New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-11-28
STITE INSANE ISYLUNS.
A NEEDLESS INVESTIGATION.
CHARGES OF MIsM,NAGEMENT MADE TO TIE STATE
SENATE UNsUBsTANTIATED.

SENATE UNsUBsTANTIATED.
A petition purporting to bee signed by 221
ply sicans, lawyers and other citizens OF the state
OF New-York," aud asking for the appointment Of
committee to investigate the management
OF the insane asylums OF the state, pre-
scented to the State Senate on March 90
last. Appended TO the petition long list ~ spoo
ications OF allie cd faults in the administration Of the
asyluns. The senate considerably stirred by the
petition, and at once appointed committee, consisting
OF Gocbel and Goodwin, 10 make the desired
| investigation. The committee summoned large
number of witnesses, and reported the result
OF the investigation 10 the Senate on May IL The re-
port ordered printed hut before the State printers
could comply with the order, the Legislature adjourned
The printers accordingly took their lime to do the work.
ana have just completed II. The printed report VIII be
sent To the next Legislature.
An advance copy Of the report received in this
city yesterday Ii Is OF decidedly interesting nature
The committee report that IL summoned before II all
persons VINO had signed the petition and that there
upon from these persons
saying they had personal the alleged
abuses that they bad signed the petition that
they desired withdraw their from it, Many made
response to letters sent them by the committee r.:
auesting their presence before it, The committee says:
From tae statements OF Drs. William A. Hammond.
William j. Norton f. c. Spitzka and James G.. Kiernan.
IL would appear that this petition had It's origin IN what
they dcnominaed the Neurological Society, of which
Dr. spzka claimed tina; they WERE with DR.. Seguln
and DR.. Mcbride, the leading members. in get
ting up and circulating this petition" All
these physicians testified before the committee,
stating the grounds OF their criticisms of the
asylum management. In reply testimony was
heard from DR.. G. H. Nichols, OF the Bloomngdale Asy
um from Dr. A. L. Macdonald. of the Wards Island
City Asylum; from DR.. John Ordronaux. State
Commissioner IN Lunacy; from Dr. Chaplin. OF the
Willard Asylum; from DR.. John =. Gray. OF the Utica
ASYLUM; and indeed from the superintendent OF all the
asylums The committee, after hearing all the test
n.onv. came 10 the following conclusions:
Frs-The petition substituted In its allegations
by any existing stale OF facts The Governor III his last
mrssugc 10 the Legislature has spoken oi the shtsac
tory condition Of the State asy ums from personal WIS.,
Seeo.d-The Board of state Charities an Official visit
ing body has suggested an, such defects OF mall
OF any kind IN their annual REPORTS 10 the
Ie@tsiaure A special committee Of that Board Wres
dent NJ H. Anderson of the Rochester University, and
T. W FOSTER, after examining trc state asl ums win
reference 10 similar in>inuations and alterations
Justified III hayins entire confidence IN the admnistIa
Thrd-It appears iIom the archiye; of the State Com
missioner III LnhaeN as wen a. rom NJ peIsoai r'htc
mcn before ihe committee nat sncr ic cie1tl'no ms
Office no formal complaints have NJ any lime been made
al filed with him against tine management 81 Internal adj
m.nlstfiiln "i any Stt' ny UNI w." %" Pi an"
personal statements before me committee Snow that no
occasions calling tor special criticism upon sues man
agemcnt administration nave up 10 tbs TINE pre-
scrted themselves. 80 -
OF these stale asJ lums mol thoroughly
trained and Thoroughly competent medical men, Is too
Fin- rs not trii'. aH alleged IN the petition that
undergraduates medicine have been Appointed as
physicians STATE asyums. The charge
reckless Misrepresentation az these officers and under
rxamIafIon the four persons appearing admitted tins
From the statements o the lcfintcndcnis ol asyums
IL aDpearrd that IN almost every INSTANCE assistants
~ ireryed training In iy or military hosnitnls
an equivalent IN medical practice
graduation. Outside ar the State usylnIs
pears tia; hut il employed ana that
ne obtained hi- nc" ly examination To qualhcd-
lions by The authorized medical examining committee
of the institution IN which he is employed.
SfItt-n the judgment Of the committee. there Is
for investigation orcNinlnaton into tue man
ngcnent al any OF the state iunAc as,iums. Tuis pc
tiOn sets forth nothing ncw OF valuable, and al TIE
signing IL far the committee have been
able To ascertain lave no personal knOWedgc Of these
Institutions, or of the allegations made IN the petition.
and OF them are sO obviously AID grossly untrue
that would bc tue oisprug either Oi iuOr
malIce. In either case they arc unworthy OF
notice.
In the asylums Is OF tle account. Is sufficiently
met letter addressed To committee by Professor
John C. Daton oil New-iork, VINO stands in the mont
rank OF profession representative of scientific
rcscarch, and by the testimony Of Dr. Bucknill.
This attack by medical the scientific work Of
a state institution, the committee says, evnces an
Ignorance and spirit OF rccklessness Unworthy OF a
great liberal and should be condemned by all
who haze the interests OF science and humanity at
heart The assailmcnt Of the great pubc charities
OF the such reckless manner should he ex-
posed. not simply because II Is wicked OF the
sacred right OF petition to the injury of individuals
it also creates public dstrus In the administration
OF the State charities. and ILLS with unnecessary PAIN
the hearts OF those are obi gcd commit their
loved OF these Institutions and further
because IL tends to degrade the dignity the state