The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-11-29
THE CASE OF MRS. GLEASON
AN NINTESTIG1TION TO BE MADE BIZ
THE COMMISSIONERS.

The Treatment Of the Insane on Binckweir-
I-Innd-A Letter from the Medical super
iutendent What Mrs. Gleason has to say.
Mr.. II. L. Parsons, Medical Superintend-
ent Of the Blackwells Island Asylum for the
Insane. has written to Mrs. Eleanor Fletcher
Bishop regarding the case Of Mrs. Gleason that
the facts are as follows
Mrs Gleason was admitted TO the asylum on the ith
Of November, and was placed in the reception hall as
ihSir Cases may Ge properly lnvestsaied and more
sns was PLACED ice IN room Py nsre apC qST
her meals with the attendants instead OF with the pa
expressed the intention OF removing her 10 me most
saet hail ~ the assu but MRS Gless9s pS SsEgss Sss
nurss who attended her, aad for whom she had
Ss4 s.ne. an B' oS s ns M 81 S Scvepst 'dd % s
sS ap bS who sS ss. nS % SeS Ds %
9 violence dId pull one OF ,hs two chairs on wsSa
al G Tsssop s pus ws oyS and sa rs her nesS
eSson vssthen iSnsfcrrea 70 snosSer hall sl.nouss
newspsper erplsnatlons myss nor TO have hls Letter
correction proceed directly from yourself
Warden O'Rourke Of Bellevue Hospital re-
ported to the Commissioners Of Charities and
Correction yesterday that the usual formula had
been observed In the case OF Mrs. Gleason. But
the Commissioners demanded detailed recital
OF the proceedings OF every person who had
anything to do with the patient In the hospital.
her physician has grave doubts OF her recovery.
"Why. look ut this delicate little wrist" said
her friend. last evening. "1hink OF two robust
women and a strong man finding It necessary to
put so weak and tender IA form in straight
Jacket"
Mrs. Gleason was too weak last evening to
give a connected narrative of her arrest and in
carceraii ~ 1T Is horrible, horrible, she said,
"the suffering have undergone and the scenes
| have witnessed. In the asylum they put IN Q
In cold bath, Notwithstanding my protests, and
then compelled me to walk In nude state from
% |
shaking like an aspen leaf, and yet was driven
on before the gaze OF many rude ewes without a
shred to cover my form. While was there one
woman was placed In the cold bath and her at.
tendants left her there while they went TO get
something to eat. When thev returned she was
dead. Her death did not seem to cause ripple
OF emotion. Her body, In its nude state. was
placed on bare board and shortly afterward
carried OF. presume for burial
How were you treated Ia Bellevue Hospital
Mrs Gleasonl
IL cannot describe to you the suffering un-
derwent. They forced me into Il straight jacket
IL was then tightly laced, and the ropes depend
ing from each sleeve were securely fasteUed uii-
der the bed. To do this was thrown uUon my
back. my right arm drawn over my left breast,
and my left arm over my right breast. Tue
ropes attached to the back Of this horrible In
strunent Of torture were then drawn down,
turned around my ankles and fastened under
| the bed. To say nothing of the cutting into the
flesh OF these fastenings, you Can Imagine the
suffering OF one, IN highly nervous state, COM
PEELED TO lie on uer bgck. without power OF mo-
ton, for hours. To add To the horror OF my
| position, vermIn Infested the bed and crawled
| over my quiverng flesh"
The Commissioners are thoroughly aroused
and say that a rigid Investigation shall be made
| into the treatment OF the insane.