The New York herald., 1879-11-16
BLACKWELL'S ISLAND ABUSES.
THOROUGH REORGANIZATION CALLED FOR IN
THE MANAGEMENT OF THE INsANE-BETTER

THOROUGH REORGANIZATION CALLED FOR IN
THE MANAGEMENT OF THE INsANE-BErTER
CONDITION OF AFFAIRS ON WARDS ISLAND.
The Advisory Board of Physicians and Surgeons.
consisting of DR.. B. Wood, Drs. Janeway. Pallen. l.
p. p. White Loomis. Whitman V. White and Allen
Mel. Hamilton, who were requested by the Commis-
sioners OF Charities and Correction to report upon
the condition Of the lunatic asyluins and especially
alleged cases of neglect cruelty and abuse.
yesterday filed their report at the department.
Speaking of the institutions Wards Island under
the charge of Dr. Mcdonald the report says;-"The
Board unanimously expressed it's commentator OF
the management Of DIR. Mcdonald" They find that
"the institution is very much overcrowded. there
being 773 patients in the main building which was
designed to hold but 434. In addition to this num-
ber 800 are very imperfectiy provided for in an
unsuitable borrowed building. The natural
tendency Of such overcrowdng is to increase the
frequency Of accidents and assaults and to lessen
the chances of recovery. The Board urgently rec
ommends the payment Of suitable salaries to the
assistant physicians. The report expresses graft
fcation at the general management. the
condition of the kitchens and the small per-
centage OF sickness. less than three per cent
of the patients being in restraint and
the records showing IN average Of less than two
per cent in restraint during the past year. "Con-
this" the report sis a remarkable and gratify
ing exhibit Of the management. The Board advise
an increased per capita expense and the employment
Of better grade of paid help" The report con-
cudcs as follOws:-
The obligations tho Honorable Board of Apportion
charitable under the Charge OF the
90 numansy as they wonid he more
finds their disposal This metropos ought to
ties The taxpayers of New York undoubedy would not
Honorable Board of hesitate advance
the general of humanity by increasing the comforts
of the insane thereby giving them greater chances for
restoration to mental health, by such Accommodations
are imperatively demanded
DRs sTREw KINGSTON cENsURED.
The report as to the alleged abuses III the lunatc
asylums Blackwell's Island is not so compliment
Wards Island. Speaking of the case of Emma Nor
rson. who delivered of child while the
straight jacket" or camisole was on her person. the
report says:-
Th: camsole properly placed upon her to
her destructivenessto protect her from constant
clothing. The Board was unanimous that the of the
int.mdest and Dr. Kingston the assistant superntend
under whose medical care she did not know Of
lh Board n them 5 in
their action causing her TO wear the camisole.
Relative to the alleged starvation of Caroline We'll
"the Board fnds that it had no foundation in fact.
that she died from not stated but evidently
from collapse in consequence OF sudden
and overpowering diarrhea. to which
story of Caroline Wells starv,tion originated
in malice toward her attendant (Dr. Ptkinl upon the
part OF some one connected with the medical staff
or nurses of the institution. After describing the
treatment given her by Dr. Pitkin. the report goes
on to say This case is most glaring having been
given Of the public press without any semblance
whatever truth. with fell and malignant design
to injure Dr. Pitkin whom the Board believes to be
q conscien tious physician and honorable gentle
man."
THE RAT POISONING CASE.
In the of Alice Day. who died from dose of
ratr niann la
careless to leave pan filled with rat poison
in unlocked closet, to which access was had by
the unfortunate patient who unobserved ate of IL in
such quantities to produce DEATH Every effort to
the catas trcphe was made by the supcrintend
ent and the medical staff. but th.y were uniformed
the fact until it was too late. Tho Board censures
the nurse in charge OF the ward, but as she had
already been dismissed by the Commissioners
recommendation of future action is made.
The report concludes as follOws:-
From the of these three Board
necessarily Informed oil facts with regard
general of the institutions for the insane
situated Blackwelps Island. The accompanying
is and board therefore unsri
Charities and Correction take such steps be
sary the Institutions basis Thoroughly
the better treatment and OF tho
there confined.
The Board appointed Drs Pallen. A. Mel. Hamil.
ton and Whitman v. White . committee to aid the
Com mmissioners in such proposed reorganization.
intendent OF the Wards Island institutions be like
wise put In charge OF the Backwelis q Island Asylum.
and that he be allowed paid assistautin-chief at
each institution.
A reporter of the HERALD was informed that no
action will be taken upon this report until the re-
turn of Mr.. Cox Two Com mniissioners state that
under this report they must reorganize the medical
STAFF.