Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-07-09
In an Insane Asylum.

State Insane Asylum, at Stockton, thus
sketches some of the inmates:
Passing through ward after ward, see
ing on the right and on the left vacant
faces, and faces in which no peculiar APP
pearances could be observed by the prac-
ticed eye, unlocking and locking heavy
doors, the reporter and the guide reached
the court IN which, summing themselves,
were about 175 crazy men. That heart
must indeed be hard one that failed to
be deeply touched by the sight of all
these unhappy ones, who, destitute of the
light of reason, have been set apart from
the world Standing, walking, sitting
running, lying down, their occupations
attitudes and motives were as varied as
the methods" of their madness. Some
sat quietly down on the ground in the
sun or shade while others were running
rapidly about the Enclosure. Under an
awning three or four were playing cards,
their stakes being small pieces OftObaccO.
A griZZled man, who said with lordly
air that he was King William of Prussia,
his head and clothing decked with wool
en- strips, hung about the entrance OF the
court, informing all within hearing that
he wouldn't go to Napa, and that this
was his dominion, where he meant to
stay In an open building, with benches
around its sides, half dozen were eager
Iy reading the leading California and
literary papers, while the benches were
occupied for the most part by men who
seemed wrapt in thought.
A Digger Indian walked back and for
ward in a shady corner Clenching his
fists, making most hideOus grimaces and
occasionally breaking forth into a low
A ca11oI tho
aside and said: "Tell the police to come
here after me, for can't get out"
Here middle-aged Mexican was
chanting, not unmusically, the Roman
Catholic Church service for the dead,
and there man, with face infamed with
anger, shouted that he was being "pOis-
oned by the doctors" A young man was
lying on the ground near the card-play-
ers, crying as though his heart was break
ing, and walking by him, and almost
stumbling over him, was negro who
never ceased to invoke curses on some
unknown personages. a few were gath
cred together in groups, but they talked
but little. One was looking through a
knot-hole in the gate out into the world;
day after day he goes there as soon as he
reaches the yard, and remains until he
has to return to his room, never speak
ing, always looking for some one who
does not come On the right hand, one
whose appearance gives not the least
evidence of insanity asks the reporter if
he is Socrates, and on the left tall man
yells: | am the living God; this world
is mine, and l will destroy it utterly"
A Chinaman lies on the ground untor-
mented by his associates; a negro
breaches at the top of his voice to an in
attentive audience, and among them all
half a dozen attendants are continually
moving, now with a word quoting one
man and now leading another to his
room. 1t is difficult to realize that all
here are insane, and harder still to COM
prehend how, destitute of their reasoning
faculties, all of them with some false or
exaggerated ideas, they can associate with
one another without danger. Yet this
is but one of several Enclosures in which
the maniacs assemble together daily. 1t
is a curious fact that not only is it COM
mon to find patients in such an instit u.
ton who are aware of the unsOundness
of the minds of those about them, and
treat them with proper tenderness and
compassion, but there are many who
will concede that they themselves are
subject to delusions and do not murmur
at their confinement here; while there
are still others who defend the Soundness
of some preposterous theories, and, adj
hitting they are not in accordance with
the opinions of the world, maintain that
it is unjust to class them as lunatics for
believing them.
From the Fairgrounds of the molten
sive the party went to the ward of the
dangerous insane, where are confined
4hnCn of hn,pioiHoI CI1iniIo1
ties, men who are dangerous to them
selves or to others, the class who are
properly denominated "madmen" These
men are in a ward by themselves and re-
quire more attendants or keepers to pro-
teCt them from themselves and each other.
Many are not permitted to leave their
rooms when others are in the ward hall,
but for the most part they are allowed to
roam at will within the limits of their
apartment. But only a single glance
serves to show the visitor the class of in
sane men before him. They are all in
strait-jaCkets, or have their limbs so
secured as to make it impossible for them
to commit any acts of violence. The time
when dangerous madmen were reduced
to subsection by blows, starvation and
lll-treatment has passed, and now, in
stead of the heavy chains,
. Trailing in rugged, ruthless twist
Down to the ankle from the wrist
Thence gliding like a living thing
To grapple with an iron ring
those to whom restraint is necessary
have their arms incased in leather muffs
so strongly secured that they cannot be
removed, and yet intliCt no pain on their
wearers: or their wrists are held in
locked leather handouts, secured to a
locked leather belt passing around their
waist. The bands about the feet of the
most violent, too, are of strong leather
No chains whatever are used, but perfect
safety is insured; for these men are-un-
like criminals-destitute of reson, and
the knives, which could speedily free
them, are kept out of their reach.
The unacCustOmed sight of a new face
among them attracted at once the atten-
ton OF these men, and two attendants
stationed themselves behind the super
visor and the reporter. Half a dozen of
them followed from one end of the ward
to thu other and back, but with a single
exception no demonstration was made
One man became much excited but he
was Gained by the attendants Sullen-
ness was the expression of most of them,
but in some faces there was that awful,
indescribable ferocity, that savage hun
cry, animal look which madmen alone
have The reporter could not remain
long here. The presence OF strangers eX-
cites these patients to such degree that
few are permitted to see them, and be-
fore the Chronicle man left yeIls and
curses filled the hall, and several who
had been before walking about were re-