New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-11-05
KINGS COUNTY LUN17TC asylum

TUE OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION CONTlNCED-fuR-
THEIR TESTIMONY CONCERNING sCANT SUPPLIES
BRUTAL AND INCOMPETENT NURSES. AND NEGIi-
GENT AND DIsCOUVTEOUs PHYSICIANS.
The investigation in regard to the manage
mcnt Of the Kings County Lunatic Asylum was CON
tnued by Dr. Ordr0naux, the state Commissioner IN
Iunacy and his associates, at No POI MoDtasuc-st.,
BROOKLYN, Yesterday. statement was read from MISS
Dora b. Robinson member of the Local Visiting Com
nittee of the state Aid Association. According to his
female patient had been strapped into straight jacket
with other clothing than Dress another fenale pa
,en mad been refused blankets IN Winter because she
had torn them; dcliCacies which the former Medeal
SUPERINTENDENT gave 10 the patients were denied
Ivy DIR. Blanchard, the present Medical Super
ntendcnt Mrs Striking, member of the Local
Visiting Committee, testified that she had visited the
Asylum twice each month"; during the past l3 months, to
see German patents The physicians dld not receive
her cautiously sat sOkng, with their feet upon
table. female patient, She said, complained that she
lad been struck with stick by nuIsc another COM
and that she had been severely beaten by anurse she
had seen q very old female patient bleeding from a
wound inflicted on her wrist by because she re-
fused to be dressed. She had also s patients in one
hall hinly clad, aud suffering from the cold The food
was generally bad and other supplies were Insufficient
There were 20l Germans among tho 500 patients, but
.,sf enough German nurses, and no German doctors
Miss Robinson, being recalled testued that sue had
seen the steward of the Asylum show men through the
Asylum, and compel the patients to exhibit thcnselte.
like annas; and also that all the nurses were appointed
without any regard to their qualifications.
Timothy e. Harley, former nurse IN the Asylum tcs-
fed thai he Rad served q as nurse in different
asvlnns in England aud America; he left the King.
County Asylum OF his accord in May 1874 because
ne disguised with ITS mansScn.nt he han h,tu pa
tcnts complain that their food was bad; Medical super
utcnlent blanchard who took charge of the um in
August 1874 bad confessed himself wholly unac-
Gnancd with his duties; Dr. blanchard once neglected
~ visit his ward for 9 days and never examined The pa
enis nor nuurcd about their onditiOn c attendants
were aloweG % do they plensed ANA ht1e were no
printed rules for ther guidance. All the officers the
witness said from the cook 10 the SUPPLEMENTARY kept
their relatives eating and drinking at the As!l un
as long IA they liked; he had seen such low
grade OF ttendans such uudiguifed and incon-
peient medical stat; there was no hospital ward Tor
soatng naentS suffering from infectious diseases and
patient sick with typhoid fever had been kept In ward
with - other patients who were ply sieaiy healthy ~
fine heat OF Summer; there night nurses and
sick patients were often found dead IN the morning.
Nelson Magec the former patient whose alleged NAL
treatment has fully reported heretofore, having re-
hearsed his story the Investigation was adjourned until
40 IA TODAY.