The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-03-23
MADHOUSE INVESTIGATION.

BRUTAL TREATMENT OF PATIENTS IN THE
FLATBUsH LuNATIC ASYLUM.
Tho fourth session OF the Special Committee OF the
Board Of Supervisors OF Kings county, appointed to
investigate the charges OF cruel treatment Of patients
in the Flatbush Lunatic Asylum, was held in the
Court House yesterday. letter was read IRON ID. W.
Talmadge which that gentleman accuses the asylum
authorities OF imposing restraints upon patients
and the being cruel He also calls attention 10
an investigation of the institution, held in 1874,
and inquiries whether the Recommendations then made
had received proper attention from the officials IN
charge.
MANNER OF TREATING PATIENTS.
Mrs. Virginia Mcpougal testified before the commit
tee that her husband was patient in the asylum at
Flatbush from November to January last; he
three weeks there before the doctors would allow her
to him; the physicians and attendants were very
impairment; her husband, who was afflicted with
melancholy, died there; at one time the nurses were
seen pouring something down hts throat; one occa-
sion husbands right ESQ WIS very much swollen,
and the nurse told her he had fallen against tho knob
Of tho door; there knob In tho room; there
were other marks of violence on his body.
Miss Dora B. Robinson, member o! the State VISIT
,np COMMITTED testified that she didn't think tho pby.
qualified and the food was insufficient for
any person afflicted with mental dsease she had seen
no of positive abuse at the asylum since 1875 but
had seen cases which appeared 10 be abuse; though
the sad the violence proceeded from fall tho
Mrs. Lyatt patient, and saw hcr covered with blood
the nurse violently pushed Mrs. Lyatt into chair !;
tho nurse complained Of but was not removed tho
straitacket laced tight that the witness could
not insert her pencil between it and the body Mrs
Lyatts hand wns cut by tho nails Of the nurse who
was putting her dress
DR.. PANTHEON Candidus who attended. Octavia
Walter upon her discharge from the asylum, testified
that Miss Walter died from rheumatism, induced by
confinement in bed without proper attendance.
GAGGED AND CLUBBED
Mr. u. w. Talmadge testified that he placed an
employs OF his named Frank j. Cortissorz in
the asylum short time ago; the effects
which were taken by one Of the nurses from
Cort!ssorz never returned; nurse the
shoes taken from the patient; while they put.
ting a straitjacket upon him two nurses sat tho
man; a piece OF broomstck, which used as a
gag then put In his mouth he was tied around
the knees and ankles, stick being inserted to
give the cords extra wrench tho patient
subsequently placed In bathtub and kept under
until nearly strangcd the reason for this treatment
was that he had complained to the doctors of the
nurses witness said Cortissorz showed him where his
tine patient's) jaw had been broken and his teeth
knocked with CLUBS by the nurses; he Is in
ST. Luke's Hospital and In lair way toward recovery.
George and Doreha Cross testified as to the filthy
dilion Of the Flatbush Asylum. Henrietta Coggns
testified that thcre vermin in tho place. Witness
had an old lady patient thrown violently into o
room for simply asking for an orange.
After some further testimony the committee ad-
journed On Monday they will visit St. Luxc's Hos
pita in this city, and take the testimony oil Mr. Cor.
tssOrZ