New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-12-02
TREATMENT OF THE INSANE.
ASYLUM MANAGEMENT CRITICISED.

INSANE PATIENTS POINTED OCr-METHODs VI
APPOINTING sUPERNTENDENrs DENOUNCED.
The Senate Committee appointed to in
vestigate- the management of asylums 1or
the insane in this State held It's INST
session yesterday, in room No. 10
of the Metropolitan Hotel. Two OF
the members were present. Testimony was
given by DR.. Edward c. Spitzka and DIR.
William A. Hammond, both of whom
have made special study of mental
and nervous diseases. Various abuses
in the management of asylums for lunatlcs
were pointed out Tho methods of appointing
superntendepts and other employees were
criticised. DR.. Hammond spoke in severe
terms of the forcible feeding of patients.
TWO WITNESSES EXAMINED.
The examination was conducted by Senators
Woodiu and Pitts. The other member of the CON-
mitrec. Senator Fowler. was detained in Kingston
by legal basinsss but is expected TO arrive TINS
morning II was 1880 when Dr. Edward Z.
spitzl1a was called to the stand. and with the ex-
ccption of brief recess testimony taken until
m. DIR. Spilzka testified that he had made n
special study Of mental and nervous diseases, and
had devoted considerable attention to the general
subject Of he management Of the insane.
Senator Wooin-YOu are aware or the discomfort "
distrust ~ regard To me inaha' "a M o. tae ~
!rns M the state aud country. aud Uf the petition nat
was presented To the Legislature TWO years asoI ~,
Yes; was one OF the sisuers Of tHat petition. De-
Heyc tuat abuses eXis IN the Sate asyiins.
senator WooainWel, doctor. without further cues
toing VIII yOG please state waat You know IN regard 70
those abuses. and what Is claimed to De wrong IN tef
Spied by those who have devoted attention
the subject agree with then. THAI The lauit le' IN
Inc syR No. Local boards OF trustees. whose Interests
are naturally tied up In tie localities where ne asylum.
rp sitraeG iayo eXcpsve coatrOi o. the management
OF The STATE asyluns f"ey are not feapohsib 20 any
Iuey GENERALLY aYmrn. aod II a. n9j 20 Oe c&p,oel
uuacr circumstances taat heT WIZ nropery Jhier
OF Tie qualifications 81 taose appointed 10 medical and
ojher pos..ons %cA ,ce ~ End or me ficc
Of me law he won have tue genera! control of
me ,nguaaement OF hc asyin5 90 he stare, but even
ne wii!mE TO 90 his duty Re wod ne o saWpl'1
by tbe contred cory clauses ~ his own aw ihe result
OF the law h;e been that ia ComHl -sOnei III isdnact
has nern ncgi ctiu! 81 his duc. %. even II nc cy' '
correct 0a,,s he cpuil have phi h.n-c on iccofA ava
49,, BE- ain,41 nave Al coyer.d Dr Carlos lIciJona
-u'rrincndent ~ the asylum 40 Anlu1i. reported IN
$50 Tat, taking charge or .lc asy UNI WHch tue
In,n--iafer % Lanacy hai common lco t3at ytar or
Inc .ar pltOs he found TIE g-y lum ~ decidedly w
supit y condition., presenting an atptauce OF squNcr
mons TIe inch TO the nosir,' i1e cel
dirty aud 40 provision wao maze iot eA A,i
diet" eXcept weak Ca. Tie report so staea th''
tire asylum contained u patents VINO n'h
pistol an III b. arm ana another ID ms mn sno
b} Dr. McDJnalds pre- lessor ne "as inform. a. t"Ht
PATIENTS padded" AMI AZ attend III 5'd l't' ne
s4w the former surriinienle'i bi4ch lAe ego. ~
patients. on one ,ro-sah Il "onlan tlir"i ".' 70
died aud "a srpi two ~. mas ~ rhh-. ne
emit o. Insane As,luas MI nj AaJurn AMI
Past ,e,ol e'I IN f.lG to lat asylum Tie
nt.er ion Of The utc was called 10 tAt conuhJA OF
the OaouttGa Por'oh-e, NLert i'sine laupets we're
kept IL Was i0und t1at the most c.noc neE'ri pie
VA Jed there. There were ipui uu4IEoutd duh@,"Us
in which ms .uc wreiches, baked ana Nlto"e ~
Tier own AIN. ne institution ID ''r" 49, .. a
sau-r esg oy tuc Commissioner "a Lih e. ana ItFotttu
LHnay snah be an eXpt" t .sgy anu ,i, ,s's
j. sugposrd l" Fficf m'Io '9i -',' '.li,, 90.
TIe prrsaut sioucr's standing as scientist,
however has brrn itpcstcdly Q.rsifrcl on the ohef
F.vI.e ono oil the most tWiue aili1'Il' a. -
cards financial msnan igcmcht STATE toatioilcr Oc'U
,' , re- coinciad there d. pfacicay 10 c-
stor Wooda-iI.ye you any other information in
| regard 10 abuses IN tie management oi 'ho a'a.e
ilclc WIS the OtIn.r homicide in the Blackwclrs
Island A.,luu January n. 1850. Many ABUSES came
out incidentally ia the course OF the in'estisail'n.
Y.ic. IurnsArd one u ic most rema fahr FcIioi5
% asylum abuses on record Nara imcr, lunalc.
! IN "a d.oibiatca condition, was killed oy Llzlneih
Christ auo.ne lunluc o. violent character "i." whom
! n third patient. Tine evidence al the Inquest
tended 10 show mat t.c s4tefH'ena,. F''a''o
nj ied ov.r 100 patients u violent and cXctabio CHAR
a,ier many OF cn DeinE without Suiuo.' ,e ,l+ e..
cOlmOi't1na. ARA 40 pAyai'" "' o." 'In. ~ I &
sauli the prcmis-' 10 ~ ~ {" tr'l' h,s I'D
patents appsuinc from Ain 81 ~ 10 DE 81" 'rf "a,
accidents were rue Oru.rol t.c liV. Wair '
! NOT t5 expected ssliiltu ui 44t'tc
arc H. ca0g2I uftcudnis "a tte l-flurs nor ai. Inc
sfi.Id;,l.,, rro elIe distributed tn.rs sG0d.d bc
d ,,oy, pb b,,Ial-r7 on he astenianis, IN
rIosf instances, Are chosen from me l'"c-t
fio Ijtca asyium was brought to lie rtt.n'lon ot te
maze TIE sl-cf.lct ccniiac irNe'fgallh3 mere avg
winch al least $4,000 wa spent On sh-ii Diihtl OF
reSeltc1 sy ina ~ 1, ~ ~" ,,s n,,r c
trbuons - medical literature N.icA were OF 40 scloA
lave you any knowledge In regard 10 The restraint Of
! patients ~ tli. asyu ins
1 layo. maie an aSio4sy or TWO l2g,"his t9t
| oetluul or WarI's Island. Both were completely
otralyz.d in inc lower .xrcInluts and on - io-1
bod M en- uut lu fle crib" vhfn ~ % Inntose
! state and srmi+Ciirious. TIe "crb' D. . Slu1uit
abcrt six feet long 80 wide aud - InCacs bi.n
VITA iced cover. Two iron blrs run acros. tie top
against when a patlen may strike and seriously hyufc
/ himself. The worst leitute about IT l. inai
congestion Is mace much vosse bv being 9fc,d 20 ne
down. having the power on5 10 turn ar1dha Al, cor
J scousuoss Of restraint IN INC " crlD' a. tIs nv
jorty of lnnatIos do have, Is irksone ana lneitas'
sad II shoud be carefully used as II might ocone da
geros IN certain it has d@appeafeI rom mos.
Of the asylums, bui is sun Iet'uru ~ CtV", "
! Island anu IN some OF tie Southern dsy inis. me
crib has nj 50 been usd at llddcIown WITHIN me aSt
eases l. OF great benefit The temporary application OF
str.g Jacket certain patients makes thcn more
amenanlc 10 authOtli5 aiitf"diu, put 20 ~
such restraint W.cr year is universally cOnuehnou
rue amount OF resra nj In some ayiuth' cou'd DC ma
tcraty reduced wltb proper force o! attendants, al
though in many Institutions tho lumber Is suncent 10
/ away WIN u great uthl VI W,
1 Piled fhe superintendent OF the Utica Asylum ies'
lied before the former senate Committee that patients
an his asylum locked up IN " crius because thoy
1 wandered about and put t9eir htau3 out OF
| tie windows. The Commissioner IN Lunaey couli
nave done good deal but BE haa taken the POI tiun OF
| attorney for the trustees The Fatbush Asylum tau
been noorously badly managed lDr years but he took
no action IN the matter. when, however new s2per
intendent appointed who was coippct,nt inc - i
missioner attacked tie goutiem1n Of VINO So qillosi
lions he knew nothing. Between 1876 ana 1873 iuur
| oh, scians served AT the Wards Island Asylum Who
mad no diplomas. As instance OF lnsulhcieDt oDser
| yatlon OF tue character OF insanity III u p9ueht;
| an attendant named Harrison ordered
| in charge OF working party OF patients,
| i'm watch was negro named SCOT, VINO
| lad "a ne1olicaI attack OF excitement coming on.
The negro hraiucd the attendant with pitcher and he
/ 1r,pned dead. some superiptendents are appointed
for tneIr good hospital record ana reputation Hs alien
ls bur there Is strong hrhef mat point
icai influence chiefly dictates change OF adminslrd-
ton f l. ass ,rtsd CreditaOe authority tina one
4 AfafG nk..ni In rIu