Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-07-31
THE INSANE ASYLUM ISvEsTIaA.
1ION.

The Committee ON the Expenditures OF the
Interior department have finished their re-
port on The investigation of the manage
ment of The u. 3. Insane Asylum. The re-
port, which covers IS pages Of legal cap,
shows much care in Its preparation. II
begins by recital Of the resolution giving
the committee power TO make the investiga-
ton, and then sets forth the charges against
DE-. Nichols, which have before been printed.
THE CHARGES
are signed by Z A. Hebard, James M.
Thompson, ". D., o. A. Daley, NJ. d., A.
Monett and Thee. +. Wilson, and are in brief
FIrst. Mismanagement, extravagance and
corruption in the expenditures OF the APP
preparation fund set apart for the use Of the
second. Neglect, mismanagement ana
abuse OF the inmates OF the said asylum.
Third. Total incompetency in the manage
ment OF the government farm attached to
the asylum, making all OF It's products cost
about double what they could be bought for
In open market.
In regard 10 the first charge the committee
say that IT was not sustained by the evidence
GKNERAL MANAGEMENT OF THE HOS
The committee say that ; after osrefuI ex-
animation of the testimony relating to the
second charge, they have arrived at the con-
clusion that whatever abuse may have ex-
listed In the treatment of patients may be
attributable to the want of kindness and Of.
fieiency on the part OF attendants. The COM
mlttee do not think that all or any cOnsid-
cradle number OF the sc employees rave been
Inefficient and cruel, but L. is evident that
some OF them used more force than was ne
eessary, and were at times unnecessarily
cruel and negligent. There is ne evidence GO
ing to show that the abuse of patients by at
tendants was ever tolerated by the superin-
tepdant. Witnesses agree in saying that
whenever the fact was communicated to DR..
Nichols that an attendant mad been wantou-
~ cruel or negligent, he was i'm nediately
discharged. The services rendered by this
greeable character, SO much so, 1T is
difficult 10 induce them TO retain their
positions for any considerable length
OF time. There are now employed at this in-
institution II attendants, 10 males and %
females. The committee think not only
should the greatest caution be exercised in
the selection Of this class OF employees, but
that those found to be efficient in the per-
fOrmspce Of their duty should receive a COM
peDsatlon sufficient to induce them 10 retain
their positions in the institution, for the
reason that IL is their efficiency, kindness OF
disposition and forbearance that the patients
are mainly indebted for the benefits and
comforts derived during their confinement
In reference to toe allegations that patients
were covered with vermin, there can be no
doubt that To certain extent such has been
the case. The condition Of many patients
when received at the institution, especially
those from the army, was such as TO render
the presence Of vermin possible; and Ii could
only be by great care and attention that
amorg the inmates. But the evidence
clearly shows that wnen the presence of
vermin was discovered prompt meas ures
moved. With regard to the charge that
patients were furnished with tainted and un-
wholesome food, your committee think that
occasionally such may have been the case,
but that the evidence In respect TO the same
on the part OF witnesses wbo testified
against the Institution, have been greatly
The committee pass now to the considera
tion OF the third and last charge, TO wit: SIN
competency in the management of the farm;
they could be bought for in open market"
The products are such as are most needed for
the use of the institution, consisting princi-
milk and poultry; and, while it may be, and
no doubt Is true, that these articles can be
purchased In the market at a less sum than
II costs to produce them upon this farm, that
the part OF the superintendent In the man
egement of the farm. Two members of the
carefully Inspected the growing crops, and
the condition of the land, and are satisfied
that DO material Improvement can be 10 ade
upon the system adopted by the superinten-
dent in the cultivation of this farm. IL can
not he said that the land is In high state OF
cultivation, nor can 1t be made so, for the
but the committee are of the opinion that il
has been cultivated to the best advantage,
and while ii cannot be made a source OF
profit to the hospital, II is absolutely neces-
welfare OF the patients.
REMOVAL OF PATIENTS TO MARYLAND
AND NEw YORK.
On this point the committee desire to
notice and to express their condemnation OF
that they consider an inhuman act on the
art OF the authorities of the District of
Columbia, in removing nom resident patients
from the hospital and leaving them TO wan
der, unprotected, in the woods OF Maryland
ARD In the streets OF New York: Section
$3.50 OF the revised statutes provides for the
admission of INDECENT nonresident insane to
the hospital, TO be kept there at the expense
of the District until their friends can be dis
covered and the place of their last residence
ascertaiped, with view to the return of
such person TO such friends or 10 the place of
his residence, and thus relieve the District
OF the expense and charge OF such INDECENT
insane on resident" After reciting the cir
cumstances of the removal OF certain patients
in the night time 10 point near Broad Creek
mittee say that IL Is very evident that there
was no intention on the part OF the District
authorities to deliver these insane persons
TO the authorities OF Prince Georges county,
but simply TO have them conveyed far
enough from the hospital to prevent their
return. IL also appears by the testimony OF
day OF June, Of the same year. he, in
company with Patrick O'Hare, also q Dis
trict policeman, by the direction of the same
patients from the hospital and parted with
them on the ferry boat after landing in New
York city. Three Of these patients were sup
POcCo " pciOuS III NcW OQ6 IN w Or
cester, Mass, and the other in Albany. The
last two were furnished railroad tickets to
their supposed places OF residence. 1t may
be stated that these non resident lunatics
possessed reason enough 10 enable them to
reach their friends or former places OF resi-
dence, after being thus summarily disposed
OF by the District Commissioners; but
whether they did or not, the committee
think their removal was uDjustifable and
1phunan, and trust that the District au-
thorlties in the future will more Closely OBJ
serve tie law of delivering these helpless
creatures TO their friends or to the authori-
ties OF their last places OF residence, and not
force them upon the cold charity OF stran-
gers.
WIN. T. VAN KUREN's CASE.
The committee then discuss The "Bontzo
Gam brose," "Loomis" and Ivan Kurenn
cases, and arrived at the conclusion that
while the witnesses did not Intentionally
make misstatements they greatly exagger.
ated the facts. The committee recite the
evidence In the Van Kuren case, and saw
they have no doubt that Mrs. Van Kuren's
staten ents are TO some extent correct; that
Is, that her son had vermin both upon mis-
head and body, and that be had been in fhis
condition Tor some considerable time; which,
in the judgment OF the COMMITTEES, shows a
want, at least, OF that strict and scrupulous
attention urOQ the mart ATTENDANTS ond