New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-03-16
CARE OF THE INSANE.

TESTIMONY FROM COMMISSIONERS cox AND HEss-
| RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE JURY IN THE OIL
| MER CASE.
The inouest in the case of Maria Otimer, who was
| killed in the Blackwells Island Lunatc Asylum
was continued yesterday by Coroner EiIlnSer'
| townsend Cox president of the Board of Charities
| and Correction, testified in regard to the manage
| ment of the asylum He said it was in charge OF a
| medical board consisting OF nine or eleven physl-
! clans this board was appointed last year. lie eA-
| nlained the system followed in the asylum before
| the medical board was appointed. Dr. MacdonaIu'
he said was in charge of the asylum on Wards Is
land. and is temporarily in charge of the Blsckwers
| Island ASYLUM DR.. Strew has been superintendent
of the Blackwelrs Island Asylum for two years. On
| the recommendation of the medical board his posi-
| tion was declared vacant because he was not com
| petent The board requires nurse to be sober,
| able TO read and write. of good physique, well re-
| commended ana of good temper. The buildings arc
hardly sufficient to accommodate all the inmates.
He did not know that there had been only one night
nurse In the Retreat until he read it i'll the papers,
There had been one night nurse on each hoor SINCE
! The Commissioners hold the medical board respon-
| slble for the condition of the asylum, and readily
| grant any reQuIsitiOns for beds or DINER suppress
| lie cOuld not give any reason why patlents nad
| slept on the floor On the recommendatlon OIL III
Macdonald training school for nurses VIII soon DC
| established.
| Jacob Hess SAID he was appointed Commissioner
| in Nav 1879 when Dr. Strcw was IN charge OF the
asylum lie found that the INSTITUTION WA 'iVHT1s
i'll discipline and defective IN many respec,'. ne
night service considered insufficient Coliihls-
! sioncr Hess positively declared chat Dr. StrewS re-
| mOVal was contemplated long before ihc mGui'di
hoard came into existence. He denied that political
reasons caused DIR. Strew's removal.
| The case was then declared closed, and Coroner
| Elnger delivered his charge 10 the lnrY ne sald
that when homicide was committed III any insane
asylum the guilty person could not be punished, but
| steps should be taken TO prevent Iecuriehce ol
such an event. 1t the duty OF the jurors 10
| recommend any improvements III the system or
management If they thought IT was necessary; me
| case was simply that unatlc ma been hllied py
another lunatic. Three patients were IN the room,
and one had to sleep on the floor. Inc evidence
| showed that the assistant physicians were under
| naid and appointed without any special regard 10
| their capacity 1t was their duty 10 ascertain
| whether the reSpOnsbty for Maria OttmerS death
| rested on the medical superintendent or the Com
missiOncrs, and to recommend that the Leglslatulo
tae acton TO remedy the present defects winch the
| Commissioners say they cannot remedy iOr lack oil
| means. , r. Ali;
verdict thev saw: We find that the assistant ply
sicans are not sufficiently experienced for the dis-
charge of their duties; Their pay Is not snmcleht 10
secure competent men. The pay OF thc nurses Is
| insufficient TO secure competent persons. Maria
Ottmer in our opinion, should have been treated nj
the hospital instead of the Retreat and we censie
Dr. Ptkn for falling 10 transfer her TO the hOsptal
when repeatedly called upon to DO so by the nurse.
| We find lack of proper system and general IRE
sponsbty. In our opinion the COMMISSIONERS IN
charge of our asylumS and hospitals should be men
qualified by education and training for the position,
and should be kept separate from the governmental
neuaI institutions. There should be proper accom-
modalons for the patients confined at our asyums.
| and we would suggest the Mayor and Commonalty
OF The City of NewYOrk to take mopcr measures Tor
radical reformation of our asylums for HE insane
we also recommend a medical superintendent be
speedily appointed to take charge of TIE asy lum on
Blackwe!Ps Island as one man Us insufficient iOr
taking proper care of both institutions"
The verdict is signed by Christopher Wray, Dan
iel b. Butler James ID. Ray, George l.. Cross, Phllp
Smith, John 5. Gordon and Peter White.