The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-05-23
NEWS OF THE CITY.
What the Democrat Reporters Saw
and Heard Yesterday.
THE pEMENTED.
Gradual and Certain Improvements at the
City Insane Asylum.

since the press began, few years ago. 70
o,tate the question of the Improvement OF
tba condition of the insane, the burden Of
which had been thrown upon the city through
fbe inadeauacy of the State institution at
jackson, year by year the City Asylum has
exhibited an amelioration which deserves to
be encouraged 1t IS not the purpose, IN this
report. to rehash the ever-recurring press
accounts Of the types Of insanity under the
care of the Department OF Waterworks anu
Public Buildings, but to record In general
terms that the visit of reporter OF the
DEMocRAT. made to the institution on
Wednesday In company with Administrator
Cheyalley, that the Improvement - It's man.
agement is gradually and certainly progress
ing. and, as well, that there Is an unmistaka-
bic Improvement in the mental condition OF
several. ut least, of the inmates. some OF
whom have been here for years-and 1t Is
only now that such improvement manifests
itself. This statement may operate as COM
pliment to Mr.. Chevalley and the city adj
ministration, and none the less to Dr. Chas-
tant, the visiting physician; II 80, they are
welcome to the compliment
As to the general management every avail
able portion of ground has been converted
into vegetable and flower plats arbors and
summer houses erected, fire escapes and ex-
tinguishing facilities provided and new sys-
tenn of nourishment, tone that affords variety
OF food) adopted to which probably Is due In
the greatest measure the far healthier ap-
pearance of many Of the inmates, bodily and
mentally. Corn In full maturity, aftfchokes,
tomatoes, sweet peppers, okra, egg plants
In splendid growth, ripe salads and cabbage,
blooming peas and beans, together with other
plants and bushes, now offer not only pleas.
ant spectacle to the view, but promise also OF
succulent dishes, and In their cultivation al
ford occupation to several Of the inmates,
who are kept employed as much as the
means at the disposition of the management
goes and the condition OF the inmates VIII
Justify. It is not d little singular how much
pride and interest these extempOrized tfllers
81 the coil take In their garden, evidenclng
only once more that even demented people
can be made happy and frequently returned
To reason by properly directing their remain
ing senses to something for which lhey may
have inclination or aptitude So, for example,
In the case OF the men who are just now gu
gagged In withdrawing and painting the e1
tensive interior and the fences 81 that part OF
the Marine Hospital when serves thell Us
an asylum--for the building Is now UNDER
uoinp a thorough cleaning up Of this char
Regarding the physical and mental i'm
prOyement discernahle In the inmates q mum.
Der of instances could be cited. Inc physicai
improyemert Of the most interesting subject
OF the asylum-a young lady or this CITY,
already frequently referred tots unmistaka-
Bile. although unfortunately her mental condi-
ton--a passive ease seems TO De about tne
same as last year. Two other cases French
woman and an Irish woman, show unmistak-
able signs for the better-formerly highly ex-
centric. and at times very violent even, they
are found, this year, not only mild. but capa-
BILE OF performing household duties, OF q prac-
teal character only, It is true, but sufficiently
important to show the vast mental amelisra-
ton which has taken place In them. The same
Improvement Is manifest In the man Beverly,
who was one Of the widest and most trenzted
subjects of the asylum, and who now is a
miId-tempered and even over-SOciabIe tnd1-
vidual.
A further Improvement of cleanliness OF
person among the inmates Is to be noticed,
showing that Mr.. Pooley, the superintendent
attention to this material item in caring for
his wards. In connection with all the strik--
ing improvements referred to 1t should not
be forgotten that DR.. Chastant, whose medical
direction OF the asylum is only incidental to
his many duties as city physician, Is gen
tleman particularly adapted to the trust, for
DIR. Chastant has for many years made
special study of insanity, and there are not
few cases in his private practice to attest TO
the appropriateness OF his connection with
the asylum-and this is, we believe, the first
time that the insane of the city asylum have
found themselves under the treatment of
physician who may almost be called
specialist in such matters.
Another feature of the asylum to close:
With only one or two exceptions the old sub
ordinate employees have been kept, thus rem
dering progressive system of management
possible because it gives time TO each one TO
study the temperaments, fancies and other
characteristics of those under their charge,
UhiiEt fhnnpn Df personnel every second