The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-11-10
TIE ROOT OF THE TROUBLE.
AN dSYLUM ron THE INSANE run
ny BROOk LYk POLITICIANs.
An Incompetent suprrinterdc u Doing what
he IN Told 10 Do-Tbc Helpless Inmates At
the Mercy Of Ignorant Attendants.

An Incompctcnt Suprrintende u Doing what
he IN ToId 10 Do-Tbc Helpless Inmates At
the Mercy Of Ignorant Attendants.
At Dr.. Ordrouaux's investigation into
the abuses Of the Fatbush asylum Yesterday,
Dr. blanchard, a goOd-na' urcd, Y lod- looking
physician, a favorite OF the politicians, Who
obtained control OF the asylum I'm 1879 testified
that he hid no previous hospital exuerience.
He was recommended by many Influential
physlciuns. Ar to deficiency In clothing, u was
frequently fact, but II was always due to the
inability ~ the sewing women to work rapidly
enough. There was no deficiency in beds, but
frequently the cCntr, ctor Jailed TO supply suf-
hc ent gu; nifty Of straw. Miss Robinson, one
Of the lady visitors. testified that she had been
there twice a week. The records chow that she
bad visited there twonty-niuc times In fifteen
months. There was no case IN which patients
arm WAS broken. ono Of the nurses, Kate Nc
carly, had her rnl broken by patient There
were humber OF patients who alcpt on tie
floor. but II was because IL was dangerous Tor
TEN To sleep IN bedstends, from which they
could fall to the floor In reference to the ties n
mony of Timothy Harley, that he quit the asylum
discbar ed. Many Of Harleys assertions were
falsc. Harley had been drunk. In reference to
the relppolntnleut Of discharged employees tho
doctor testified that he had reaupcinied Frank
Lniselle, one ~ the nurses who was discnarccd
for cruelty To Nelson Magce, the commission
merchant on the accommodate OF tue asy-
lum Commf tee. All the attendants can reau,
aha some ui them can Nritp. Here were very
few applications, and coDsequt nifty not many
persons to chots e from Tor the places as they
became vacant.
Timothy HALEY, the nurse whose assertions
had been denied, asked the doctor when ne saw
hun drunk. DIR. blanchard cOollv leulied tn I
he had testimony to prove what he had said.
Then whN' asked Harley, "didn't ytL dis
charge mef" " That Il none or your business"
rel lieu the doctor. Harley atked whether Lot
selie had not been under liquor. whether Lot
sole mad not mixed drugs In the laboratory,
whether kean h ii not been carried home one
night by two attendants h,plessly drunk,
whether the doctor had nor said that the bccI
tea was Just strong enough 10 swear by, and
whether the doctor would say ON his oath that
he bad not been sixteen or nineteen DAYS absent
from tie halls. Ihe doctor denied, assented,
ana explained, ana Harley sat down.
Dr. Corey, VINO had been SUPERVISING physician
In the asylum thought II was unjustinanlc TO
Teappoint an ate ndInt who hao bee dis charged
Tor uelty. lie THOUGHT the organization OF the
flatbusn asylum was faulty. there was a di-
vided Interest and a divided responsibility too
many heaus. The patient might stsrve to death
before Dr. Blanchard could OBTAIN food. IL was
not possible to get an educated and experienced
SUPERINTENDENT for the price raid. Under the
present influences, too, conscientious supcTin-
tendcnt could not do exRctiy as he wished
there was some political Influence to interfere
IL IL Impossible for two men, such as are wiliug
TO work for SIS a month, to attend to thirty or
forty insane patients. I here were neither sleep
Ing rooms nor supplies cnough,an a want Of
CONNIE ddtions and attendants. A separate asy-
lum was needed Tor the incurnbles.