Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-05-26

Inc insane Asylum Investigation.
THE TESTIMONY TO-DAY.
The Committee on the Expenditures of the
interior department resumed their investi-
CATION of the affairs Of the U. g. Insane Asy-
ium this morning:
Or. u. +. Tyler, formerly one of the board
OF VISITORS 10 the asylum, gave testimony in
corroboration OF that of members Of the pre-
visitors from 1855 to 1865. Since then has not
visited the asylum very frequently; would
send any member Of hfs family that required
preference to any other. Don't profess to
know rything in regard to the manage
mept Of the asylum, but from my knowledge
OF DR.. Nichols do not think he would allow
any inhumanity towards q patient. Have
known DR.. Nichols in private and social life,
Witness knew no man who manifested more
OF the qualities which epnoble and adorn
human character than DR.. Nichols.
BY Judge Boone, acting chairman:-At
asylum, but havs'visited the asylum several
times OF late. Did not visit every part of the
asylum when he was there last. Has not
been there but twice during the past two
years; has never seen any vermin on patients
there; properly managed and well regu-
lated asylum should not be infested with
vermin, though at times it is difficult to de-
stroy them or keep them out. Never heard
report of single case of vermin on q pa
tient during the time he was connected with
the asy lum. The institution is very large.
but he thought that unless the whole thing
was under one head many things would 20
wrong. Do not think that itswas physically
Impossible for one man to supervise all the
branches of the asylum-that is, If he has
competent ana RESPONSE BILE subordinates, To
whom he should look and in whom he should
DIR. Vim q. III. Ne,cman testified that he
knew the colored man Samuel III. Johnson
1.-THE tceless patiently; attended him before
the war; remember of signing q certificate of
his insanity; he had delIrium tremens. His
wife said he had been on drunk for weeks
and sleeping out at night.
lDr. Nichols here said johnson was admit
ted December 10, 1870. The witness said Oc-
tOber IA, 1S7l.1
DR.. Newman said he had an indistinct rec
frosted. 1t would not be unlikely If he was
lying about for him to have his feet frost
ed. DR.. Hines remembers the case also,
though he did not treat him.
By Judge Boone :-Think that he treated
Johnson four days or week before he sent
him to the asylum. Did not lock at his feet.
II bis feet had been frosted while he was in
the army his toes would have fallen Off be-
fore they did. They might have been FROST
Mr. Richard Wanach testified that he served
as mayor of Washington for seven years.
Previous to the founding of the Insane asy
lum had charge Of the pauper insane OF this
District, which he had up TO that time kept
in asylums near Baltimore. Turned over the
lunatic paupers to Dr. Nichols as soon as the
government asylum was established. After
that, was visitor to the asylum, which he
visited once month. He freely Endorsed
every word that DR.. Tyler said, and thought
DIR. Nichols was the proper man TO be in
charge Of the asylum. Has not visited the
Insane asylum since 1863, but suppose every
thing is conducted there properly. Was fully
Impressed with DR.. Nichols fitness for the
position.
By Judge Boone:-Never saw any vermfn
on patient. Has not been there since 1868.
Never saw any patients at work on the RI er
wall up to their waist In wafer. Never saw
any patients forced to work on the farm
when it was not proper that theyshould work.
DIR. j. b. Blake testified he was formerly
superintendent public buildings fairgrounds;
was a member OF the board of visitors of the
asylum for two years, beginning in 1861.
Had been In the habit Of visiting the asylum
prior to that time. Do not think there is a
hotel in the United States that is kept as
c'eap; no private house is Kept cleaner. Has
no prejudice in favor of DR.. Nichols, except
thai which comes from his appreciation OF
Nichols talk politics. Could not tell what
the politics Of DR.. Nichols are. Witness has
always been democrat. Do not believe
that Il ere is a man in the world that is better
fitted Tor the position than DR.. Nichols.
There should be one head who should have
control OF everything at the asylum. The
President has charge OF the whole country,
but he should not be held responsible for
what Belknap did. The President did not
know that Belknap was selling appoint
ments as post traderships.
Judge Boone remarked here that the
opinions OF the witness were not necessary
upon that subject.
DR.. Blake said he thought everything there
should remain in charge of DR.. Nichols, Has
not visited the asylum since 1862 more than
two or three times year. Never saw any
vermin on any patients there.
Or. C. w. Brink testified that during the
war he was u. 8. sanitary inspector, and
as such visited nearly all the hospitals in
the country. A few years ago was interested
| IN case at the Insane Asylum, and during
year visited the asylum once in every two
or three weeks. Came to the conclusion
that the general management OF the asylum
w e hr1r md In q k-n
best. When witness went to the asylum did
not visit all OF the wards, but satisfied him
seif that every thing was we'll kept and prop
ladies who had visited the asylum which
| were to the contrary, and visited it for the
purpose OF correcting impressions unfavor
Waner Ban testified that he at present re-
| sides in Prince George county, Md. In 1872
was employed at the insane asylum; re-
| NAMED there eleven months, and then re-
| signed. Some OF the patients were treated
| very nicely, and some not SO we'll. General
| 9. Loomis was among the latter class.
| Had charge of him, and placed him in a
| room with mattress TO lie on, but he roll
ed of, and while rolling about the floor wore
| was taken out of white ash ward and pl 8 ced
| In beech ward. There were a mum Der of sores
| on Gen. Loomis, but the doctor did not pay
l any attention to them. Gen. Loomis died
dead. as he WAS in another ward. General
| LOomis did not have any sick Diet and he
Il was vi Inc Oruludry 0l6L, though
| he was q weak, old and feeble man.
Had patient named Davis who was lock ed
| up, and who was fed on bread and water for
| q long time. He was very weak and sick
| Never learned the reason why he was con.
| fined. After q time DR.. Morrell told him
| twitness) to release him. He was not o vio-
lent patient, and as far as he knew there
| was DO particular reason for locking him
| up and feeding him on bread and water.
| Gen. LOOmis had large scar or wound on
his head. There were no other sores upon
him. Think that many of the sores on his
back were caused by his lying on the floor.
l Could not devote all his time to General
| Loomis; had other patients to take care Of
| DIR. MOrrell ordered a second mattrass for
| Gen. LOomis to lie on, to lie alongside of
| the other. He still rolled of. In cross.
| examination he said he did know the reason
| why Davis was kept on low diet. Left on
| giving one days notice.
DR.. Crfsttda Hines testified that he remem.
bered Samuel Johnson, (the toeless patiently;
was called to attend him before he was sent
to the asy lum He was suffering from mania
apotu. Learned that his feet had been
frosted. Johnson had been q teamster or
soldier. His wife said he had been on q
spree and walked about barefooted, and
ifh clothes 1ron him.