New-York tribune., 1872-08-29

drew the PATIENTS friend aside and remarked There's
no whisky in his breath he's been dragged night
must have something 10 rouse him up order brandy
! and peppermint"
Il was done. The physician filed glass with brandy.
| and mingled with il peppermint judicously and then
offered coaxingly patient who, after resisting
for time. put the glass to his lips, and then asonished
the physician by throwing the contents out Of the
| window.
been drugged FOR, the physician utlmatcd, any one
who would good brandy with such contumeIy must
be ont OF head. Aner vainy endeayoring to force
second glass OF the desDsed fluid down tho patienrs
throat and bathing his head at the wash basn the
doctor frankly admitted that the patients mind WA
dsordered, and that i, relatives should be summoned
Meanwhile, it would be dangerous 10 leave the pa
I tient alone n a whence he might throw himself
the window al any Of frenzy, the physician
advised that the patient should be taken 10 his Office
| This was deemed advisable by the friend, and ths
patient having been conducted TO the physicians Office,
remained there during the absence OF MS friend. The
patient paced up and down the rOom occasionally APP
preaching Of the windows and looking out AZ one
time the attendant in the Off approached the patient
as TO prevent him from lcIpng our, when tue doctor
said in low voice " Let him jump, he VIII not Try A.
but once" After while the doctor decided 20 remove
the patient TO his house Fourh-st There he
Quoted nCO the pdror and cared Tor Dy the doctors
wife, He was exceedingly restless under the treatment
al times, manifested desire 10 leave tAo pTemises
He declined invitation 10 dinner. several attempts
were made chloIofom him, but without The
patient remained the house a long time. manifestng
yagaries Of the strangest kinds, anl receiving the
constant attention doctor, his wife, and the ser
Az INCOMPETENT PHYSICIAN DsCInEgEp.
Two hours after tine patient had been eft in this ply
rian's oice the friend who had found him ~ te hotel
accompanied by uncle, held consultation with Dr.
Arthur Locdrow of No. 80 Great J0n s The details Of
the case were recited, substantially they had been
given the first physician, and the services OF Dr. Lock
row were solicited. But he WIS unwilling 70 consult
with the other, whose practice hc said hc did not con
slider reputable. the patient brought 10 hs office
he would gladly examine the and call in the SER
vices competent physician. A. there no desire
| to employ any physician whose practice not per-
fecy reputable, the patients nienis agreed 10 dis
charge the first once and 10 fetch the patient
| 10 Dr. LOclTow's Office
On returning 10 the other physicians residence
learned that he and his medical partner had both been
convinced that the patient was insane The prejudice
against the young mans sanity created by his vehement
aversion 70 the brandy and peppermint, had been
deepened by variety o. harmless vagarics and a series
OF demented observations has been stated Their af
vice was that he be taken retreat where De cOud
be tend1ry cared for. They thanked and recon-
pensed for their services, and the "pacnt" con
Quoted TO the office of Dr. Lochrow, who at once inter
estcd himself in the case.
A MEDICAL EXAMINATION
He felt tho patients pul>e, and made preliminary
examination. The patients conduct Va, certainly
peculiar; he walked cxcitedly about The room, cough
ing necessarily, and complaining that he choking
with the dust in the and that there fire In
the grate and refusing recognize the friend who bad
found him at the hotel. His head was in whr from
the that floating in the room, and it panied m
excruciatngly. He couldn't remember what he had
done since returned by the steamer, nor did he know
what he wanted t. DO. violent and excited did he
appear that DR.. L0clrow motOned TO young medical
student, and soothing mixture composed partly OF
bromide was poured down the patients throat
The examination continued the greater part ~ an
hour and the doctor frankly admitted that ho did not
understand the case although ne suspected that IL
species OF brainal disorder. The patient he sai could
be taken TO the Ia Pierre House. at Eighth-st. and
Broadway and left in charge OF competent male nurse
over night. Hc promised 10 call upon him several tmrs
during the night. ami by the uext morius would b"
able 70 judge ntelig gently OF his condition.
BLoOmSGDALE SUGGESTED
II the patient were violent during The night, he
eested t would be better perhaps 10 take him on tho
next day to Bo0ming giae Asylum, which was the best
retreat in this city for durable patients, Notwithstanding
the reckless charges to the contrary made In the news
papers, Perhaps, in view Of contingencies, Il would DO
expedlent the patients friends 20 consult with tho
Managers Asylum in regard to the legal fornal-
ties required In commitment OF patont 10 that Asy
mln, The patients uncle cOncded with the physcians
views. The young mans father and family, ne said,
lived in the West, and the speaker an uncle had al
ways exercised discretionary care over him. fthe phys
can after consulting with competent surgeon, should
be convinced that the patient insane and that ho
wonld receive more scientific treatment at BloOmn gdae
than elsewhere, wen and good; but, he added " IL was
a serious matter TO declare man insane and 10 lock him
I'D among lunatcs and too great caution could not be
observed"
At4p m. in the afternoon the patient taken TO
the hotel and lodged in comfortable room. The ply
sician's suggestions carefully noted, and his In
sructions were faithfully followed. The physician
empowered to select his consulting surgeon, who
was to be one who had made the treatment Of the In
sane special study. A list Of competent nurses was
furnished by the physician, and one OF these was sum
moned 70 the hotel The physician and the nurse were
left IN charge Of the patient for the night and every OPP
portunity was afforded for impartial unprejudced
judgment of the patients condition.
THE PHYSICIANS ALLOWED TO DRAW THEIR OWN IN
PERENCEs.
II would have been easy matter to have asked the
first physician and his partner to sign certificates as "a
the patients insany,-and they would have done this
willingly as they convinced that he insane
and the Police Justice would have committed the young
man 10 the asylum their certificates without question.
for magistrate cannot DE expected 10 know IN city
where there are thousands OF physicians whether
a duack or competent TO adjudgc a man insane. But
under the instruction from the office the reporter TO
take no undue advantage OF the unaey enacments by
employing either ignorant or corrupt physicians.
On the contrary the law tested under
its most favorable conditions; soon as the
ability OF the first physician was questioned
he was discharged and the two men who swore away
a Young mans sanity able, conscientious physl-
clans OF good standing in their profession, but
guainted with this special disease, and unfit enforce
the law The representations which were made oOn-
eeruing the patient absolutely truthful, and tbs
physicians were left to draw their nferences from the