The Rutland weekly globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-07-11

for confinement of patients; and DR.. Ban
croft Of the New Hampshire Asylum, in
formed us that portion ofthat Asylum was
so built, but had not been used for any such
purpose for many years past. We believe
the confinement of any person, sane or in
sane, IN these underground apartments to
be cruel, and that the officers and employees
of the institution should be prohibited under
heavy penalties from hereafter placing any
insane person in these apartments.
Your committee find the fact that the
whole of said Asylum was at the time of their
first visit, inadequately warmed and ventil
ated we also noticed at this and subsequent
visits, the almost entire absence of anything
to relieve the harshness of restraint very
| few pictures broke the hard outlines of the
hall walls; while at Northampton and Con-
cord we found the walls embellshed with
pictures not costly, but pleasant to the eye
and sense, and which we believe must tend
to draw these unfortunates from contempla-
ton of themselves, and from a means to-
ward their cure. AT Northampton, we also
found large yard decorated with shrubs,
and yet securely enclosed where the more
dangerous class of patients might exercise;
and in the central part Of this yard on artifi-
cial mound had been made, enabling these
unfortunates to enjoy the beautiful lands
|
this kind, except some small yards, enclosed
with high and close board fences, without
tree, shrub or even grass, to relieve their
untidiness. We were told, it is true, that
other classes of patients had exercise in la
Dor upon the farm, or in walks taken under
the direction of their keepers, but for this
class no effort looking toward opportunity
| for out door exercise or amusement seems
to have been made, The cost of such yards
as the one at Northampton can be but trif
ling, and we recommend that suitable yards
should be built. We also find that at North
ampton nearly every evening the patients,
or at least as many of them as are able, are
collected together in the Chapel of the Asy-
lum and some of the officers of the institu-
ton read, or caused to be read to them, poe
try or prose, and entertain them with music,
or a lecture; and that patients minds are
thus, for the time, turned from themselves
or the particular subject of their mania into
other channels, and in the language of DIR.
Earl, the superintendent, care relieved
much more rapidly, and their minds regula-
ted and much sooner restored, than they
would be without this diversion" No such
exercises are prayticed at the Vermont Asy-
lum, though we learn incidentally, that DIR.
Draper, the new superintendent, has intro
duced them somewhat
While at Northampton, we were present
, at one of these evening meetings and DR.
Minis, the assistant superintendent, read Sc
lectiOns from Dickens and there was music
interspersed, the chapel being furnished
, with piano and an Esty Cottage Organ
We Judge that about three hundred of thu
patients were present and they were order
ly and seemed interested. DIR, Earl kindly
= furnished us with copies of the annual re
ports, from one of which-that of 1868
r we copy the following list of exercises haC
n in the year previous
1. Exercises in chapel on the Sabbath.
Divine worship in the afternoon, 8:
c days.
2. Exercises in chapel on secular even
ings.
, Scripture reading and sacred music
r III days.
: Sacred music and reading of poetry, 8
S days.
Sacred music and reading of prose, 8
n days.
a Lectures, 81 days
Other entertainments, days.
: 3. Evening entertainments in the patients
t Hall
e Exhibition with a Magic Lantern,
4 days.
I 4. Entertainments in the rotunda.
G Dance in the evening, 81 days.
G 8. No gathering, pa days.
= Total number of days 36G.
We find that punishments are sometime
inflicted at the Vermont Asylum, and tina
the punishment known rs bathing has beer
> inflicted upon patients by the attendants
\ and by the order of the superintendent, il
!, the manner following: The patient TO
. some offence, or supposed offence, il
tnl- 20 lin hat Ia Ii do lnii
: upon his back in the bath tub, and the fau
= Get turned allowing stream of cold waite
y to run upon the head and face while tn
:. body is immersed in tepid water, and is ST
3 kept until relieved by the attendant
= While we are satisfied that restraints ar
~ necessary to prevent the delirious from in
II turing themselves and others, we canno
find language strong enough to express on
Indignation that punishment of any kim
as such. should be resorted to by the off
y GERS or employees of said Asylum, or be il
y any manner inflicted upon these unfortu
}, nate and irresponsible beings and woul
recommend the passage by the next legis
lature of some law with severe penalties al
y tached, that those abuses may be corrected
: Your committee inquired of the superinten
:, dents, at Northampton and Concord
IL whether punshments were ever inflicted il
|
a piled that punishments, as such, were nc
% known with them, and that they woul
e not suffer the infliction of any kind of pur
=, ishmcnt.
ID Your committee believe that there shout
&c be radical change in the laws, regulatin
l. the admission of patients, and that the st,
ie tute of 1855 ought to be repealed. Thf
'e statute provides that medical examine
OF should he appointed by the Court of Char
OF Gerry of Windham County, whose certificai
G. of the insanity of any person proposed fC
lg admission, should be conclusive proof c
d. the fact Under this statute the court al
IN pointed DIR. Rockwell, Sem, the superb
j. tendent of the Asylum, medical examine
he and continued him in that office during IL
"a remainder of his superintendency. Tn
rs appointment, as might be naturally e.
o, pected, opened the door for fraud and ch
d. canery upon the part of some of the of
s. GERS of the institution. At Burlington
he Joseph A. Stockton, a pc
&c son confined in the Asylum, as insane, WI
SIS brought before Judge Pierpoint on writ
tie ''habeas corpus" and at that hearing WI
he liam Rockwell, Jr., on behalf of the AS
IN lum, produced what purported TO be Il
on original certificate of DIR. Rockwell, Sen
ee certifying to Stockton's insanity, which p
he per was dated, as of the date of Stockton
N, admission as patient and clalm'
b. through counsel, that the certificate und
lei the statute of 1855 was bar to furth
proceedings, Judge Pierpont so held Al
re recommitted Stockton without any exam
ed nation as to his sanity or insanity. Stoc
d. ton, being a citizen of another state, a
he piled to the United States courts for relic
IN, which was afforded him and he was d
In charged. DR.. William Rockwell, Jr.,
les his testimony before the committee, adm
s., ted that he dated the certificate back til
mt it was a copy that the original was not
ed his possession and that in fact he neve
mt to his knowledge, had seen the origini
h. and that this paper on which Stockton W