New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-08-26
LUNACY LEGISLATION.

THE BLOOMINGDALE INVESTIGATION - DR.
BROWNS REPLY TO GOV. HOFFMANs LET
TER.
A TRIBUNE reporter visited the Blooming
dale Lunatic Asylum on Saturday for the purpose OF
hearing what DIR. d. T. Brown Managing Physician OF
the institution had 10 say in reference 10 the ausoh
made TO him in Gov Homans letter OF the 23d INST 70
the Hon. Francis c. Barlow, AttorneyGenerali Dr' NJ
B. Anderson President of Rochester University, ana
Thomas Hun, NJ d., appointing them a commission 10
investigate the charges which have recently peen aue
against the Asylum. DR.. Brown said that ne co"u no'
understand why Gov. Hoffman had maue sucn an eiOi
in reference to the speakers opposition to the bill men,
TONED I'm the letter He said that he did go
up 10 Albany last Winter at the instance
of Senator Iieman and did oppose certain DILL put not
the bill referred TO by the Governor as he was anu
still in favor CT the passage Of an act OF that hu Inc
bin which he opposed providing that the Tower
nor Of the State should appoint from the County OF New
York ten and in every other county not less IMAM ne
reputable physicians, to be known as Examiners IN
Iunacy and requiring that the certificates for commit
ment on the ground Of unacy should be signed py TWO
of the Examiners Of Lunacy instead OF two repuaDie
musicians as the law provides. The appointment
of the examiners was to be made according to this
act by the Governor, at the recommendation
OF the Board of Supervisors. He opposed
this bill, as did Senator Teman and I. ii.
Fales one OF the Governors Of the Asylum upon the
ground that 1t was smaller safeguard against the i'm
prOper commitment of persons than the existing law
and was obviously unjust TO the medical profession tend
ing to degrade it in the estimation of the public and say
ing in substance to the people Of the State You may
choose your own surgeon physician for heart disease
liver complaint or broken limbs but you cannot exercise
your own Judgment as to whom you viii employ in the
case of diseased mind of any member Of your family
When asked if he thought that the law Tor cOmntnen
was so lax that could possibly De put INTO
an asyum without the knowledge or suspicion OF the
committing physicians or magistrate ne sad 'nat ne
WAS certain that such attempt would prove wholly
unsuccessful adding that during his experience or over
Ok wears and i'm four different asylum, ne nau never
known such an attempt TO be made lie also stated tna
even though two physicians might be found base enough
TO cOnnive at the commitment OF SANE person W al
asylum the examining physicians there WOulu at once
detect the Irck and the person would not De w.
tensey nervous person snneIlng run nro sao
patient but Immediately upon its being ascetaned that
mistake had been made the person WOud pc dlsciaIg-
ed He said it would be utterly Impossible 10 Keep
sane person in institution like BoOmlngdae TOT any
length of time without the fact becoming known not only
to the officers of but also TO the pubic through the gov
errors who visit 1t weekly and make thorough lhspee
tOn of everything pertaining TO the Asylum lie sald
that they had l6 official vstaions per month from those
who were identified with the institution as omcefs, ana
that from their welknOwn good character as eadlng
citizens Of NewYOrk he could scarcely believe that tney
would make themselves parteeps crimints
| in eOncealing any wrong that they might discover
He expressed perfect Willingness to receive the commits
long advocated the appointment of similar commissions
by the Executive TO investigate the workings OF ali suen
institutions within the State.
| Aftornev.General Barlow and DR.. Thomas Hun OF
Albany have accepted Gov. Hoffman's appointment to
act ag an investigating committee in the matter Of the
charges against the BOOmingdale Lunatic Asylum. NJ
b. Anderson, President OF the Rochester University the
third member Of the commission, has moi yet sgnhed his
acceptance.