Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-04-10
The Insane Asylum Investigation.
DR.. G. HI. Nichols Before the Com.
mttfee.

| Inc SOunlittee on the expenditures OF the
Interior Department met this morning al
halfpast 10 o'clock.
DR.. C. II. Nichols. superintendent OF the gov
eminent hospital for the insane, testified
mat he was appointed 10 his position by
| President Fillmore. Army and navy pa
| uents are admitted TO the institution on the
| orders of the Secretaries of War, Navy,
| Treasury and Interior upon required certifi.
| Gates OF insanity. Civil pay patients are adj
| United al the request of the nearest relative
| or guardian and the certificates OF two prac
| ticiDg physicians. One case of dipsOmauia
was admitted, as ii was considered a stage
| OF insanity.
THE PATIENT, MARSH.
| Mr. Marsh is an inmate now; is consider
ed insane; was given employment, but was
| afterwards returned to the Institution be-
cause he returned 10 the habit OF drinking
/ He is not legally voluntary patient, but in
sense he is. After being In the institution
Few weeks. he requested TO be discharged
| l hesitated because all former discharges
| were unsatisfactory. i consulted the ply
STEFAN and his father as TO his conduct; also
| with his wife and others, all Of whom CD
| posed his discharge for the reason that ne
| would renew his habit of drink and become
dangerous. AT later period he concluded
to stay for year, and decided IL would be
| proper 10 keep him. In that sense he has
been voluntary patient. He was permitted
| 10 leave, and was returned again. / think
he is now with us for the fourth time.
| q Was Mr.. Marsh possessed OF any estate
| previous TO his first admission?
| A. think not.
De Obliged to pay for his support?
A. Yes, sir.
q. believe Mr.. Marsh had transferred a
mouse and several lots TO his wife, and She
| now possesses them?
A. i don't know that, but am under the
impression that what property his wife has
Q. Mr.. Marsh is not detained for insanity.
but because he would drink again and be-
come insane?
A. don't think that exactly. I consider
him OF uEsound mind, from drink. think
his mind impaired in strength.
OTHER DIPSOMANIACS.
O. Have you other patients similar 10 NJ.
A. think q half dozen or more; not all
supported by the government, but five or six
SO supported, none of whom have been there
long, not more than three or four months.
We have one man who has been there sew
GRAZ years; discharged, bat sent back again.
In the last two years there has been i'm
provemeBt, but his mind is weak, and he is
considered insane.
@. How can person confined there for
dlpsomania be discharged?
A. The institution would discharge him:
bis friends can get his dismissal. or the Sec
retery of the Interior, or writ OF habsas
corpus; and there is provision OF law by
"nlch the friends can give bond that they
Will take care of them. and ia Ike them ouL
q. The affidavit by which a dipsoma.
H'ac Is admitted for fear be will do bodily
hahn?
A. No, sir; they must say he is insane.
q \ person then who is q drunkard Is adj
United as an insane person?
\. He must be In a condition that justifies
sworn certificate OF insanity.
2. We'll, when he is sober and restored
should be not be discharged?
A. Yes, upon professional judgment that
be is restored.
q DO You furnish fnebriates liquor?
A. Yes, al first, being obliged 70; bat cut 10
of in two or three days.
DIR. Nichols then stated that he was de-
cidedly opposed TO admitting such a class of
patients into an insane asylum. aud always
had been. He thought a ward ought 70 be
separate for them, but 1t was impossible
now on account of number
q. DO you receive patients upon the ne
ceSsaTy certificates only? Don't you exam
Inc them thoroughly?
A. We consider the certificates the Only
plan of admittance. II we saw no evidences
Of insanity, would thoroughly and fmme-
diately investigate his history. We have
: ad only one patient taken out on writ of
Q. Can any patient apply for a writ OF ha-
beas corpus?
A. Yes, sir.
Q When patients are, fOurd TO be non resi-
tents of the District what do you do?
A. II admitted by the Secretary Of the In
terror we institute proceedings TO nave the
case ren1edied.
q Have You ever permitted any patients
20 be turned loose?
THE PATIENTS WHO WERE TURNED LOOSE
a. No, sir.
Q Give US the truth OF the statement that
June?
A The responsibility rests with the au-
ibOrities OF the District, and they must have
the dismissed patients taken care or In
this case the Commissioners Of the District
communicated with the chief of police 10
take steps 10 find their homes and friends.
He conferred with me, and advised him not
to remove them until warm weather, in the
me antime inviting him to visit them, which
he did. Three of these patients were from
Maryland. In June the chief of police told
wGnl0 have Them hnma
night, because they would suffer less from
the heat. They were let out OF the carriage
To walk down hill, and strayed away. /
bad no authority 10 prevent their going. and
although they turned up all right, Vet If
bad had any idea OF what happened should
have prevented it.
q. Who were responsible for their removal?
A. The Commissioners.
q. Did they order their time of removal?
A: think not; it was left with Major
Richards.
q. What time did they go?
A. About nine O'Clock.
q. How far did they have TO 60?
a. About twenty miles.
q. Did they take them near the town of
their residence Upper MarlbOro)?
A. No, sir.
A. They allege that they lost thelr way.
q. No peTson from the asylum accompa-
uied them?
A. No, sir.
q. Who did beside the driver?
A. think two policeman.
q. Were these people insane?
A. Yes. One was considered dan gerou s
patient, but he had improved. He found his
way home, and his friends made no COM
paint. The other man was colored, ami it
was debatable whether he was insane or an
imbecile. The third person was colored
woman, crazy. but harmless.
@ Did the order designate the place OF
cOnveyance2
A. No, sir.
q Did you ever send any patients to New
York?
A. No, sir.
q. To Philadelphia or Pittsburg?
A. Not that recollect. One man was sent
TO Philadelphia. but didn't send him.
OTHER CHARGES REPLIED TO.
q. How often do you visit the patients per-
sonalIy?
A. My rule is once a week, and average
that, generally visit on Sunday. Sometimes
visit q sick patient every day for weeks.
Very rarely day passes that don't visit a
ward.
q. What is the largest number of patients
you have confined in one room?
A. Thirteen, and only one room with that
mum Der.
Q. How large are the rooms?
A. The largest associated dormitory is not
ar from Is by 50 feet.
Q. Is ii necessary To confpe so m any in