The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-21
THE IDIOT ASYLUM
ScurVy Destroying the Inmates Of the
Randall'S Island Institution.
FOURTEEN DEATHS REPORTED
Anne Daly's Startling Story Told
Under Oath.

me OLD proverb "Man proposes but God disposes"
mas Perhaps been seldom better illustrated than In
the sudden exposure which has overtaken the officials
Of the Department OF Charities and Correction in
power al xandalPs Island, more particularly those
sharged with the OF the unfortunate idiot chill
dren OF this place. In the past month indefinite
rumors have reached the city that owing the neglect
OF the officials, both male and female, scurvy scor-
outus Of the most destructive character had been
committing sad ravages at the Idiot Asylum during
tho winner months, and that owing to tho criminal
Indifference Of those in authority many OF tho chill
dren at this institution had fallen victims TO this dis
ease, maady that 10 now almost unknown In every
properly conducted establishment in the United
States Scurvy the result of insufficient diet, moro
particularly vegetable food and, according to all
medical authorities, 'prcventable disease' In the
widest acceptance OF the term.
To inquiries by tho writer tho following statements
were made the authority Of visitors to the nstu
ton and others who had interest IN keeping this
disgracciul condition OF affairs the public.
though they had to encounter the anger aud dislike Of
sthe powers that be-" The facts are as lollows:-
TALE MISERY.
During the past winter, carly as the beginning OF
December, tho idiot children at tho institution
Kandal's Island have been affected with scurvy. and
at the present time several OF this
lrecovering in the Pavilion Hospital OF the inst
]
position 10 know 1t seoms that the physicians
entirely ignorant Of the presence OF this malady for
= considerable time, until alter several OF the
nurses had openly stated that the idiots suffer
Ing from scurvy. Gentlemen who visited the asylum
state that they tho children in tho hospital with
their bodies. moro particularly their lower limbs,
covered with black spots, their mouths all liberated
and sore, from which there was discharge oil the
time. Tho bodies Of those unfortunates yellow
solored and emaciatcd-so much SO that even tho
children that recovered unable to take any ex-
ercse for q considerable time. As will be seen from
an AFFIDAVIT covering the entire question, published
below, information this truly shocking condition
Of affairs reached New York through the agency OF
vol known gentleman OF the city, who reported
to the State Board OF Charities that some
action ought to be taken the disease
was 10 be arrested and lives saved. During the win
tor months the idiot children had insufficient
supply OF food, and that OF tho worry poorest quality
In many instances according to the statements made
there not sufficient amount OF bread; stinKing
butter bad sugar, very tlo meat often only lot of
bones, from which no meat could BIO cut. as thcre
was mono on them when given for dinner The soup was
chiefly mado from the scrapings OF the table crusts
OF bread, and It is stated that very often the idiot
chllGen were obliged to do with this stuff for the
principal meal, the ''b OF fare" being a thing that
only existed In the imagination Of tho on
cals, and had no real existence, at least
30 far as the children were concerned. Undor this
favorable condition TO tho spread OF disease the
scnrvy made rapid progress among tho inmates.
still IL is charged that nothing done TO stop
the spread OF the malady. In fact SO completely
Was real condition OF affairs hidden from view
that many OF the officials did not know or tho exist
cncc OF tho disease until number OF deaths had
taken place. For three weeks one Of tho idiot girls
was kept In her ward. yet during this timc shc was
aying from sourvy, ana had every symptom OF the
the nurse who had charge OF the ward saw that sho
was near death, she asked tho steward for
Gods sake TO tell hor what she would do II
the girl died In the ward. The acts OF the
were reported to DR.. Howard, the Medical suporin-
after tho girl and on finding the condition she was In
tho Assistant Physician ordered the idiot girl 10 the
hospital, whore sho had 10 be taken on the nurses
back No ono could be got to help TO transfer her
Tho unfortunate girl died ncxt day In the hospital,
nsr body olackoned with spots limbs ernmped and
and throat symptoms OF neglected case OF
scorbutus. According 10 statements mado by sew
this until day before the IN
fortunate idiot girls death. The following
is the description ofscurvy given IN "woods Practice
OF Mcaicine." standard authority on all medical
subjects-''Scurvy may DO defined to BIO disease in
which the blood Is depraved aud tho system debii-
tatod, with tendency to hemorrhage, petechi1 and
10 local congestion feeble and imperfect iLfamma-
lion In various parts OF the body. especially IN the
uon" The symptoms given are:-"A sensation o!
WEAKNESS and aching IN tho limbs, swelling rcdness
the disease the iaco becomes paler and as
sumes somewhat sallow or dusky hue,
and often degree OF puilness; the lips ana
tongue become pallid, and contrast strikingy
with the gums the breath Is offensive; purpish spots
or 6loches appear upon various parts oil tho surface,
beginning usually tho lower exremes, and alter
waro extending to tho trunks, arms and neck,
though seldom affecting tho face Occas ionally por-
tions tho surface look us II bruised without hav-
factions occur In tho calves Of tho legs tho
muscles OF tho thigh Stiffness and cOntractons OF the
joints, especially OF Tho knees and severe pain In
Inc cxlremitics upon every attempt ut movement,
and tho debility before so prominent feature IN tho
erton Is dangerous, and the patient some
times dics suddenly upon rising from bed or
upon being conveyed without great caution from
situation TO another" The foregoing doscri pton OF
scurvy TALES exactly with the at the Idiot Asy
lum on Randaps Island. IL Is stated by visitors and
others who VOL informed that the physicians GER
titled the cause oil death in many cases having the
above named symptoms to DO from pnoumonia, for
getting the desire was to cover up tho Of
the disease In the institution that several well known
physicians from the city have exauod tho cases. at
tho request OF OF the societies charged with tho
supervision OF the poor and that tho unanimous
opinion that all the deaths where such symptoms
arc reported by tho attendants to have been pres
ent Ia fourteen children were from scorbutus or
scurvy
MEDICAL ATTENDANCE.
Tho following Is the statement OF Mrs.. Anne DAILY
nurse employed seven years IN the idiot asylum.
This woman tho first to report tho dreadful con-
ultiOn o. ultcr lceIlnB DC
dsm issed sor telling tho truth; l Lad children OF
my own aud was afraid to 500 tho idiots die before my
eyes," she sont In her Resignation to the Commis-
sioners, which took effect the end OF March,
NEw YORK. May 70 1873.
My name IL Ammo DAILY. have been employed under
Tho Department Public Charities and Correction on
kandas Island. al the Idiot Asylum Tor the past seven
years During months Of December January Febru.
and until The latter OF March last the TODD supplied
The children OF the above named asylum was as fDows
breakiaBread and very bad butter coffee unlike
swi water. Tea sometimes given OF the same quality.
Cocoa very seldom given the inmates and not
better than the coffee. y,ry little sugar given
and frequently mono at ALL Neither grits. hominy
rice OF the other articles the bill OF fare
supplied tho food marked In this has been
given children. ON Monday pan rico
tho dining but there only III
OF the nine tables the others had TO do with
out aud frequently the broad in the
ings The dinner consisted OF SOUP. thickened with
trusts and leavngs OF the tables aud small quantity
"a little Sometimes only
that could not cut meat from, bait
The time the children had 10 do with tho bread
aud SOUP There little or vegetables sup
piled during tho months before stated l havo never
during that time supper consisted OF
bread aud milk which halt water. The food OF
the children Ihe result OF this diet
he CHI sick limbs nd