The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-12-22
INSANE ASYLUM.

Elk INSANE ASYLUM.
Buf Caught in His Own Trap.
The annual report Of the Board OF Adm'nl-
strators 81 this institution, made to the Legs
lature, was presented to US by L. A. Burgess.
NJ. D., superintendent. The report was made
by T. NJ. ]. Clark, President of the Board OF
Administrators The document was printed
at the Republican Office, "a Camp street, the
official printer.
With that document before MS, with all the
external evidence of an official document. we
made our comments and we thought it our
duty to call the attention of the public to the
inhuman manner in which the unfortunate
inmates Of the Asylum had been treated.
The whole blame from the report was as
cribed to the Treasurer, Mr.. ]. F. Irvine.
Now to tho facts. Burgess was the Superin-
tendent and q physician, and the proper care
and treatment of the inmates devolved upon
him and not upon the Treasurer. The Presi-
dent T. NJ ]. Clark is an ignorant negro. The
report was drawn up by Burgess, and not
submitted to the inspection Of the Treasurer,
or to the Board Of Administrators. CLARK, the
incompetent negro, signed it at the request
of Burgess and very probably never read it.
The report was referred to the Senate Com
mittee on Charitable Institutions, and on the
26th of February, 1874, this committee re-
ported. We cannot, in our limited space,
publish the report of the Senate in ertenso.
We remark, however, that the accommoda-
tons are not such as they should be for an
institution of this character. In 1870 an ap-
preparation of S12O, 900 was made for the pur-
pose of adding two additional wings to the
building. As the State at the date issued only
warrants, which were far below par. the board
thought it best to defer for time the i'm
provements. The committee report also o
portion Of the building to be in asmost dilapi-
dat ID condition the supply of bedding and
bedsteads insufficient the heating only sup
Piled by a wood stove on the first floor in
each department, and want Of water fol
bathing and laundry purposes.
The committee urgently recommend that
an appropriation be made to pay off the in.
debtedness and for the current expenses Of
the year.
In abiding to the Treasurer, Mr. j. F.
Irvine, the committee say "And to the
Treasurer is due the highest need Of credit
for generously furnishing from his private
means the primary necessities of the institu'
ton when its resources had become ex'
hausted." The report is signed George
E. Bovee, J. Henri Burch, S. M. Thomas. A.
]. Sypher, J. A. Masicot and E. L. Weber
committee.
| It may in the first pl,ce cause surprise
that an ignorant and incompetent negro
should be placed at the head of an insane
institution. The highest attainments in tn
science of medicine are needed to treat tn
insane. But Clark, from his color, was al
important element in political calculations
and his influence among the negroes wa
considered great The proper mode OF tn
treatment of the insane could not have beef
taken into consideration by the appointment
of an African to administer to the mine
diseased. Burgess, who drew up the report
lis q Radical at least, he is one of kellogg
own chosen registrars of election.
Can we say any thing worse? He has no
by force or intimidation been driven from tn
parish, but he has absented himself and stai'
away for weeks and months, where his dutie
required his presence at the Asylum. tn
report is his own condemnation, for upol
whom does devolve the care and treatmen
of the insane, unless upon the superintendent
and physician. The treasurer is only tn
disbursing officer of funds in his charge
Mr.. Irvine is gentleman of the best characte
and standing in his community. TIL
report drawn up by Burgess is untrue i
: every respect, so far as the treasurer is coz
cerned. and is true in all respects as far a
he is concerned.
Burgess draws up the report, procures tn
signature of Clark, does not submit it eithe
D to the board or to the treasurer, but submits
to the Legislature, and upon the strength (
it procures the passage of an act. No. "a, al
: proved March IL, 1874, intended for his ow
. benefit It is an act to amend the act estal
: fishing the Insane Asylum. 1t gives Kelloe
q the power to appoint six administrators VII
!, hold Office for tour years. This board 81
u points the superintendent, who shall be tt
chief physician and executive officer, an
who holds during gool behavior which NEAR
u as long as he is subservient to the usurper.
IS While Mr.. Irvine is not only exonerate
from all censure, but highly commended ft
: the assistance he gave out of his own purs'
what can be said, in proper language, to co,
81 denim Burgess? We are glad the right ma
n has been caught.
Il We add letter from the members of Il
!, board, and also communication from Messr
Picard l. We'll. We were not in fault, frol