The New York herald., 1878-11-27
THE ONONDAGA HORROR.

THE ONONDAGA HORROR.
CONDITION AND MANAGEMENT or THE COUNTY
INSANE AsyLuMs-wHAr COMMISSIONER pEyE-
REUx or THE STATE BOARD OF CHARITIES
HAS TO sAY-A PRETTY BAD SHOWING.
BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD
UTICA, n. Y, Nov. 20, 1873.
found Mr. John G. Devereux. Commissioners Of
the State Board of Charities; at his house on hutges
place. adjoining Senator Conklings residence, ana
interviewed him the subject of the condition OF
the insane in the county asyums of the State, more
particularly regarding the recent Developments in
the onondaga county insane department
commissioner Devercux. the HERALD wishes some
official information in regard to the alleged brutal
treatment and neglect of chronic insane paupers IL
the Onondaga County Asylum"
We'll, the Onondasa County Asylum for the Insant
is ono of those exempted several years ago from the
law which places the chronic insane under the i'm
mediate control OF the State Board of Charities The
law requires that every acnte patient shall be sent to
the State insane asylnins under penalty, and all
chronic must be sent to the Willard Asylum at
Ovid, except in the counties exempted
ION what conditions have certain counties been
empted:'
when the Board is satisfied that good and sufi-
of chronic and that they Will have the REQUESTS
medical and personal attendance
"aas onondaga county complied with these condi.
tions?'
In 1877, with the Superintendent and Keeper,
visited that asylum and informed of about three
peculiarly chronic male cases. We were told thai
they viie dirty and inexprcssbly beastlike in
their habits, destroying their clothing as rapidly
as il could be put on, then befoulng themselves and
still worse The officials said no amount of attention
would prevent this occurring from hour to hour.
was told that cells had been built in half basement.
on level with the kitchen hall and storeroom.
where patients would be warm and as comfortable
as possible. Competent local medical authority said
they under good care as their condition would
admit. In August last, visiting the asylum. !
found it overcrowled, and, my suggestion, Ave
chronic eases were sent to the Willard Asylum. The
County Asylum still overcrowded but, as tha
Willard Asylum already contained more than it could
conveniently accommodate there nothing to be
done but to make patients as comfortable as possible
at home. The Onondaga County Poorhouse is located
tour Ave miles south OF Syracuse, on the top OF
high HILL and the road to it is steep and ut times
dangerous The most thorough visitors either Of
the professional retired class of citizens do not
keep carriages. and there is public conveyance
to be had il cannot be visited without expense
and inconvenience. These buildings should always
be placed street car line. or within easy walking
distance from the city village, so that they could
be easily visited by all classes
RESPONSIBILITY THE oNoNpAGA OFFICIALS
You mean to be understood that the fault if any,
lies with the officials Of Onondaga county z"
Certainly. AS long as that county is exempted
from tho operation of the law the State Board holds
the medical directors of the asylum responsible for
the condition of patients, and in obedience to the
laws of humanity the supervisors should provide
good accommodations as possible for chronic pa
tients.''
.Why do county officials retain chronic cases in.
stead of sending them to Willard?'
Zone is that they think they can provide fon
them cheaper at home At Willard necessary attends
placed patients to keep them clean and
clothed. In the county asylunls. to save expenses
paupcrs are too often detailed for attendants.
..Can good be employed to care for patienta
who involuntarily unclean and vile!"
Certainly; any number Of good men can be had u
what do you think of the officials and attendants
at the Ononda9a County House!
..As far as could ascertain they competent hus
aud faithful The fault, il any, is with the offs
cals them in not providing the necessary accom-.
modations and attendants. :.
..You say the Willard Asylum for chronic patients
is ovcrcrowded. What IL to be done now?"
Eyes: there are over. l,ioo patients at Ovid. The
remedy to build plain substantial and economical
additions to that luin. The Hudson River Asylum,
ut Poughkccpsie. should be at supplied eccnomi
chronic cases from the eastern part OF the State
THE STATE VERSUS THE COUNTY SYSTEM.
I'm general, which is preferable on the score Of
humanity-state or county care OF chronic insane
patients z! =
state care, by all means. At Willard Asylum each
patient has the best of medical attendance,
from resident physicians; good. nouriship2
food; constant attention to insure cloanlinesss,
heated and ventilated. In county asylYms
the medic attendance is IRREGULAR the food too
often insufficient and not the kind required. aud
many helpless suffer by neglect and uncleanliness
from OF the necessary number OF attendants for
the crowded asylums, of which the county officials
outside but little, except on annual visitation
days The Onondaga county sensation is a new 0nes
and speedy investigation will be made. In spite OF
the best care individual of apparent neglect
win occur. The standard of county asylums i'll gems
eral is low The late reports will have good effect
in attracting the attention of the indifferent public to
these unfortunates and compelling county officials to
do their whole duty"
CONDITION OF THE COUNTY INSTITUTIONS.
"What about the other county institutions within
your district
.sOne-third OF the county institutions in the Stata
defective and negligent Oneida County Asylum
is in good condition. having new, well heated aud
ventilated building and fair atendants Chenango
has improved and is exempted. Jefferson county'3
exemption il withdrawn account of its bad
dition II has been renodelled and improved and
empton is again applied for. Lewis county needs
Improvement. The Supervisors the other day dis
cussed the proposition to expend 5000 in good work.
Oswego county il good; in Madison county improve
ments are in progress; Otsego County Asylum Is in
horrible condition, and Schoharie is bad it posi-
sbly be: Montgomery has but few chronic
cases. Broome and Cortland are fitting and have APP
piled for exemption. All the Hudson River counties,
except Orange, bad. special visitation to
Onondsga viii probably be ordered by the State
Board and if necessary all the chronic will be
sent to the Willard Asylum.