The New York herald., 1877-03-16
MADHOUSE ABUSES.
THE EXAMINATION INTO OCTAvIA WALTERS
TREATMENT AT THE INSANE AsYLUM-CoN-

THE EXAMINATION INTO OCTAvIA WALTERS
TREATMENT AT THE INSANE AsYLUM-CoN-
TRAJECTORY STORIES FROM THE DOCTORS.
The examination into the manner In which Miss Oc-
tavia Walter treated while an inmate OF Flatbush
Insane Asylum continued yesterday before tho
Aidcrmanic committee appointed TO take testimony.
The testimony Of tho doctors did not agree in all par
ticuars nor did that Of the nurses in whose charge
the unfortunate girl was left
The first witness called was DR.. Blanchard the
medical superintendent OF the asylum. He said
graduate OF the College OF Physicians and Surgeons
New York. and had taken charge OF the asylum in
1874. He said he thought he had made improvements
in the place sincc his arrival hut asked what
they he said he did not know. He did not think
that the present help was sufficient to manage the
institution. Ho asked Tor help, but II had not
been gwen to him. Ho said there were no printed
rules or regulations for the governments and
guidance Of nurses some OF the wards OF the hospital
have AS many forty patients; deponent often leaves
tho asylum and such occasions his assistant does
by order from dcponent his assistant; tho
keep record OF the use oil the strait Jacket somo
patients ure kept In the basement; the basement IS
DAMP deponent never heard that they had TO sew
so hard that the tops OF their fingers were worn away
the death rate In tho institution IS fraction over five
per cent? sixty seventy patients In the asylum pay,
the rest are paupers; deponent saw Octuvia Waiter
carried into the asylum; he knew subsequently that
she was subject to hs; dd not know whe'her nc pre-
scrlbed her kept book, and he did pre-
scribe don't remember the drugs; he noticed fro
quently that Octava Walter was tied to chair THIS
was done because she feeble that she was In
tho habit OF falling the floor and hurting herself It
Is not uncommon Tor the patients 10 fight with each
0thor; II the lights the day timo the nurses
sec them, but " at night they do not.
'.What is the imposition Of the matter of
tho brain. Doctorf" asked one OF the Emitiec.
The Doctor refused TO answer, and said hc could show
his diploma
DR.. THEODORE y. wErrLISa's TESTIMONY.
DR.. Theodore b. Wettling, the assistant physician,
ness he The diseases OF the mind subject
q study up m oo %s 10 M,
she had large sores on her body, and thought they
were caused by the poverty OF her blood anu
she was bound never knew that she had
been struck whlc in the institution; one afternoon a
came to deponcnt and sad tnat the brother of
Miss Walter was IN one Of the wards making a dis
turbancc aud cursng DID not go 10 SEQ hn, being de-
tained by business saw him whcn he came from tho
ward, and did not tell hlm that his sister pay
patient and If he did not like tn, treatment he could
take her homo; ordered Miss Walter TO be tied in n
chair knows there are patients IN the basement, but
can swear that the basement perfectly dry heard
aud believes that MISS Waiter got her black eye from
fall
"Doctor, is there more phosphorus In the brain of
an IDIOT than that oi sane person ~ asked COM
mittee man.
"rhere may be, but don't think there is"
DIR. CREAMEKs TESTIMONY.
This witness described the condition Of Miss Walter
before she was sent tn the hospital he said she was
an idiot, without the power to coordinate movements;
that she lacked that nice balance and c0nscq
ton found in normal bengs lOr instance, II she
started 10 60 out through doorway she liable 10
collide with the posts either side. This testimony
was corroboraled by DR.. Newman.
,uRsEs TESTIMONY.
Margaret Powers, VINO has been in the hospi-
tai Tor ton years, next called She testified that
Miss Walter taken with 1T about ten minutes
she entered the hospital and had at times many
as four fiis "A day. she was SO violent that strait
jacket had 10 be put on her. and sne had to be tied to
CHAIR she was not very feeble. Tor when she would
become violent she tore everything she could
get her hands and hammered herself
IN the lace; she WIS only tied to the
chair when caught abusing herself; quiet and
violent patients put in tho same wards; sometimes
help needed TO qucll rotous patients witness fre-
quenty went away, ana when she was gone her part
ncr, Mary Ann Barker took her place and performed
all inc work witness believes that Miss Walter got her
black eye by falling
Mary Ann Barker substantiated the testimony Of the
foregoing Witness and the further hearing OF the
was postponed until Thursday next at ten A. NJ,
when the committee will hold session In tho County
Court House