Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-05-27
The Insane Asylum Investigation.


TIE Committee on the Expenditures of the
Interior department resumed their investiga-
ton OF the management of the U. 8. Insane
Asyl this morning.
DIS. Chase aud c. MoTTeu, assistant physi.
Grams OF tie asylum, were recalled and gave
ment OF DR.. B. +. Dexter, Of New York city,
while at the asylum. DIR. Chase said he
never saw a more insane man than Dexter
In MS me- Dexter imagined he was q Sec
ond Christ. He always hal Bible In his
hand, and said he intended TO convert the
whole OF New York city. He never COM
pIa Pa a,, OF any bad treatment on the part OF
DR.. c. II. Nichols. superintendent of the
asy ium, was recalled, and gave additional
DR.. j. E. Dexter, OF this city, called upon
him and asked him to treat his brother DR..
b. +. Dexter. He thought that restraint was
necessary to save his life. He insisted that
DR.. j. f. Dexter should have the formal pa
pers made out Drs. Dexter and Dare signed
the certificate of insanity. DR.. Dare iex-
amined him In regard to his sanity after he
had been admitted TO the asylum. Witness
gave the case special supervision, having
been requested by DR.. James E. Dexter to do
so. Was cognizant OF his daily treatment,
and made him many special visits. Had
distinct recollection OF hearing DIR. Dexter
complain OF his detention; that his liberia.
tion was great deal more important than
that Of an ordinary man. Had no recoliec-
ton of any complaint of ill-treatment or
blows, though he did not like to be forced to
In regard to the case of George Bontz, DR..
Nichols said he had distinct recollection
OF the date of his admission to the asylum.
Or. Earle had charge OF the case. The con-
had gradually declined from cerebral dis
ease and an exhaustive form OF decided
TACT that the bed occupied by Boutz was not
clean. Had no reason to believe that he was
infested with vermin. Knew Jacob Thomp-
SOD when Secretary of the Interior, and do
IN a a rn11lh nnsa oh, 10,
making complaint against the manage
ment of the asylum. Had no recollection of
any specific complaint of the treatment OF
Bontz. Mrs. Bontz impressed him as very
afft ctionate mother. who could not be recon-
ciled to the fact that her son was insane and
was gradually declining, and not competent
to observe the habits of a gentleman. His
want of nourishment had nothing TO do with
bis decline OF flesh or strength, though wit
ness DID not mean to say that his removal
from the asylum was not beneficial to him.
DR.. Earle's standing as medical man, and
for the treatment OF the insane, Is second TO
none 10 this country, and perhaps not to any
body In the world. Cannot conceive IL was
possible that patient could get in the condl-
ton testified to by Mrs. Bontz. Thinks that
there must be some Misrepresentation. Have
Known "old Jimmy" Price, the attendant,
since 1919; first at the Bloomingdale asylum,
New YORK. Never knew a man more hon.
est. DO not believe that he ever told an un-
truth.
The colored man, Samuel johnson, DIR.
Nichols said, was admitted on December 13,
1870. He was in state of high maniacal
excitement; delirium tremens did not cover
the case. He was put In one OF the rooms In
the "iron ward" On the Sunday morning
following his admission he compiainei to
witness while making his rounds that his
feet hurt him. Examined them and found
that they were frost bitten. Told him IL was
impossible for them to be frosted in the b. s-
pital; that he had not been long enough in
the asylum to have them In that condition.
He left the asylum February II, III. Have
never known that ice formed in q basin OF
standing water in any Of the wards.
BY Mr.. Mutchler:-Has no clear recollec-
ton OF the particular reason why Bontz was
taken away from the asylum, except that
his mother thought that he would improve
under her care. When he was brought Dack
be bad greatly improved in strength and
desh. II may be possible that he had vermiu
on him while at the asylum, but has no re.
collection OF II. His assistant physician
then, DR.. Stevens, has since died. II is no
week, when he was making his Sunday
tours. Has no distinct recollection of the
mother and sisters asking to be allowed 10
remain by the dying patients bed side. The
rule Is 10 allow friends of patients to attend
during their dying hours. Mrs. BontZ was q
very afectionate mother, and very frequent
ly visited her son.
johnson was put Ia "the iron ward" be-
cause he was considered q violent and dam
gerous patient. He had mind enough a cou-
pie OF days after he was admitted to COM
plain OF his treatment, and say that his feet
mad been frosted.
The committee then adjourned until Mon
day morning.