Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-03-28

inmates are subjected, have finally compelled
the attention of physicians and others not dl-
rectly connected with the institutions. At 3
recent meeting of the Medico-Legal society Of
this city-a society composed of the most emil
nent members of both the legal and medical
professions-the subject of asylum abuses was
fully debated, with special reference to the
asylums Of this State. In the course of the
evening the assertion was made that the insane
asylums of this country are among the worst,
if not the very worst, in the civilized world,
and that, instead of improving, they are actu-
ally falling off year by year from the compare
lively high standard of a few years ago. Thus,
within a short period measure of
personal restraint has been introduced
which equals in horror anything used in
took their reformation, and in which wild
beast could not be humanely confined. This
is 9 crib, made after the pattern of child's
crib, but with q barrel lid to it. Into this cage
tho poor lnnatic is put, and the top is shut
down 1s and locked: The consequence is that the
position, for the space between the body and
the lid is not more than few
inches. Think of being shut up for
days and nights at time in apparatus
like this, and think what must be the conse-
quence to an already congested brain by a
the disease! This whole subject Of bodily re-
straint needs overhauling. 1t is not allowed in
Great Britain at all; and the asylum superin-
tendent who should put one of his patients
into the Utica crib, as it is called. muf1e his
hands in a strait jacket, would certainly lose
his position in twenty-four hours, if he did not
incur more severe punishment.
Let the asylums be Investigated. If they
are in good condition and well managed, SO
much the better for those who control them.
II they are as bad as they are said to be, the
sooner the public knows the fact the sooner
%t1r, 10 i
rate it is creditable to New York that the in
quiry is to begin here.
The following memorial which grew out of
the discussion in the Medico-Legal society, has
been sent to Albany
To the Honorable the Senate and Assembly of
the State of New York:
The undersigned, a committee of the Medico-
Legal society of the city of New York, respect
fully ask your honorable bodies to institute an
inquiry into the condition and management of
the lunatic asylums of this State.
The committee has great reason to believe
that the unfortunate inmates are, many of
them treated in manner which is disgraceful
to civilization, cruel and barbarous, and not in
accordance with the present advanced state of
medical science In support of these aIlega-
tions, which are made with all due solemnity,
the committee not only Gas directed by the So
ciety it representa- appends copy of a paper
read by DR.. E. G. Spitzka before the society,
at its meeting on the 9Th inst, but it atfirms
its readiness to substantiate them
by the testimony of exprets in Psychological
medicine in all parts of the State and country,
as well as by the declarations Of eminent for
eign alienists and by comparisons with like in
situations in Great Britain, France and Ger
many.
The committee ask the attention Of your
honorable bodies to the whole system by which
asylums OF this State are managed, and espe-
cially to the State lunatic asylum at Utica,
against which grave charges have been made by
responsible and competent persons.
The committee, therefore, for the accom-
plishment of the objects in view, respectfully
requests your honorable bodies to appoint a
joint committee of inquiry, with power to take
testimony or to proceed in such other manner
as to your honorable bodies may seem BEST
And your memorialists in duty bound, will
ever pray, &c.
New York, March IS, 1878.
JOHN G. HANNAH, NJ. d.
WILLIAM A. HAMMOND, M. u.
y. 8. RIDDLE.
JACOB 8. MILLER.
Il. c. SPrrzKA, NJ. D.
This memorial covers the whole ground and
is of such a character as to claim the immcdi-
ate consideration Of the Legislature.