New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-12-01
THE CARE OF THE INSANE.
CHANGES IN ASYLUM MANAGEMENT.


ponted TO investigate abuses alleged to exist IN tho
management. of asyums for tho insane. 20 inqu ire
INTO the general subject of lunacy administration IN
this State and 10 report the results OF It's InTestlga
tons at the next session OF the Legislature by Dill
or otherwise and as to what legislation IL any, IL
necessary to secure improvement IN tho adnihstra-
ton Of the affairs of asylums. The committee con-
sisted of Senators Woodln, Fowler AM Pis.and pre-
lInlnary session was held IN this city on July ~ AT
that session Dr William A. Hammond was requested
Ivy the committee to make such suggestions reia-
tive the SUBJ TO be considered IA might seem
proper This was Informally done, and Dr. Il. Z.
Spiizka also expressed his opinion in regard TO asy-
lum reform. The committee adjourned with the
expectation of meeting at an early day after cleo
ton, and It was finally decided TO meet to-day at
the Met ,olitan Hotel.
The COMMITTEES Will examine into the workings OF
every insane asylum in the State and VIII soilcIt
suggestions from experts in regard 20 any measures
of reform that may he adopted. DR.. Hammond ex-
pressed his views on the subject recently to IEiB-
UNE reporter, embodyinl IN them the suggestions
he has already made to the committee. In regard to
the disposition OF let srS written by iuuatics, Dr.
Hammond said:
''No letter addressed by patient in n lunatlc
asylum 10 any person iii authority over such asy-
lum. OF to any official of the State should be de-
tu.
siriered a misdemeanor. Letters addressed to other
persons should be forw ardcd not at the discre-
ton of the supsFiD teDdent; hut in case he should
decide not to forward them they should be az once
enclosed 20 the COminsslO III Lunacy with HI
objections and this latter official should decide
whether they should DO sent to their destination.
In no case should any such letter be destroyed or
retained by the superintendent or other officers o.
an as nm under pain of such destruction or deten-
ton being considered msdemcanOr. Under the
present system the option of sending the letters or
patients rests entirely with the asylum officials, aud
thus the lunatiC is more efectually cut on
from communication with thu external world
than convict in g penal Institution.
Letters therefore, containing complaints are gen.
orally, If not always. destroyed. Many com plants
and reflections the treatment received are doubt
less exaggerated or altogether unfoundcd, but
Of them are true, and ought to be investigated.
These provisions are almost in exact accordance
with the English law on the subject
Then too, it should not be allowable for any
one but medical officer of asylum to order pa
RENT to be placed IN mechanical restraint or in
cusIon, and even then record OF snoh instance
should be kept in book provided for the purpose.
THIS book shonld always be open 10 the Inspection
not only of officials In authority bat of the counsel
and family physician of the patient, aud 1t should
clearly show In detail the reason Tor the use OF sdch
restraint or usion. Since tho action OF members
of the NeurOlog cal Society. and of the society It
SELF tow ward securing re 1rm ~ the treatment Of the
insane, several asylums have provided BOOKS Tor
the PURPOSE have mentioned, but the next super
intenieut may abolish these and others nave never
adopted them. he necessity OF q law or
regulation the savjeot Is therefore apparent. AT
present. ignorant and brutal attendants. some OF
them selected from the very lowest class, can.
No their option, from whln, caprice. anger, or
any other inadequate cause, order or place
lnnatic in the CRIB other mechanical restrain.
There are many instances on record OF serious bodily
injury ami even death having been produced b.
Fst .r.4
nothing IF the delcteriOus ell ct caused On the mind
of the patient b. such procedure. The forms vi
mechanical restraint should be designated by law
OF regulation. The Utica CRIB should DC altogether
abolished q bGrDaTOus appliance and the cami-
sole should be modified SO as to bit 1t more ade-
quatey for lis purpose and at tho same time render
II less liable to do harm. There arc instances OF
death having been produced in this country by the
crib. Ii Is at all umes most unphyIoiogIcal IN
ing from many forms OF insanity, and
in those instances attended with debility
in which It's use 10 insisted on By some super
nendents, It Is unnecessary. because the patient Is
weak that no IS not likely to be troublesome or
to endeaYor 20 assuWc the erect position. All such
persons should be carefully watched by nurses and
not left Ill a cage The forms of mechanical
restraint ought to be uniform IN oil the asyuns of
the state and not lett to the whim. Many iunaiics
refuse to take food, aud t has TO be administered
TO chem bg force. Tins requires defeats opera
ton, and often one demanding great skill and
patience At present. III some asy uns at least It is
done by attendants or nurses, when 1t shoulG be
performed by medical officer OF an asylum, or In
his presence | know that permanent injury has
resulted from q disregard of this obviously humane
provision The counsel and family physician OF any
unatIc certified by relative Judge OF any
Court of this State TO be snca, sh0nld always be
allowed access 10 his client ar patient. Tins Is tine
law Massachusetts SO far counsel is concerned"
What do yOu think OF the confinement IN
aSvums OF harmless lunatics ~
believe that no person should be confined in a
lunatc asylum against hi. viii unless II is dis |
timely stated the affidavit, required by law
tnat such person cannot, with safety 10 life and
allowed "A Planners.
those whose relatives or friends are unable TO rake
charge OF them or to provide f0f suitable medical
treatment, should he exempted but the fact of |
such disability sAOuld appear IN the affidavit Of the
physicians ana be otherwise properly est lblshed |
his essentially the law IN New York until a |
late period. Many lunatics whose form Of insanity
Is not such as 10 make them dan2troIs are now on
fined in nsyums rs matter OF routine |
practice when they could be treated at |
hofue nv their o,yn f1hvstcuus with ora. tar ada
rage to their health. he asylums are therefore !
crowded with mild and other sr unsuitable cases. |
waited by a.-oriailon with lnnatIcs suffering IRON |
violent types OF the diseasef The practice OF depgiy-
ing Insane person OF ms liberty simply because ne
~ insane l--one not IN cOnaOuance WIN sound pOhl-
cal social or medical scleuce, and 10 comparatively |
OF recent origin"
INSPECTION OF AsYLUNS.
"What reform would YOU suggest in regard to the
Inspection OF asyums y
"All lunatic asylunls shouid have board Of visit
ing physicians, whose duJy 1t should be, at stated
periods tn visit the wards consult with the super
a. the treatment of patients aud to e1
anime into the system Of management. they should
report to the Commissioners ia macy the results
of such examinations Tney should constitute
WITH the superintendent, the medical board OF tho
asylum, examine all candidates for appoint.
meut as pi gsicians, and should recommend |
10 the Board o. Commissioners m Lunacy tor POI
sitions those whom they NAV find ucst qualified
ia tins way hospital for The insane would tie ass
Simulated IN n management to other hospitals. |
q. A
TO destroy tine mystery which bow attends the man
agrm0nt of the insane and mitigate the sonse OF
lsi rust which the pubic now feels toward luuatc
asyIums mere should be two additional co lnis-
siOners IN Lunacy who should have the satue pow
crs aud functions rs are now provided by law. Inc
state should be divided into three dis rlcs with
Cnmnlsslnner for nlcl hlaLrcL- md nNerN Nv nm