Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-07-17
In an Insane Asylum.


Chronicle having visited the California
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 a hard one that failed to
be deeply touched by the sight of all
these unhappy ones, who, destitute ofthe
| light of reason, have been set apart from
the world. Standing, walking, sitting,
running, lying down, their occupations,
attitudes and motives we're 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 inclosure. 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
Rf
around its sides, half dozen were eager
ly 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
cry. A quiet man called the reporter
aside and said: "Tell the police to come
here after me, for can't get out"
Here a middle-aged Mexican was
chanting, not unmusically, the Roman
Catholic Church service for the dead,
and there man, with face inflamed 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: Il am the living God; this world
| is mine, and | will destroy it utterly"
! A Chinaman lies on the ground untor-
mented by his associates; 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 word quieting 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
I Is but one of several Enclosures in which
the maniacs assemble together daily. 1t
is a curious fact that not only is 1t COM
mon to find patients in such an lnstltu-
ton who are aware of the upsoundness
of the minds of those about them. ana
treat them with proper tenderness ana
compassion, but there are many VINO
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, ad-
mitting they are not in accordance WIN
the opinions of the world, maintain that
| III is UNJUST W CldSS lhNhA "S ANANN00 -
believing them.
From the Fairgrounds of the molten
) siye the party went to the ward OF the
| dangerous insane, where are confined
= those of homicidal or suicidal propensi
: ties, men who are dangerous to them
selves or to others, the class who are
n properly denominated "madmen." These
Z men are in ward by themselves and re
i ouire more attendants or keepers to pro
feet them from themselves and each other
4 MANY are not permitted to leave thel
v rooms when others are in the ward hall
but for the most part they are allowed l.
roam at will within the limits OF incl
u apartment. But only single glanc
! serves to show the visitor the class Oh IL
T. sane men before him. They are all
s strait-iackets, or have their limbs S
n secured as to make it impossible for theI
a to commit any acts of violence. The tim
when dangerous madmen were reduce
to subiection by blows, starvation an
rs ill-treatment has passed; and now, II
l. stead of the heavy chains,
I'd Trailing in rugged, ruthless twist,
ne Down to the ankle from the wrist,
- Thence gliding like living thing
as To grapple with an iron ring
~ those to whom restraint Is necessal
at have their arms incased in leather mui
so strongly secured that they cannot
Nv removed, and yet intiict no pain on the
Ig. wearers. or their wrists are held
Ii locked leather handouts, secured to
in locked leather belt passing around the
if waist The bands about the feet of q
ne most violent, too, are of strong leath'
ng No chains whatever are used, but perte
safety is insured; for these men are-u
an like criminals-destitute OF reson'
Tar the knives, which could speedily II
ties them, are kept out OF their reach'
ids The unaccustomed sight Of a new Ia
among them attracted az once the att'
the ton of these men, and two attendal
hi stationed themselves behind the sup
the visor and the reporter Half dozen
ere them feunwed from one end of the W;
ms. to the other ana UaOi., i,nt with sin
tbs exception no demonstration was a..
vs. One man became much excited, put
~, was caImed by the attendants. sun
n;ts ness was the expression OF most OF TN
III but in some faces there was that aw
.OU .ov. indescribable ferocity that savage, \
r. gry, animal look, which madmen al
tod have. The reporter could not rem
~ long here. The presence OF strangers
eile cites these patients to such degree
zen few are permitted to see them, and
""S fore the Chronicle man left yells
curses filed the hall, and several
Miss had been before walking about were
was moved to their rooms.
ock- THE demented, having court to Il
she selves, are those who have totally
, ex- their sense and reason. They are utt
yes!" imbecile, without the faintest glimm'
"at reason, and are as helpless as bi
ure's They eat their food when it Is place.
the fore them. eat il like animals; but
Very are incapable of asking for it if it
Inted moi furnished them. In all their
Som' tions they are not above the beas
some the field. Many of them have no u
art, ! some of their organs or limbs, anC
ewed majority of them never saw the hg
reason language is almost unkHV
living them. Thanks to the care whlch
i Gus. receive, their appearance excites nc
, 26th gust in the minds Of the visitor; proi
ere is pity is the only emotion that nils the
ealing at sight OF them