make the complete medical and sci
entlhc examinations that some cases require The
witness further stated that the attendants were
the incompetency to the fact that the remuneration
was 80 small that proper persons could not be in
duced to serve He stated that the salary of nurses
was S12 each per month. To question by Mr..
Wallach he answered-Ihave not power to remove
the nurses; If had that power / could remedy
some OF the abuses; have made about six post
mOrtem examinations, but kept no record OF them;
there are not 'vessels" to make the analyzatiOns
sometimes necessary.
The witness here made some explanations Of q
medical character and uninterestng to the general
reader and said that many evils arose from his
want OF authority. He complained that the pa
tents had mad, not proper or sufficient clothing, and
the Warden for clothing but that the matter re-
ceived no attention.
Y. ls there any punishment meted out to pa
uents A. Very seldom. When patients who are
sensible refuse to obey orders put them In cell.
That Is the only punishment used.
O. Are the patients ever III treated A. 1t some
times happens that patients are not well treated by
the attendants. Attendants are frequently dis
charged for III treating patients, and this tells
against the asylum, as new attendants must first
BY DR.. Raborg-while passing through the house
noticed dark cell, the floor OF which emitted a
odor nave patients cSn1ed IN
A. They have; but the floor becomes saturated,
To Mr.. walach~It would bejwell to have the facil-
tiles TOT making the scientific examinations re.
ierred to by Mr. Lynch, but they are not required
to the extent they would be in an institution gotten
up for the promotion OF science.
To Mr.. Kaulfman-All over the world. except In
New YORK, insane asyums are presided over by
medical men.
Mr.. wallach--Doctor. win ask you to explain
Wnat you mean Dy saying tnat you nave NOT charge
OF the asylum, as understand to say that 1t Is
necessary that it should be in charge OF a physi-
clan.
A. think 1t is necessary for the obtaining OF the
best results that physician should have the ex-
elusive charge OF the asylum, Of its management,
It's correspondence, the employment and discharge
OF attendants and the visits OF clergymen; In short,
the physlclan-and this is scientific fact. adj
United and practlsed in every part of the
world, even In Russia and Siberia-sh0uld
be the superintendent, and New York Is
the only place where he Is not. The Doctor here
entered into long explanation, which went
10 show that the Institution suffered because OF the
conflict OF authority between himself and the
Warden. He gave some illustrations, among
others, that some three months ago a nurse had
badly abused one OF the patients and threw HIM
down afepn stairs and he urnc atiI In,