The New York herald., 1874-12-06
Their Visit to the Public In
stitutionS.
What Was Found in the Hos
pitaIs and Prisons.
A PRlS ON DINNER
Some Idea Of Who and How Many Are Recipi-
ents Of the City and COunty's Bounty.

adjourned yesterday. The following gentlemen
were the jurors Henry D. Stoyer John Hall,
George ID. Nichols, James Slade, Jacob A. Bogart,
Samuel ID. RUSSELL William A. Caldwell. Theodore
Perry, Daniel ID. T. Moore, William Palon, William
A. Gedney Lawrence r. Mott, Caleb b. Knevals,
Richard q. Combs George n. Leventrill, Henry I.
Anthony, Alfred Coiville, Theodore E. Isaacs,
Charles Day, William Kemp, Adolph Mack, John
Boyd and Alexander Bronding.
Prior TO their adjournment the jury visited the
public institutions OF the county which are under
the supervision OF the commissioners OF Public
Charities and Correction. With the view OF pro-
curing Information to the state OF these insti.
tutions our reporter called upon Henry D. stover,
the Chairman OF the jury, and who has so fre-
quently been called to the performance OF jury
duty that his experience in that respect has be-
come quite extensive. From Mr. Stover II was
learned that the jury proceeded to the foot OF
Twenty sixth street, East River, where they were
received on board the steamer Bellevue and con-
veyed to Blackwel's Island They first visited
THE CHARITY HOSPITAL,
In which institution they found 1,024 inmates.
Several WARDS are exclusively devoted to lung and
chronic diseases, which form large proportion OF
the affections OF our charity patients. In the med
tcal wards 300 patients were found su1erlng from
variety OF diseases. In the wards set apart for
surgery none Uut suTBlCdl Cdscs are ledtCus Auas
the skill of the surgeon is frequently called
into requisition was amply shown by the fact that
In these wards the jury found 100 patents under
treatment In the lyng-in wards seventy women
were waiting to be confined. The extent OF relief
furnished to poor and homeless women is shown
by the fact that in these wards average OF sixty
births per month takes place. Affections OF the
eyes also seem to be OF some extent among the
charity poor, for in the ophthalmic ward the jury
found thirty-fve cases under treatment. The
venereal wards had 200 patients, which may be
taken an illustration OF the elects, Of the
extent, OF vice among those who become recipients
OF the public bounty.
The deaths in the Charity Hospital average sixty
per month during the winter, in the summer
thirty-hve to forty. This would indicate that the
effects of climate are as marked in our hospitals,
where especial pains are taken to counteract
them, as they are elsewhere. The patients, how
ever, who are found in our public institutions are
largely composed Of sufferers from pulmonic and
other affections peculiarly liable to prove fatal
during the winter season.
In case of any death the practice usually pur-
sued is to keep the body twelve hours before an
autopsy is made. After the autopsy it is kept
twenty-four hours longer to be recognized or
claimed by friends.
The admissions into the Charity Hospital aver
age iorty per day and the average number OF
those daily discharged is about the same. The
daily roll shows LOLA.
DR.. D. Il. Kitchen is the chief OF the medical
STAN and he has seven resident and seven outside
assistants.
THE PENTTENTIARY.
In this institution the jury found 934 prisoners
and witnessed sight very unusual to those not
familiar with prison life although one OF daily
currence In the Penitentiary. They saw the dining
OF the male prisoners, and beheld 600 Of them
seated at the tables IN the same room and taking
their dinners at the same time.
OF the 934 prisoners 14o are females, q proper.
tion which may be regarded as speaking very fa-
vorably for the latter. Perhaps, however, this
favorable exhibition will find singular Offset In
the fact that the Pententiary holds but. thirty
negroes. This IS all that our colored population
could furnish as their quota to the 934.
Two-thirds OF the prisoners when committed
were under age, and twenty-five were only SIX
teen years old, SO that the youths OF our country
may be regarded as very well represented among
our criminal classes The reflection that we have
30 large proportion or youthful criminals is
civilization and education. 1t is a fact becoming
daily more and more recognized that one OF the
rst duties OF people Is to take care OF the morals
OF their youths, ana II the compulsory education
laws soon to be enforced shall have the effect OF
diminishing youthful crime they will bring about
The hygienic and sanitary regulations observed
as part OF the discipline OF the Pententiary,
Judged by their results, to be quite efficient.
The average OF sick prisoners in hospital does
exceed twelve, which may be regarded as good
indication OF the prevalent condition OF health.
pracJce observed OF weighing each prisoner upon
first entrance into and nnal dismissal from the
prison. Invariably the weight at the latter period
exceeds that OF the former, ranging all the way
from five to forty pounds.
Much OF the work at which the prisoners are
emDOVed OUL-lOOr work. esDecally Such
pertains TO quarrylng stone. Many OF the prls-
oners are also employed In building sea-wal
In the bakery 60 persons are employed. two
thirds OF whom are prisoners. Here so barrels
OF nour are daily used ana $500 loaves OF bread
are daily baked. The last purchase Of -four was
made at S5 zS per barrel, at which price 5000
barrels were purchased.
The barber shop of the prison is opened at
twelve O'Clock on saturdays, aJ " hich hour work
Is stopped and the prisoners either sSave them
selves or are shaved by other prisoners.
The jury also visited Iweeds room, OF which
so much mas been said and written. They looked
In vain Tor the splendor and magniicence FREE
quenty described by fertile reporters and imagin-
atiye gossipS What they really saw was an ordi-
nary prisoners room. The room Is neither car
peted nor ornamented, and none Of the numerous
decorations, which were said TO bear such unrnis-
taxable Testimony to the taste and refinement OF
the imprisoned Boss, were anywhere 10 be seen.
The Jury looked at the walls OF the room and they
were not bare: but instead of DeIng instinct with
lie, as portrayed IN the works OF the nrst masters
OF art they were simply covered. about hall way
up TO the ceiling, with some camDric stun, which
had been temporarily tackled there TO Keep the
wnitewash from falling down.
THE wOREHoUsE.
The most remarkable feature that attracted the
attention OF the jury In this institution was the
great disproportion between the male and female
portions OF our population who md their way
thither from time to time. the proportion IS
given as 600 males to 1000 females Whatever may
be the to which tHis great disparity Is TO be
ascrbed It certainly seems to speak very uniavor-
ably for the condition OF society which has rem
dered 1t possible. That the state OF our social and
political condition IS alone TO blame Tor IT, and
that IT does not arise from differences IN the moral
status between the male and female members OF
our community, there can be no doubt; and the
various reasons TO which IL IS due should receive In
vestlgation and attract public attention with the
view oil speedy correction, II not total removal,
OF 50 evident and probably oppressive an evil.
II Is said, however, and this to some extent may
account Tor SO remarkable diSprop0rtion, that
many women are returned many times. As an
mustratlon OF this fact the experiences OF last
July may be mentioned. Or l60 women released
on tne tnird day OF that month 7s we're returned
sgMln tne very next Tuesday following.
IheIe nave been as many as 1853, 600 arrivals and
departures from the wOrkhouse in a single year;