The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-06

would not be for moment tolerated In any luna
TIC asylum in Europe"
"whal are Your views on tho present restraint sys-
rHx SYSTEM OF RKsrRANr
"rhe present restraint system . unfortunately not
le,s In every American insane asylum II Is a dis
grace TO tho age and through our lunattc asylums
are held up by foreign aiicnsts 10 contempt alb
horrence In asylum in Great Britain for instance
would the Utica crib be tolerated. Think OF putting
insane pcsson into wooden ego with barely room
to turn and 80 shallow as To prevent even the SIT
ting posture. Here the poor creature may beat out
his lie behind the bars hiie the reads his
novel or plays a game OF cards with fellow
nursss. Besides tho Ulica CRIB there sra cam,soIs,
chaina In a recent little work emitted, Notes on
tho Asylums for the Insane 10 America Dr. Bucn-
nil one OF the Lord Chancsors visitors f,r na.ics
In England says IN conclusion :-sna lew years they
their uiteranccs in dernoo q mschao,ca res,rsins
with the same wonderment WITH which they may
now rcsard all that has been sa.a - aeence o. domcs
war and conaic', and then they will forgive me
my memory for that have written the above words,
happy chsnss.' Tho other Lord Cnaacelior's
visitor. Dr. Lockhart Robertson spent The last
summer in THIS country, and while 10 Now York was
guest al my house. lie repeatedly spoke TO me OF
this great shame, and expressed mis- horror OF this
Utica CRIB and OF the other methods Of mecnanical
restraint he had seen In an asylum, which is one OF
tho best, II not the very best IN thIs state mean
the Hudson River Hospital at PouehKeepss. II Is
only the ignorance aud obSlinacy OF tho supcrintcn-
dents as body that retain this great blot upon
.Do you think it would be for tho public good 10
separate the charitable and correctional
.rhere can DO no doubt III regard 10 this natter.
Thore u no possible good reason why tho poor tba
sck aud the insane should DO condemned 70 associate
with criminals. The management should certainly 20
In din,renG hands. There " nothing IN common
tween the systcm proper Tor ono class or ior the
other"
''ShouId thcre be a training school for the insane
established - 5Ss.
BIO good thing but there IS reason why the pres
ent training school could not take charge OF this
Even II Some alterations are madc In Blackwell's
Island do you not consider the aroa of land too small
II think Blacxwe's Island should be given up al
together to the criminal class and Wards Island to
the paupers. Put the charitable nstitutions some
where else and glve tbe insane plenty OF room."
ssSnouid there be staG OF visiting physicians for
insane asyuns, the snmc as for other hospitaisf"
wrong Hospitals for The insane should be conducted
upon The Same system other hospitals. Tho insane
ferrous about their maades. Brain disease rs no
incomprcnensibie special than liver disease.
In all hospitals intended for tho insane should
be a resident ply slcan in Chief corps OF inierucs
stall Of visiting and cons tiDg pny sicans and
surgeons not resident the building II tho HERALD
can succeed in eiccting this one reform behave al
the other evils will be abated at once. The visiting
hysn or surgeon ON IS tx M Ink between tho
board OF which be Ia u member arc extremely power
iui, and their influence IS always felt by the Commits
highest ranks OF the profession; they know their
powcr ana they understand how TO use II"
REMEDIES PRESENT EVILS
"Whai, 10 your opiuon, are the proper measurca
to remedy the present evils, sucn as overcrowdilg,
insufficient ana improper attendance, poor fool,
"Enlabtcn tho public, separate Abe unfortunate
from tue criminal organze the ianaso asyams o.
and the reform win soon Gomez
DO you approve OF hs farm project at present un-
der consideration by tho Commissioners "
'Yes, think the farm project good onc''
edo you not consider the s4iare at present paid to
.The salaries are dsgraccuiy low. To take
position IN unatc asylum requires The physician 70
to possess qualifications OF high order Doubtless
very youngest ply sicans, the infernes could be-
I Soy 0 eve nsr services the ana
ceive; but the chief, and perhaps Two three
sstan,s should be wen pl'd. und.'r the improved
dent yslcian ~ ud DO paid. None OF the fnterhss
or tho visiting or consulting physicians or surgeons
Tho Medical superin,cnac OF tho Female Lunatia
Asylum writes, IN hts report to the Commissioners
June lS77:-.
The fact should not be overlooked concealed that
al me real 2, the asylum were .nppsd sh
sis u why s""ryhss that is IN
and treatment Of the patients should MOI
having .@sh provision made not only from mo-
poseru though elevated motive ron OF .u.e9ss
No 81 as and are dSss 70,
attacks and the ss'amty Genes them the
must s,sn;ray rsssi.s ,Isa@sSs our ei,:
e AZ that s.ay E SS isoSs
q pnaperi.m in tue a,io q the comforts provided
unfinished BY tho provision o. Just such comforts would
pcrism
This statement, made but nftccn monihs ago, shows
that the then head OF this asylum was fuzzy aware
OF the pressing necessity Tor q complete revolution
ana change as to It's support and management. II has
boon and Ia now conducted on per capita allowance
that obiges the officials 70 deprive the unfortunate
patients OF such proper and requisite food that II n
given wouid tend to materially decrease tho
Der OF inmates by raising the ratio OF recoveres and
discharges. At tue present timc owing
aud lack OF Attendance, no proper and
systematic plan oil treatment DO put In orcc; tina
inmates or the institution SIMPLY locked up dag
after day some year alter year, with an effort Tho
part OF tho officials 10 rescue them from passing into
the chronic stage OF the disease under which they
laoor.
THE DIET SCALE
One of the principal points OF dispute between tho
ofcinls OF the asylum Is the food gvrn the naents
contendng that Il Is good anu sufficient IN
quirics all sides onq TACT Is pretty certain and
fxcd; IL Is that the eocaed 'det scale" Of the
hvcd up TO aud exists only paper. In the o. st
place visitors state that such thing pudding WINS
o o0se cnnss%as Day YSs s"is is stated
gwen tho inmates according to tho diet scaid
1--WE. :,, week In ike %aa a., ira,s Is on
tho same way cake, pickles and other artccs are pus
on tho bili but mover furnisned In relation 20 tho
question OF vegetables, the officials state that .
variety of Vegetables supphed, yct the fnct is
with tho exception Of potatoes At odd intervals
little cabbage, no such supply Is gwen now nor ever
has been soup Is supposed 10 De furnished % ccr-
tain days at dinner, hut II Is prepared In the following
manner:-Meai " stewcd with potatoes. and AZ mcaf
time some OF this mixture IS uippcd into tn
pans and placed before the patents, SO THAI
TINS so called soup II part and parcel OF
the meat allowance which Is boiled 10 raga
IN the preparation Of THIS delicious compound.
II the pcrccntase OF bone is taken from tho allowance
OF meat given to each person tho amount oil animal
food supplied thsse poor people, ell requiring generous
diet, Is not MIRO than three ounces One OF the vis
tors said: s.It Ia no wonder that tins ratio OF
coveries In this institution " lar pelow English
French, ana our own State asylums Tor the IN
sane"