New-York tribune., 1880-02-06
MEDICAL TREATMENT OF THE INSANE.

TESTIMONY OF MARIA oTTMER's HUSBAND BEFORE
THE CORoNER-ExAMINATION OF ONE OF THE
PHYSICIANS AT THE INSANE ASYLUM.
Coroner Ellinger continued the inquest in the
cese of TIE BlackwelPs Island Asylum homicide yes
terday afternoon Friedrich Ottmer husband of the
murdered woman testified that his wife had been
of unsound mind since 1866. and bad been con-
fined in the asylum at times from that date. After
keeping her home for two years it became neces-
sary to send her 70 BlackwelPs Island in January,
1870. Her physical health up to this time had
been good. He visited her once month, and found
her neglected and dirty Last Spring she had a
bad black eye, and upon complaining lie was told
that she had been beaten by of the patients,
and that it couldn't be helped. She began after
some months, to look sickly and to suffer other
wise than from mental depression. He saw her
last on January RI. She then again had O
black eye. He inquired into the matter, but could
not see physician. Upon writing for informa-
ton, he received January 10, n reply from
DR.. Macdonald, which stated that she had been
injured in a quarrel with roommate, and that the
occurrence was unavoidable. The woman had
never been in condition to give any, information
about her treatment or wishes. She looked slckIy
on January IA, but was not III bed.
DR.. William NJ. Lezlnsky, an assistant physician
Of the asy um, was exhaustivey questioned by the
Coroner with the purpose of learning full details
of the medical conduct of the institution. The
witness said he was graduated IN February. 1873
from the medical department of the University Of
the City of New-YOrl, and in April succeeding
upon application TO the Commissioners OF Charities
and Correction. and after an examination, was ap-
pointed TO his position. HIS duties are to visit the
wards in Halls Nos. ! and aud the hospital ward
every morning take the reports of the attendants
aud to make examinations Of patients when neces-
sary. ,.
tendsnts report they expected to be qualified
TO judge: The majority Of them are not trained;
BE usually spends half an hour in each ward, and
has no time 10 study the cbaracterstcs OF patients.
He has under his personal charge about 100 per
sons and no assistants He mot an expert IN men
tai diseases, he says. He has been assisted by Dr.
Macdonald since his coming. Before that event
there was very little inquiry ever made about the
condition of patients. Dr. Macdonald has never
asked him for another report than bis daily reports.
Since the appointment of the Examining Board, IN
November last, he has Drs. Hamilton aud
White in the hospital ward twice each. They com
mened upon any special cases To which their atcn-
tion was called. The witness never saw them III
the halls under his charge. Ihe physician IN
change determines all questions OF treatment
and gives all orders concerning the general
| hygienic. dietetic and medicinal Treatment
of patients. Tho patients are not classified accord
ING to their mental diseases but according 10 Their
actions Except in violent suicidal cases patients
are mixed generally. Upon the arrival of apatient
| the officer in charge makes an examination, ana
then the person conducted 10 the reception ward
where there usually about forty NINA es. IriOr
| TO DR.. MacDOnalds coming II had been the custom
for the staff of physclans alter the patent
had been received three weeks more, to make the
| diagnosis. Now DIR. Macdonald makes the diagnosis
| himself. The witness, after testlfying that Maria
| Cftmer came under his treatment IN the hospital
| ward several times while physically unwell, ana
| stating that she never sent to the hospital III
consequence of injuries received from patients uhtli
the assault by Mrs. Christ, was cross-eXanineo by
DR. Macdonald He then corrected his statement that
patients were not classified according TO disease but
according to actions, by admitting that Their actions
are part aud manifestation of thcirdsease. III reply
to questions put by DR.. Spitzka, OF the Neurological
| Society DIR. Lezinsky said that Dr. Paen. OF the
| Examining Board, was specialist OF the diseases
| of women, but that he had never made any exam
nation of patients under the charge of the witness
| DR. Wood of the same board, he said, was con
| sI,Iting SURGEON but he was not consulted with re
| gard TO the surgical injuries of Maria Ottmer
! Within the last two months no other patients wer'
brought the hospital ward to be treated for IN
iuries inflicted by their companions.
Coroner Elnger has made the statement that th
| inquest will probably require full months time
| VET He intends to secure thorough knowledge o.
the Management of the Asylum for Lunatcs 1b'
| examination will be resumed to-day.