The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-12-15
ASYLUM ABUSES.
DR.. Hammond Again Criticises the
Treatment Of the Insane.
A "LUNATICS" LETTER.
Interesting Extracts from the Diary OF
DR.. Spitzka.
/ "LUNATIC'S" LEI
CRIB AND CAMISOLE.

The narration of abuses in the management OF the
insane asylums of this State by DR.. William A. Ham,
mond published recently the HERALD. has created
. profound sensation throughout the State. Tho
subject has been very generally taken up by the
press. and the popular opinion Is that the HERALD
has given expressions to the severest arrangements
made Of the asylum system in this country.
Jealous friends Of the superintendent have rushed
into print to defend their favorites methods. ana
courageous newspaper correspondents have ven
tured to try the comforts Of the Utica crib
in order to test the Doctors structures. HERALD
reporter called on DR.. Hammond for additional
particulars in regard to the treatment of the in
saue in the State The Doctor prefaced his remarks
by saying that he had been accused. in reference
to this expose with wishing to be superintendent of
an asylum himself. He said he was not such q fool
% to wish that. He had much better thing for
himself. Moreover. he could not hold Office under
the State of New York. as he already hold an Office
under the government.
THE FATE REFoRMERs.
Everybody who undertakes to reform anything
he thinks is bad" continued the Doctor. twill
always be abused by those who think 1t is good.
Those who cut live cats in two don't think well of
Bergh, and rumsellers don't think well OF DR..
Crosby and the asylum folks don't think wen Of
me. aud don't want them to- at least the present
generation. I see that HERALD correspondents at
Utica. probably assistant physician Of the asylum
has been lying in Crib and thinks it is good
thing. Well. crib is good thing when you want
to stay in it, but not good when you
want to get out. What might suit corre-
spondent mighs not suit maniac whose head was
full of blood. and who bruising his face while
trying to get out Nobody contends that healthy
may not sleep in the crib. but If the Utica cor
respondent had to stay there he might find 1t very
Objectionable. Here is q letter. however, from
party who likes the crib, but dad not sign his
name:-
Dr. w % x S p Ha .. the
to s,op abusing r and ~ have been ianasic
and and can KIN you with i%punity as you knew spent
just let 1t alone you will die.
a fail to why my recent remarks should seem
TO be directed especially against the Utica asylum.
q some Of the newspapers think. But II the cap
doesn't At why IL investigation Of alleged abuses
in asylum management opposed? It is because they
know that al investigation will bring out things
they do not wish to have known not only in regard
to treatment of patients. but in regard to the
financial management. For instance. it was alleged
that DR.. Gray. OF the Utica Asylum, had private
cook whom he paid $50 month out Of the States
money. An investigation would show whether that
was true. It is charged that the American Journal
Of Insanity published from the asylum in the
interest Of DR.. Gray. is paid for by the
State. II this is not true investiga-
ton would be the best thing for the
asylum. have no doubt that the
superintendents of asylums are humane men. rs
rule. They cribs aud restraints Of various
kinds because they think they are using hnane
means of controlling patients but the argument of
humanity il the same to-day as it was q hundred
years ago. when patients were put revolving
tables that whirled around; we're given the surprise
bath by plungng them suddenly into cold water.
and were exhibited around the country curiosi-
ties. Upward of seventy years ago there was in
Bedlsm lunatic named Norris formerly officer
In tho British navy. who confined Tor threaten
ing violence to physician. He was subjected to
restr amt Of such q character that 1t Is wonder
THAT humane physician could order 1t. An
iron collar was put around his neck
and iron bands about his arms and body.
The ankles were also fettered. The collar was
nected by chain with an iron ring sliding up ana
down bar fxed in the wall at the head Of the bed.
1t was Impossible for tho wretch to lie down or
stand up. He could simply sit on the bed In this
condition he lived in q stone cell nine years.
HEROIC TREATMENT.
cdr. Hsslam. writing about that time. says that
patient should be kept in q dark room. with his
hands and leg secured, to prevent any violence.
and that metallic manacles should be used; and DR.
should be frightened by 'spectres' appearing be-
fore them and by magic lantern views to harrow
their imaginations; that supernatural sounds
should awaken them from sleep, and pointed sem
fences should be written the walls OF tho cells
in phosphorus to play upon their minds. don't
things To do that it would only be necessary to
mention outragcs perpetrated in the past fow months
In the asylums Of New York. Ohio. minnesota and
other States. speak Of these matters simply to
show that the cry OF humanity prevailed then M
now: 1t was claimed that manacles kept patients
from tn5uring themselves. DR.. HaslAm condemns
Drs Cullen and Mead for their advocacy OF nogging
patients laughs ut Dr. Cox for his system of mental
torture, but sneers ut DR.. Pinnel, who went In ad
vance OF his profession and cast of the manacles
and chains of tho lunatics Of Paris. In day,
systems of these physicians but. nevertheless use
the camisole ana other arrangements for con-
Of medical tho o
Is such good thing why Is IL that some OF the asy
lums do not use itl Why does DR.. Cleveland: of the
Poughkeepsio Asylum, dispense with 1t? He told
Why is it that DR.. Chaplin. of the Willard. never had
worlds Isn't it strange that DIR. Cleveland HASN'T
used in two years, while the Utica. Blackwelrs
stAnty in user Cribs used simply to trouble
patients confined In them don't need much
6s wo
diinintshes the necessity FOR vigilance proves
hrrtfui to the discipline g. an asylum a.,,. and
unnecessary. make asylums fall into disuse and n-
Vulnerable evils OF neglect creep in which could not
exist where restraints not permitted Only
two years after the non-restraint system was intro
duced at Hanwell. London. the resident physician
said he believed that all the officers OF the asylum
who were experienced In both methods of treating
tho insane had found. or would find. that tho ber-
alton OF patients from restraint had caused accidents
to become less frequent and had diminished tho
anxiety OF those having charge of them 1t IL con-
tended by those who areractive In asylum reforms
that Utica cribs. camisoles. mu6ers and all other
such mechanical appliances diminish the necessity
for vigilance the part OF attendants and officers,
and are therefore hurttu to the discipline OF asy
lun and injurious to patients. They keep patients
In an excited condition and make them violent.
NOT IN A TOMB.
'wo want also that lunatics should not enter nsy-
lums as II they were tomDs aud have no comn uni
cation with tho external world When they write
letter to tho Commissioner In Lunacy IL should be
forwarded. In England every letter addressed to
the Commissioner must be forwarded unopened.
As to other letters, tho medical attendants have
power to ueai with thcm thoy think proper. In
this way the Commissioners can Judge whether there