The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-11-18
Brutal Treatment of the Insane.

Frequent inquiries, prompted by repeat
ed accusations, have shown, within the
last three years, that in the Kings County
Asylum for the Insane, nurses logged pa-
ticnts, struck them with the fists chilled
them under shower baths, and cruelty tor
tured them In strait jackets; that the
food was unwholesome aud scant in qnar-
tity; that the buildings were overcrowded.
swarming with vermin, and improperly
ventilated; that the attendants were often
intoxicated; aud that the physicians did
not attend to their duties One Inquiry
resulted In the discharge Of three or four
nurses two OF whom were rctmploycd %
soon as the trouble had blown over. This
Is all that was doIe.
DIR. ORDRoNArX. state Commiss ionor in
Lunacv. and four influential residents Of
Brooklyn appointed by Mayor IlUNrER and
the Charity Commissioners. are now con
Quoting another inquiry. Tho first witness
testified to the brutality of the nurses. say
ing that she had seen patient beaten with
n wooden stick like n ruler, that cut pieces
of flesh from the victims arm. The second
witness had been beaten and put in q
strait jacket because he demonstrate
m3n on the head with club. Onc HARDY
formerly q uIr-e, told the committee that
he had seem u plti3nt beaten on the heal
with billet of wood. Tni- witness ha
boon for twelve years "A nurse in El-lIsh
asylum-, ana aftor servin. IN the Fllthush
concern FOR few week. h r',i-ue !. rs he
says because of the lack of d., plno and
the bad management He further related
that three patients were found dead III
their beds while he wa there. The nurses
and the physicians knew that the men
were dying, but this knowledge did not
prevent their retiring ~ usual and sleep
lug souudly until morning. HARDY also
gave the names Of nurses who were habitu-
ally intox Gated. O,her witnesses showed
that the nurses were ignorant and @ lreless.
DR. BLASCHARD, the SUPPLEMENTARY adj
mitted that he entered upon his duties hav-
ing had no previous experience in treating
the insane; also, that there were no fixed
rules for the management of tue asylum.
DR.. CoREY, Supervising Physician, told
the committee that he was powerless TO
conduct the institution rs he pleased, being
controlled by the Charity Commissioners
and the politicians. Good nurses could
not be hired for the small salaries paid.
nurse testified that he was discharged
for testifyiuR against the MANAGEMENT OF
the asylum at previous investigl and
DIR. HAMNoED, a former superintendent,
explained that he was forced to resign be-
cause he could not control the nurses.
They flung it in his face that Boss Nc
LAUGHLIN had appointed them, and that
4 i
The other voluminous testimony confirmed
the stories M to the unwholesomeness OF the
food aud the overcrowding Of the build
ings.
DR.. ORDRoNAux, you are doing good
work. Don't stop. Take all the time you
need for this inquiry. Bring out all the
facts. Show the residents of Kings county
that the large appropriations granted To
this institution are mainly pockcted by
politicians and contractors; that To in
crease these steaincs, the helpless in
sane are fed jdst enough wretchel food 10
keep them alive; that ignorant men ure
made custodians because they Will work
cheaply aud do as they are bid and that the
asylum is run in the interest Of dollars
aud cents-not Of humanity. You learned
that three men died III then beds within
few weeks while the physicians slept. How
many have died within three years? You
know that the proper treatment of the in-
sane has puzzled the most learned ply
sicians. What then can he expected of a
Superintendent who has had no expert
ence with insanity, who makes no rules
and who permits ignorant subordinates to
"A al
This inquiry should result in something
more than the dismissal of two or three
nurses.