New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-03-16
COMMISSIONERS IN LUN1CY.
4 COUNTRY DOCTOR THINKS THERE is no DANGER
OF TIE INCARCERATION OF SANE PERSONS AS
1UNAnCs-RNTIRE REORGANHATIoN OF AsY-

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OF TIE INCARCERATION OF SANE PERSONS AS
IuSAucs-ENTmE REORGANIZATION OF AsY-
LUMs NEEDED.
To the Edttor Of The Tribune.
SIR: The communication OF "Citizen" in
your issue Of the 2st Fcb relating the need of Com
inssioneIs in Luuacv and the proper mode OF selecting
them for NewYOrk City, imDes me TO say word on inc
subject in behalf of the country towns.
II there were any such need, as is supposed, for
luuacv commissioners should favor their nomination
by the Boards of Supervisors rather than by county
judges. The former would be more formidable antago-
niss TO intrenched authority aud privilege than the
latter But Is years intimate knowledge of one OF the
largest state asylums in the country has convinced me
that there is practically, danger OF the incarcerd
ton OF sane persons "a uDatics l have never known
OF but two instances OF attempted abuse OF this KIND
and n both the attempt easily defeated by tue pre-
tended lunatic The real abuses OF asylums are con
nected with those who insane when admitted ana
u respect to whom the question whelher 'ueS are ~
subjects for asylum treatment has been fii;ly ccrsld
cred. But admitted, with the history and present
symptoms Of insanity, to public asylum, both the p.,
tent and bis friends FROM that moment aimO pow-
erless, Tue authority OF the medical super ntendent
over the patient is practically abso dte 60 long
as he chooses to exercise 1t. rs an "ex.
pert" lie decides whether anX->improvement is
real, OF aDparent only, Vehe1er 81, after re-
a'..-t.- r-lonea. - t1r"pt"~a'' uhnthnr the
raeuts statements ruc, or filled with decisions or
evidences OF "rnoral insanity. II is not reasonable TO
expect that board Of will be check upon
the abuse Of such power. suppose a dozen chosen
for e practical talent for business ana give them tho
MANAGEMENT Of savings bank Take away from this
number all who utterly ncClectful Of their duties,
and all who would manage thc bank Chiefly their own
interests, and how many win rcmaini How many,
then among a dozen asylum managers, nominated by
political leaders from politicians Of either party, Will IN
tcrest themselves in tie victims OF disease SO re-
pu,ive, and OF which they are ignorant, as in
sauityl
The chief medical officer Of asylum must OF
siv be Given large discretion in oil that the
liberty and treatment Of helpless and most ptiable
class What them shall be donni The remedy is to he
found in the entire reorganization OF asylums Remove
from the asylum physician all temptation 70 abuse his
mower by limiting him strictly professional duties.
He is now not only physician but superintendent, archi.
tect steward treasurer board of managers, legislator
and lobbyist for his institution. As politician hc is
busy at the state Capitol sitting initiating lunacy
bills which do not suit his interests, and pushing ms
oWn As lobbyist, he is skilled in the work Of secur ng
annual appropriations. As manager he IS at no little
mans 10 choose the tools the cphers who to be
named on his board Finally. as treasurer he viii Ger
taulv crowd his asylum with the besCpaying and least
troublesome class Of patients, whom physician he
must wholly neglect because OF so many more imperI-
i've ufes Aud this ne n EFT Will brn- bia stil other
abOrs These are, the fighting of OF invcg1tons, the
hushug of complaints and the covering up OF abuses
U. NaliOu, sorts.
Here then, is the great Of abuses; and now,
when the state is about opening three institutions l.
The time for reform in asy ium organization.
l. LIT The medical superintendent become the senior
resident uhy stefan, with authority Only III What directly
conc. rms his professional duties
D LIT the assistant physician, steward m1trOn, &c,
be nominated and appointed by the manag rs, ana be
resulnsi Die TO them Oa!y.
g. Let state asyums be permitted 10 receive only in
HId never private, lllcl1t-
4 Lei the managers be nominated by the Boards OF
euperyOrs Of the counties each asylum district and
Amounted for a term OF one year only.
There nothing ua, or course in the first three
of these sug-e stiOs Tucy merely point 20 tle actual
organization OF all the large public asTuus Of Great
Britain and the Continent. COUNTRY DOCTOR
He,r- York Feb. %. 1874