The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-01-10
| THE STATE CAPITAL
Report on Insanity and Flatbush
Asylum Abuses.
The Lateral Canals To Be
Abandoned.
OF PAUPERIsM.

ALBANY Jan Q, 1876
The State Commissioner Innacy, Dr. John Or
drOnaux has furnished his third annual report the
Legislature and It in the hands OF the printers
It is a voluminous document, chiefly occupied with
presentation Of the inquiry made into the conduct Of
the Fatbush Asylum. The papers have already given
the evidence taken in that investigation and DE- Or
dronaux, after sitting it all through, arrives
at tho conclusion that gross abuses
isted, and that the Commissioners OF Chart
ties for Kings county are responsible for ALL
He says IN the opening pages of his very Interesting re-
port that while neither mental nor bodily exhaustion
from overwork necessarily terminates in insanity 1t Is
nevertheless the fact that they of all things prepare
way for II IN those having any hereditary pre-
disposition. But purely intellectual work, how
ever severe, has the advantage over physical
labor OF equal magnitude in impArting and preserving
mental health Provided always that passions of a vio-
lent or depressing character associated with it,
the mere labors OF the mind tend degenerate
its Ia either scale Of the problem Of labor
the passions that introduce the disturbing and
sunng element Hence the overworked and underfed
agricultural artisan population give us always a
larger percentage of insanity than do the intellectual
professions.
ovERcRowDHD AsYLUMs.
The report dwes on the overcrowded state OF all tho
asyums, and in several like the Willard and The Hud-
River hospital corridors and sitting have TO
be nightly converted into dormitor1es Insanity Is
steadily the increase and at ratio at times IN e1
cess OF that OF the growth OF population Dr. Ordro
naux attributes insanity and its growth to imperfect
nutrition, breathing ytated atmosphere abuse OF
alcoholic stlmuants and more disastrousy than all 10
the indulgence OF the lower passions.
CRINfNAIA
He calls attention 10 the necessity OF making somo'
State provision for epileptcs These persons are,
class among the most dangerous Of any in the commu-
nifty Most of the crimes OF an nexplicabe character
are, when sed to their foundation, discovered TO have
their origin in epilepsy. He also calls attention to the
necessity Of charging and strengthening the lunacy
laws in the matter Of criminals confined under convic
ton for offences where the penalty death The amend
men called for is that shall determine what shall DO
done with criminal under sentence Of death whose
insanity is established by commission subsequent 10
his conviction, and who after being asylum
RECEIVERS his reason. Under existing laws he must be
released His removal asylum by order of tho
Governor becomes tantamount TO pardon TO take ef
feet upon his recovery since there authority TO
send him back Tor the purpose OF beng resenenced.
Some law Is needed to cure this defect else the Gov
ernor should be empowered TO inquire by commission
into the fact OF his mental sanity at the date of the
offence with which he stands charged. Then II he
shown To have been irresponsible at that time i'm
putation of guilt attaches to him. and he thereupon
falls the category OF those who have acqut-
ted upon trial the ground OF insanity. He urges
adequate provision for adult idiots He is happy
to state that very marked improvements have been
made in the asylums Wards and Blackwells islands
by the new Board OF Commissioners Of Charities and
Correction.
THE F1ArDusH AsLYUM ABUSES
In regard TO the conduct Of the Flatbush Asylum he
says the acts Official misconduct brought before him
would at any time have formed legal cause OF action
against the Commissioners the part Of the Superv
impeachment against them under section OF chapter
5ll Of the Laws Of 1887 again. heymight have been
proceeded against through the Attorney Gen
era under section 430 OF the Code. Why these
measures never resorted to in tho
lace OF all the evidence accumulated before them
mains problem OF variable Interpretation With
such power is at their command they could have
summary checked every form OF official misconduct
From ali the facts and findings he Of opinion that
taproot OF the evil lies in the political rather than
the personal basis upon which the Commissioners OBJ
tain their office Such office should be taken out OF
| of mart IA OF
purcr action. The whole problem involved in tho
investigation OF the management Of the Kings County
Asylum Is that SIMPLY Of determining whether cleo
tive body of managers has proved itself competent to
the discharge OF such trust Conclusive evidence
shows that the Commissioners OF Charities Of Kings
county a corporation have habually neglected
used and violated their franchise; thai they have
always administered the affairs OF the Lunaic Asylum
with the grossest ignorance and Of comprehen-
sion Of the nature and duties OF such trust and that
finally, they have subordnated the qualities which
should govern in the appointment Of physicians,
attendants, officers and employees 10 the uses Of
DICTATORSHIP
and trafnc In Office Nor does II likely from tho
experience OF the past years than proved TO
be the case IN New York that any different standard
of qualification ever be secured In such officers
long the impersona ballot box the sole appointing
power DR.. Ordronaux would recommend that the
charter of the body corporate known the Commis-
Of Charities of Kings County far altered
and amended from such corporation the pos.
session, control management and direction Of tho
That the Mayor, as ez c6Tcto a member Of the Board
Of Supervisors the County Judge and Supervisorat-
Large be empowered to appoint board OF unsalaried
freeholders being citizens OF Kings county,
the board Of governors OF such asylum. That such
board be empowered 10 employ asuperintendent med-
cal officers steward matron and all other necessary
employees and to receive and dsburse whatever annual
appropriation may be made by the Board OF Supervisors
for the support OF such institution. Or II IL
shall appear undesirable the Of Kings county
to separate this particular asylum from the field Of
their common public charities, that then the body
porate known the Commissioners Of Charities of
Kings County be dissolved by the annullng Of its char
and the withdrawing OF its corporate franchise
which event the same proposition before recited
to the creation OF appointing board and
the selection by them In OF superintendent for
tho several Institutions constituting public charities
OF Kings county will apply with equal force and advan
tage and rebound in similar manner TO the better
care and protection OF the insane.
PATIENTS
The following the tables containing the number
of the insane OF idiots and OF epileptcs public
and private Institutions OF New York November l.
1915
Insane / Idioks EpikphcxI