The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-04-28
What Visitors Say of Their Treatment
at Blackwell'S Island.
SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS.
Reasons for Separating the Charitable and
Correctional Institutions.

the snarpcst description IL has been freely charged
that tho opinions and statements Of the officials Of
the department but lmsy and knowingly IN
correct answer 10 the charges made II Is asserted
by visitors That in regard the OF abuse and
negligence occurring this Institution, and which
have been published In the HERALD, no definite an
made by the officials OF the lunatic asy-
ium who have merely contented themselves with
general answer to specific charges. They deny that
woman IN hull No. injured eighteen months
ago, the answer bcipg:-"rhc only such occurrence
IS the OF OLD Miss -, who has been an inmate
of this asylum some fifteen years, and her history
aud record show that she always been killed or
aived but is yet alive and we'll. She 10 the only
ono who has made complaint OF this kind, and sne
has done so without just cause"
In regard to this answer the following Is asserted
by several visitors. FIRST, that eighteen months ago
= woman injured in hall No. OF the Female Luna
tic Asylum the circumstances before published
Second patient is at the present time lying
in the sick ward OF the institution from the effects,
remote II is true, of such cruelty Third, that de-
spite oil the officers OF the asylum this case
OF cruelty and abuse be established beyond ques-
tion doubt.
In reference to tho assertion OF the Medical Superin
tendent shat the meals TO tho detached buildings arc
carried by employed Tor that purpose" a most
deliberate denial is given the authority OF the Wis.,
itors official aud unofficial who make frequent visits
to tho asylum Insane women, they say, are employed
Tor this purpose. and any day, winter or
summer, that the place is visited IL IS also asserted
by ladies who frequently examine the asylum that
while II is true that in 1t Is difficult to keep
shoes and stockings insane women, still that the
patients employed Tor carrying food not of this
class, or IL they they would not be gwen the
freedom Of the grounds.
AND NURSES
Three respectable and trustworthy people have in
formed the writer that The OF the officials
Of the asylum denying that several patients were
bathed the same is untrue; that such Is The
practice IN the institution, and II the Physicians
are ignorant OF such system owing to their lack
Of proper supervision. at is true" one lady re-
marked. .rhe doctors may not know any thing about
This plan some OF The nurses to save themselves
trouble, but when 1t is general complaint on the
part OF the inmates OF the asylum-a great many OF
wnom but slightly insane and perfectly clear on
evory point but their ono peculiar hobby-whcn q
dozen OF these women all make the same statement
independent OF each other Is because they are the
inmates OF mndhouse that their complaints
shall not be listened to and counted as moth
ingY Every word will say Is be-
ieyed, ard these attendants directly Interested
In suppressing the facts. yet their statements are
taken without any effort 10 arrive at the truth some
have been addicted To drink. and their
testimony utterly unworthy 0; bcieL Despite this
TACT, however, there are many good women, OF ire
ole character In the Visitors CON-
plain that OF the greatest difficulties tney meet Ia
calling attention TO and having remedied abuses IS
dsllke exists the OF the physicians TO i
in conflict with the nurses on any subject they
avoid. AZ the attendants, ny aiding each other
combining against the doctors, give serious
trouble, and 1t has unfrequcntly happened IN puo-
lie institutions that nurses, by psty annoy anccs aud
deliberate disregard OF their dules have been able
secure The removal OF the physicians unless tue
medicai attendant IS man OF few words ana quick
action Is willing aud able 10 the power gwen
him. very often tails victim TO the quiet but per
sstent Efforts Of those under his direction TO get
out. Physicians know tnls and as a general Tule
do not quarrel with Their nurses
QUESTION.
regard to the dietary scale published "a the Dill
oil fare Tor one week al the Female LuIatc Asylum
The visitors spoken to the subject state that
IL Is v fraud, inasmucn as that neither tue guam
lily quay varie,y stated IN TINS table gwen TO
The inmates really supped tnat the paen,s do not
dd receive twelve ounces oi meat a. any
time. IL Us alleged that hInd quarter Of beef mas
been supplied 70 THIS institution, that The meat
Us very inferior quay anu tnaI a. tar ~ THIS par
essential article u Diet Is concerned
The patients 20; receive moro than three OF four
per Gay, when the weighs OF the bone IS taken
from the Twelve ounces purpOrtng to DO supplied.
This assertion is made the very strongest author
n.y. Is stated by certain TO be capable OF
abundant proof
one gentleman says:-"why, the assertion that tho
food supplied 20 tue insane patients Is the
gwen by officials OF the un, and published ID
the HERALD part OF thcr answer 10 The charges
broaghl against oI tnis insttution
shows those in authority viii 20 TO Ia ssleaa
the pubic ana cover up their indifference ana
ncglacl rake Tor Instance the item OF bread. Accord
hug 10 the dieiary scale, read argnt they assert
that the 'stan OF lie - supplied al tbsfgm. Now
such IL not Inc Case each LOAF IS cul INTO six pieces
and this supplies people liz words, each
mate OF the Female Lunatic Asy um receives exactly
one-sxth OF a loaf and this not al each ZEAL They
we'll know that the inmates OF This institution do
receive aDythng like tue supply OF food gwen IN tho
rec. in saying mat Delmonico furnished
The supplies, And that hs chief pre-
pared them. fhe whole thing Is as absurd as
Attention was called to the report Of the Commis
soners Tor 1876 by one OF The vsiiors During that
year the asylum contained l,349 patients, aud
&6l,4 90 expended Tor provisions. about st4
tor each inmate or about eightyour cents per head
per week According TO this statement the Commls-
souers Of Charities anu Correction we're able 10 give
quite an elaborate p Of iare Tor the sum Of twelve
Hnfa uaF nnN ma mrn Af lun
inmAtesl soups, meats, vegetables, pa ding, with
ali the etceeras Of 'tnrce comfortable aud abundant
meals" Tor tho OF twelve cent?
IMPROVEMENTS.
IL Is coneDdcd by the olicai and otaer visitors to
Deing carried on VIII do away With the over
growing existing at present. and that every altera
Non thai makes room Tor more admissions to this
asylum tends TO decrease The opportunity ana timo
or exercise Of the inmates According to the report
Of the visitors OF the state BoarG OF Charities
The LIST OF last March Ia regard to the the asy
Jun grounds, the total area Black wells Island de-
voted 10 the insane is between tbirty ,ary-nve
acres. The lowest estimate Tor proper provision Tor
over thirtccE hundred persons lncluung officers
nurses. &c. ~ 200 acres. In the present contracted
space patient momcnt escape IRON the
ngnt ana rememorancc Of Tue Institution which,
though called an Asylum Is grated Ike prison
and supplied Ike an aimshouse.
Toe writer y informed that at The present time all
NE land 70 the north OF the man buildings Is taken
~ Win pavilons, o when there are nine, occupied
IS genefsi rule BY the chrome insanc--two beng
devoted 10 cases under tue head OF ''hthyb and cp
eptics." No Improvement Is beng made contcm
plated Tor the two worst buildings the asylum, tho
Ouge ana tue reUeat In the former building none OF
he cells have any connections with the open
ar. Dut are ventilated through central pas
sage that opens on the rooi No sunlight has cver
entered thvse 'rooms," u being twenty feet from
the door OF the cells TO The open THIS building
Is at the present time greatly Oyercrowded tn. pa
tents having TO sleep he floor along ccridors
The space IN the coils ouly 400 CuDtc
tecl, who all authorities agree that 600 feet
the minimum, aud that the AIR should be ireQusn nifty
changed by proper ventilation.
Tfr CORRIDOR DINING
The report OF Tue Local Visiting COMMITTEE OF New
York County states IN relation 10 this buiiug that
The meals eaten Ia the outer corridor IN.
women IN stormy weather often spoud several con
secutve Days wholly In these wards, ana locked
night IN tile cells for ten eleven hours, where
the allowance OF air IS less than half what should
not renewed In the retreat on the nrst floor
The rooms or cells open on a passage-t two beds
placed Ia each room-and allowing two occupants the
AIR space would be about halt the proper allowance.
No attempt has been made oy tue Commissioners to