The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-28
PROFITABLE PAUPERS.

THEIR VALUABLE POLITICAL sERyIcEs-A
rrAMr's WINTER REsIpEScE--How FOUND
LINos AND THx INSANE ARE CARED FOR By
THE KINGS COUNTY AUTHORITIES
Tho people OF this city and Brooklyn shocked
several times year by the report OF the terrible
atrocities perpetra.ed upon some OF the inmates Of
their several hospitals and insane asyums. The last
case heard occurred the Flabush Insane Asylum,
and poor insane woman was the victim OF the mai
treatment She eventually died, It was supposed,
from the effects OF the injuries she received. COM
mittcc as is usual, appointed 70 investigate the
outrage by the Kings county Board OF Supervisors.
last the Investigating Committee handed 10 Tue
Board OF Supervisors lengthy report, IN wh:ch they
claimed that all the medical stan had to recommend
them was general ignorance OF insanity, and that al
tho nurses, male and female, were profoundly
stupid and incompetent. All the charges IN the re-
port we're general in their nature, and IRON the tenor
OF the report il seemed as though specifications are
avoided for a purpose In order to lay before INC
readers OF HERALD in Kings county the true state
81 affairs the writer recently visited the county ins'-
buttons.
THE pooRHousE
Leaving the main road, which from BrooSlyn
TO Fatbusb, and proceeding north about three quar-
tiers OF a mile along delightful road lined on ench
side by pleasant cottages one upon the Kings
back from tho road about hundred yards. ln front
OF the building very beautiful grounds, but in the
rear the yards in the worst possible condition
Lazy paupers, some young and strong enough 10 do
any physical labor lounge around in bhssu idencss
Contrary the report oil the Committee OF nyestga-
ton the found everything wrong IN TINS nstitu'
tcn The halls appeared II they had not seen water
and brush for the last decade. and the walls were
smoared with 9th. Tho paupcrs were IN a irightful
condition: their clothes the same as those in
which they had tramped over half the American con-
tnent The paupcrs are required TO do no work, and
they lie about and reyel IN filth
DEATH INFANTS
Hthe investigating Committee had extended their
observations TO the buildings tho OF the aims
house they you'd never handed their rcpor, OF
all right al the In the OF The female
department oil tho almshouse and under inc
same manag cement the nursery, in which there are
nbou. eighty infants in the worst possible HYGIENE
These infants, II is true, are ali loundnes
but II does not follow that they should be poisoned by
bad milk and air or be provided with a paupcr
II their own mothers are dead or have unnalur
ally eit them these pauper nurses as rule are o.
the lowest the low aud they, like the people lii the
almshouse, completely covered with DIRT ana YER
MN The food ios these infants IS Entrusted TO The
nurses and they are charged with frequently APP
propriatng IL TO their own USE particularly when II
includes wine.
USEFUL rAupERs.
use for the large number OF young and ablcboded
paupcrs whom he keeps ABOUT the pace. lie draws
money enough from the CITY Treasury 10 sup
port 4S6 male paupcrs. Tho Investigating committee
could only count, at the time 81 Their ysit, 100 Az
the time OF the writer's visit. which was when the ma
jorty OF the paupcrs were drawn up IN line, only ~
could be counted IN the line and ABOUT me place
1t rs not intended that there less tnan
4s6 but, then, Mr. Murray may be able 10 explain
why they cannot be found when wanted Livery ono
knows that IL requires considerable money to support
264 persons, II they panpcrs and II paupers 40
not get would be interesting 70 know where goes
Is possible that Mr. Murray's clerks deceive him as
the exact number OF inmatesg
IT WORTH
1t 10 runorcd about the township that certain gen.
tlcman now Albany owed his election 10 the paupcr
vote IL ascerlaned after dlhsent inquiry, that
paupcrs marched down 10 the polls and voted in
uody all, Of course, Young Tor the same candidate,
pnd IL is alleged under the supervision OF Mr. Murray
vii! be at that this vote is very valuable IN
d close contest and consequently would, II the person
directing was sordidly inclined, bring good price.
Probably some OF the paupers had gone out en- their
summer tour at the time OF the committees VISIT.
Their names Ii limited, may be Kept GU Tho books
until their return next winter to the warm atmosphere
lazy life OF the almshouse. In that way their resi-
would be kept good IRON election TO another
and Tor time indefinite. But what becomes OF tho
money appropriated 10 support the tourists !? Is IT
sent TO them to help defray tho summers travelling
expenses and, So does Kings county know how Kind
Hisy
THE INSANE ASYLUM.
This was the institution VISITED, and here gross
errors IN management discovered The super
intcnent has unlimited contro! OF his medical
ants nurses aud his abilities are mainly political
AS was established by the committee he is unac-
quaintcd with menta. diseases, also his chief
~,
some durable through neglect beyond medical
aid No discipline could DC discovered the inmates Of
tho asylum beng allowed wander about the place al
most at wi ana sometimes TO commit violence. II
only last Monday that one oil the unaiics struck
the OF The male smallpox ward on tho head with
hatclct 1t appears that the unaiic had the small
pox several months ago ana had been transferred 10
The smallpox ward where aor his recovery he has
NAMED ever siuce acting assistant From
limo the nurse and ne tad words and TINS
produced hight Monday last. Aiicr the
nrht the nurse was STOPPING down picking
ma sDme tack
and struck nm the head. producing irishtul
wound IN The right parical region. In striking the
blow the wild that he used the hammer
part Of the Ratchet TO which fortunate circumstance
The owes his life. during the struggle for the
hatchet the maniac dealt another blow with the edge
and cut the righ.iully the right tempe.
The raving mangc Was allowed 70 quietly 20 his way
to Amshousc-whch place nc prefers to the
asslum--ater The battle was over, Instead OF being
locked up IN a cell.
The Committee the Insane appointed BY the
Charity Commissioners in their report made TO
Board recommended that, three physicians
enough attend 70 the 500 patents confined In
The Flatbush Asylum and Tic Asylum or lncnrablce
general superintendent be appointed over The above
institutions.
THE HOSPITAL
Probably this institution Is managed better than any
other charitable institution belonging the county.
Politics does not enter into lis management, ana All
the assistants the medical stan appointed sc-
cording lis management is entirely distinct
from the Almshonsc, although the hospital physicians
attend the papers and fouDdilnss, with he latter
they cannot expected to DO much OF
their unhealthy surroundings.
TuE pAypER
All the respectable residents OF Flatbush complain
OF tho injustice done them by the pauper votc aud
they say that lust bciore al election The Amshonse
packed aad wncn one complains oil The INJUSTICE their
names are iound upon the entry book dated back lar
enough TO give Them rcsidence-sonic Tor several
years. old gentleman told the writer that IL
would be an excellent lnng TO build factory
make the ,ramps earn their living. III they DID,
says he 1--WE would not have to support 50 many Tor
they would not come here any sooner taan they
would 10 New York; Tor there, when they arc able,
they are compelled 70 work. /"