The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-04-13


statement, 10 but necessary to cali attention 10 the
report Of the Department for 1862 when subject
rsnorses .nsi Inc medical head ar hasn't. inr M
insane selected and placed In charge because oil his
superior knowledge ana skin In diseases OF the mind,
ana that his assistants merely for the purpose OF
acquiring knowledge which shall enable them 10 com.
mand higher positions elsewhere; and that there
should not be more patients actually under
than could come under the personal observation and
oil the chief medical officer. The report
elusive AS 10 the propriety OF limiting The number Of
patents under treatment to 400 500 in one asylum
SURsES
The second part OF tins question-and 1t is y very
important one-is as 10 the humber OF attendants ia
the asylum and their special fitness for the duties
imposed upon them. In answer to the drst The state
Charities Commissioners aud ali tho local visiting
committees have repeatedly drawn attention TO the
fact that there Is mol proper allowance OF attendants
Tor the nsaDc aud that the results OF this want mas
been serious drawback TO the weoeing oil the in
mates Of these institutions. In the female lunatic
asylum there 10 only nurse TO about every twenty
lour patients, wne all uthoritles agree that Tor tho
proper supervision aud care OF the insane there should
not be less than one attendant to every ten THIS
want oil nurses, taken IN connection with uvercr0wd
ing gives rise 10 many evils anu abuses one oil The
principal OF which - that the uncertainties, not
being under sufficient control ana watcnluness
hgat among themselves and not only enuanger
their lives, but also the lives Of their alendarts
In the Lodge, on the island, two each
floor. II not unfrequenty happens that these women
are poweriess 70 separate the inurated maniacs Tor
the worst cases Kept la his building. and they
have to cali TO their assistance about the place 10
restore order THIS most objectionable feature OF
the regulations, for under no circumstances should
other than the medical attendants be permitted
enter within the grounds OF female lunatic asylum
II has been proved that there mas been and at
present want OF medical assistance this asylum.
and that the OF the lunatcs devolved entirely
tho nurses OF the establishment IL 10 now shown,
IRON the testimony o. Independent VISITORS who are
afraid 10 facts, that bali the
not employed that is consiuered necessary. Conse-
quentiy, by examining this question OF attendance in
detail II found thai results IN tho rather alarming
tact that 10 very great extent hs lunates must be
lett TO take OF themselves, which, under the
ent policy OF the officials oil the Department. OF Char
tics and Correction, the actual stale OF The
In the report oil tns Visiting Com itee, February
1878, before referred to, The following statement IS
made, fully bearing OUT the examination made ny The
writer:-
For all morbid diseases variety Of aud change OF
air 20 AFFORD the best relief but these live
has Which Ss oDen NOT HAVING
ns 70 las Other pa, q Is s Daans .aa ns.
the Asylum ".sa ear'.ss Yr want Of hats 20 shelter s
cold, or attendants TO accompany insm.
TEMPORARY REFUGE.
Inquiries by the HERALD reporter who writes this
article relation 10 Tue ntness OF The women
employed nurses ana attendants Tor The insane
suited in no moro tacory Information than on the
the themselves all to prove That out OF
every ten women accept The position oI attendant at
until they can better conditions TINS Is uu-
doubleday the case, Tor the small amount OF wages
not unirequentiy dangerous work required OF them,
makes the position Of attendant IN no way dtsrablc
Tor those VINO eau IN any other way earn their bread
honestly There has been no effort IN the past, and
certainly none under the present management,
toward securing corps of attendants VINO would not
only be some wy skilled a. nurses. but who would
also remain tor certain fxeu term. One OF the
greatest evils OF the present time ~ that
Just as soon as the employed as
nurses begin 10 understand their au.ies they
leave, and, ike the medical assistants, the
patients really receive no actual benefit from me cx
perience and knowledge the attendants derive from
their residence the isanus. The female attendants
employed. IN The hrst place, either through poiiti
Cal social influence, with complete disregard
difference 70 their qualifications They unuer-
paid and 60 TO their duties with utter indifference,
merely temporary until they find something Bet
do. they become mere Jailers for locking and
an ious,y counting the Jays uutn they Can leave.
such system Is calculated not only 10 deprive the
unfortunate under thor charge from any benents they
would Otherwise derive IRON proper treatment, but
actually tends 10 make their mental condition worse.
Tho result OF this want Of attendants 10 that insane
patients are treated on the principle that Mr..
Barnum cares Tor his wild aninuis--thaI 10, unless
they perfectly harmless, they kept under
and key IN secure cages, and Iet 10 themselves.
In the lodge they are Kept Gagged ike wild beasts,
without exercise or recreation; they feed, live
sleep in ine same place day afler day without tue
slightest change ineir manner OF lilo, and yet this
treatment u yes- alter year commenced on with high
sounding words n the reports the officials Of the
department AZ general rule paupcr lun Alics being
drawn as Is The Case from Tho lower walks OF lie,
Careless not to say dlthy IN their habi Tue disease
stncts Of their nature they TACT reduced tue
level Of the lower animals. Such being the their
aud treatment call tor lar stricter regulations
thsn the general run OF patients admitted 60 the gen.
era hospitals for with The latter class the physic
habits Of the iormer II II Is necessary 10 guard
against overcrowding in the large hospitals Of
New YORK; u y IS necessary TO have .
and surgeons Tor each Of theso Institutions,
aud that srong efforts are being constantly 4do to
Increase the Already large ratio OF nurses, as we ~
to the standard OF qualifications for attendants,
bow much more necessary u that some enori should
DO made procure competent, intelligent women 10
All The position OF nurses IN the Female Lunatic
Asylum where the patients, owing 10 the nature OF
their disease, are completely thrown upon the care
ana mercy Of tho attendants
LOOSE REGULATIONS
An evil that prevails IN all the Institutions under
sxity OF regulations under which they are governed
This particularly noticeable ON Back weiPs Island,
tor Insane Women. Within rife range STANDS the
Workhonse, the grounds oil tic two buildings being
only separated by board fence. IL tue reports
rent Island TO be believed the influence OF
such close proximity OF tho two institutions Is the
reverse OF good, one OF the complaints beng that
men are constantly strolling around the grounds OF
the Asylum, which Is directly against Tho rules, II
properly carried out The writer saw man
walking In the direction OF clubhouse with
one the crazy women the evidence that woman
INN ito OF the asyi um being that che followed
ana screamed alter the while passing IRON the
Maahouss grouods The man Was noI visitor 70
the lsani Tor he was dressed In the Drown uniform
o. one oil tnc Institutions one Of the most respected
that this Was 10 uncommon ssht, Tor be saw mon
and women waking Ia the grounds, The women with
their hsnds ana arms on he mems necks and shoui-
Such eoudtion Of AFFAIRS 10 public disgrace,
ana cannot but attach suspicion to the mauag ment
lowed 10 meet IN the wasnhouse, and IL was only
alter repeated complaints and rsmousranccs on the
part OF some Of the officials that attempt was re-
Gently maao To put sop 10 this state OF anirs Ono
OF the priDcpa difficulties IN getting a. true know
edge OF the abuses tnat undoubtedly exist Is the un
willingness OF even officials who are disa usted
with The Iaxty Of discipline that a. present
prevails 10 TESTIFY Although desirous In every way TO
remedy sbuscs tney are AFRAID - speak. not beng
willing TO the oil losing their POSITIONS They
do deny that serious evils exist but while IN tue
employ OF the department they refuse. iron prudent
Al
directly against the rules for enter female
lusatic asylum, and women eat there nj the same
table. la Que Instance man was seen by the writer
seated between two women, ana u was ony al tue
earnest renonstrance OF one OF the officials that tns
was put stot TO- In the proper management Of some
OF these nstitutons particularly those trsed with
tho care OF the female Lsans. IS aOsoluey neces
sary that strcter regulations should be adopted, or ut
least that The present regulation De more thoroughly
enforced According 10 one gentleman tue principal
duty OF one Of the assistants OF the insane asylum
who Is not now ON the Island, seemed 70 DO TO walk
around with the young nurses, who u must be pre-
suned lett Their patients to take OF themselves
woRKHOusE HELP