The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-04-24
T HE rs A N f..
Official Statements Concerning Their
Present Treatment.
BLACKWELL'S ISLAND
Condition and Necessities of the Female
Lunatic Asylum.

To put the readers OF the HERALD IN full
Of the present condition and management OF the
Asylum for Females on Blsckwelrs Island the state
ments and views Of the Comm issioners Of Charities
and Correction, well tn of the medical super
intendent Of the institution, are gven also the iest
mony OF ono OF the State Board OF Charlties. From
an examination OF the made 10 the principal
questions asked II will appear that respects
opinions differ - TO the present condition Of
the Female Lunatic Asylum, as well AZ the
remedies necessary TO romovs the evils alleged to
exist AT present The replies OF the Commissioners
show. as Will be SEEM that no people, however zeal
gus Tor the Improvement and welfare OF the inmates
Of this institution, painfully than they
are Of the evils OF overcrowdng which at present Is
the case on the Island For, during the past two
three years. the attention Of the Board OF Apporton
msnt has been repeatedly called to the lack OF proper
accommodations Tor both the male and female luna
tics By the Commissioners OF Charities and Correc-
ton.
Last year the estimates OF the department although
made at reduced rate from former years, were in
opposition 10 the efforts alone OF the Com mission
srs but also the Of the State Board OF
Charities, cut down foows:-saaries. $4,000 ana
Tor supplies nearly $4,000. This course, nscess-
ated ike reduction in the expenditures Tor the
y@r. The Commissioners state, and It is confirmed
by the medical superintendents OF the asyums that
every attendant asked for has been granted by the
Bosrd, which shows they were required. The officials
OF the department also state that in are
nurses ssecsed BY the Board before their quaIinca
ons are carefully looked into by the medical SUPER
in,sndsnt Of the asylum, he having the direct power
OF rejecting accepting candidates.
INADEQUATE ACCOMMODATIONS
An examination made Ny the writer OF all the build
ings on Blackwol's Island used for the insane,
showed that the accom- modations at present arc
entirely inadequate for their proper treat
ment; but that certain alterations aud additions
being madc which would lessen, 10 very great
tent. the present dangerc>ly overcrowded condition
Of the asylum as far as sleeping and eating accom-
modations concerned. An entire new
aoor is being put the build
ing which will give room for about one
hundred and eighty paticnta Two largo
pavilions course Of erection Harris Island
one Of which is nearly twc-thirds completed. These
will Accommodate about two hundred OF the occu-
pants OF the Female Lunatc Asylum. II being the
purpose OF the Commissioners 20 remove them TO
Harris Island and appoint resident physician for
STATEMENTS OF TIE coMmrssIosERs
The following are the statements made by the Com
missoners Of Charities and Correction in response
inquiries OF tho writer relation to The policy oil the
'sHas any general plan for tho future accommoda-
6iou VI tu0 INSANE ooeu boOpto0 VI COu6l0oreu
Board ~
"rhe subject Of buying farm and building pavil-
ions thereon for the harmless insane OF both Sexes s
still under consideration"
evil 1t not be necessary to take In the workhouse
and grounds At somS near day II tho lunacs to be
III the projeot is abandoned and the increase
OF unatics continue IN the same ratio as now It will
ere long, be necessary to provide very larger
com modation than now exists
us there any room Wards, Harris or Randall's
Islands for tho charitable or correctional insttu-
.soi RAndaips and Wards Islands the city owns but
= small rtion On Harris Island there Is much room
That VIII gradually be available for the Institutions OF
the department.
would u not DO advisable TO Increase the pay Of
nurses Tor the insane, both male and fcmaleYn
Undoubtedly II would DO very desirable to mako
The wages OF female nurses OF the insane $50 per
& "nousS for s. 0s ssSa
t'Wouid IT not be a Wise measure TO establish q
training school Tor supplying tor insane
iliaries wherever established"
is 1t possible, the Board OF Apportionment giving
the means. 10 separate the charitable and correc.
tonal institutions 20 greater extent Than they ut
@Tbe separation OF the charitable from the correo.
tional Institute would be innovation Involving
much greater expense and resulting in no benefit
whatever The Two belong together and ought mot
..In your opinion should the per capita allowances
for the support OF the inmates Of the lunatc asylum
almsh ouses ana workhouse be increasedYn
ssrhe per capita for iunatIcs should DO increased.
There ure many tto comforts mat could be provided
for the insane, that would tend 70 make them moro
cheerful and help to promote their recovery. The
WofKhouse dietary m gnt be Increased slightly TO ad-
vantage, and the Almshouse inmates are kept on MS
low scale OF expense as can possio,y be permitted.
and should be increased"
THE yExALE LUSAric ASYLUM.
Dr. w. W. Strew, the medical super ntendent OF the
Asylum on Backwei's Island, gave his opinions
foows In response 10 questions asked by the writer
rs regards the condition anu management VI the In
"DVctor, 10 tho Asylum al present overcrowdedfn
Eyes, there is overcoming at the present umo,
going on, which viii do away with all evils OF this
KIND. IL the uure all tho correctional Institutions
wIi be removed from this island ana the space 10 do
voted 10 charities"
what Is your opinion as regards the food givon the
patients at present."
"lt Is ample and oil good quality. II compares
favorably with that gwen IN other Institutions"
What y the general Character OF the attendants
..The Commissioners have made every effort to sup
ply the 0cs class Of nurses for this asylum. We have
been fortunately supplied with a number from the
have proved themselves valuable ana reliaole.p
"Inc visitors 20 tno Asylum complain OF grave abuses
al must say that the yearly reports Of my prede-
cessor and myself show That we have css abuses
think am justified IN saying tnatwe arc NOT behina
any other asylum IN moral dsc pine. Only ono nurse
has been discouraged for drunKenness have been
placed IN charge"
doctor, serious complaints and objections have
been made 10 relation TO your employing workhooso
help"
.rhe reason why we have benefited oy help IRON
the worKnousc Ia tnat ucal OF the work nsces-
sitates tile employ mout OF male helpers, who
from this Institution. They are employed IN such
work arrying meals from tho kitoncn also help
ora or assistants 10 the paintors machinsts and in
the shopAv
cit Is stated DOCTOR that men arc called in TO aid
the Ia the lunatcs light and the at
ycndants are not able to separate tnem.v
mo such tning has been done 70 tho knowledge OF
the physic,ans."
"Do you NOS employ workhooso women as night at
tonaaBtsf
sAl present, yes The workhouse women arc
locked IN the pavions Mt night win the patients, aud
marched " aud from the Wofkhouso under tho
charge oil a Waterman A requisition has been made
on The commissioners Tor extra nurses, which has
been granted This will do away with all complaints
In relation 10 this matter"
"ln your opinion ought the per capita allowance 70
be increaseaf"
alt is my opinion that Il ought 10 DO increased /"
stAre all your attendants able 10 road and ritcY
stwe have no nurses At present 10 our know ledge
unable 10 read and writc.o
.ls II true that patients arc obliged TO carry food
through the grounds TO tho Ketreat barefoood Sc
we're winter weathorY
"It IL q weliknown fact that II is very difficult 10
keep shoes aud stockings on insane patcBts-we have
In some cases 10 employ mechanical arrangements