New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-02-07

were not kept In ~ good CONDITION aS tney shOuu
have been. DR.. Wilkie. the former Superintendent,
used revolver in subduing q refractory patient,
shooting him in the arm, one ball entering that
limb. IL was the opinion of witness that the man
might have been restrained without the use of fire.
arms
James Fitzpatrick testified that thefood funished
to the insane cOnvcts was very bad. They were
badly behaved, and sometimes were handcufed be-
hind the back for dsrespectfu language to the Doc
tor The paddle was sometimes used. The asylum was
untidy and uncean. This witness also testified that
Dr. Wilkie carried a revolver. Male attendants were
employed to restrain the female lunatics. The wit
ness testified that he got tired of DIR. Wike punish
ing and handwriting men and left. However, no
came back again.
Christopher McNally testified that he had himself
struck men with his elinched fist IN seii-hclefse'
He always carried pistol, considering III necessary
for his protection When he struck patient be dld
not think it always necessary to report the iact 10
the Doctor. McNally thought in the case OF the
man shot as above described, that he could have
been secured without the of the pistol lie had
known patients to be "paddled," and he described
the instrument piece of thin oak stick about as
thick as piece of heavy sole leather and about Z2
inches wide, with handle. One lunatic was logged
with 1t Z" for whistling and making noise, ana Ior
and for ouarrelng with everybody" The paddle has
not been used since DIR. Mcdonald took charge.
Cutting and Stacking were also punishmcnts in USE
Men were sometimes chained to the door or window.
One prisoner could not stand his feet the chain
being too short and he kept in this position all
niQht-the witness thought for two nights. One
George Warren was handcfffed and shackled night
and day for two months though he begged to be let
ont
There is evidence in this report that while the
mentally irresponsible were thus punished, some
patients who could make proper interest were
treated with much indulgence. This testimony
takes back to the worst days of the old Bedains
1t is relief to know that under the new manage
ment matters have been mended; hut these facts
should 90 cODspicuously before the public, in order
that il may be known what abuses sometimes exist
in institutions supposed to be bumanely and skill
fully managed.
OF course the discharge If Barr is now known to
have been n mistake; but we should like to know
how he has been treated since he left the hands
of his physician At any rate it is necessary to
guard the reader against coming to any rash concu-
sions touching the proper method of dealing with
the violently insane. Since the days of Pinel, the
violent method of treating mental diseases has fallen
into dsreT rte That extreme caution is important
in the discipline of the furOusy insane, nobody will
deny; but caution does not make neces"ary-It
shond rather supersedc-chains and whips and re-
yolyers. If the seventies Of the prison. to which
sane and responsible prisoner, are properly sub
ectcd are transferred to tE. prison asylum and
prscticed upon prisoners who are insane and ire
spCnsible it must not surprise us when, now and
then, a keeper is killed; and if those who are as
crazy az ever are discharged "cured' and set to
work III front of the prison. az Barr was, see
but little use in having an asylum at all
As if more forcibly to arrest the public attention,
while we are writing We have intelligence that on
Sunday Last an attendant employed in the Nortlanp-
ton Insane Asylum found dead, having been
murdered by some of the lunatics, it is not known
by whom. But before we arrive at any conclusion
respecting this case it viii be necessary to know
with some degree of precision what were the charac-
ter and conduct of the keeper and all the details of
the tragedy We have heretofore expressed the
opinion that too little exercised in some OF our
best managed institutions for the insane. i'll the
selection of attendants: and we still think that
b.any asylums suffer IN reputation. in spite of the
merits of their superintendent, from this cause
especially.