New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-12-23
A HOME FOR THE INSANE.
VISIT TO THE ASYLUM on WARDS ISLAND.


for the Insane, Wares Island. completed. with
the exception of the interior fittings and this work
Is advancing with such rapdty. that DIR. Macdonald
hopes to occupy il very soon. This pavilion COM
pletes the entiio structure as it was originally
planned. The executive building is situated IL the
centre, and the wings and payilions extend at right
angles, incl0>ing the lawn upon thee sides. The
entire building is built OF brick with light stone
trimmings. Ii has picturesque French-roof. cut
up into points and gables. The foundation of the
new pavilion is of rough. hewn bluestone that was
quarled on BlackweIs Island. and laid by Penlten-
tiary prisoners Every window has strong half
inch iron bars let into the stone slls The bars are
set 50 that 1t would be difficult to remove them or
for a patient to squeeze between them.
Dr. Andrew + Egan accompanied a reporter OF
The TRIBUNE through tho pavilion aud gave
m interesting explanation of its features. The
wards are run through the length of the pavilion,
out OF which the dormtories open. The walls are
heavy, those separating the domitories being foot
in thickness The lower ward is heated by special
steam radiators All the steam used in the entire
institution is generated In chamber the base
ment or lower ward. and below the second story
ward. This chamber is carefully sealed above and
below.a Ample fues permit the cold air to enter
this chamber. After being heated by the radiators
the hot air passes upward and enters each ward by
a KEY, kept by tho ward-msster. The objects of
inclosng this chamber are to concentrate the heat
aud TO prevent any seeds OF disease from being dis
tributed through the wards above. This steam,
"a ter passing through these radiators, ; returned
TO the executive building IN condensed form. and
there utilized in running machinery. Each ward
is almost similar to the others, though IN the new
pavilion the ceilings and walls are finished in
wnlte.
At the end of the ward is a large loom used for
the reception of visitors. When person calls ut
the Asylum to see Ii patient he s Obliged to apply
al the ONCE for permission. Alter OBTAINING the
necessary permission, the visitor is conducted 60 the
ward where the patient is confined, and is shown
into this reception room. The patient is sent Tor
aud in the room the visitor without disturbing
or exciting any CT the inmates. Tine bathroom Is
lifted with two large tubs of galvanized iron. They
constructed as to be filled and empted
quickly But it is small job to battle fifty luna
tics. The rules of the asylum require that each
movement OF the patient shall be care uly watched
by a competent attendant. The patients are not
able TO DISCRIMINATE, aud might turn the bot
water and he severely scalded, or otherwise Injure
themselves. The retiring rooms are kept sorupu-
lousy clean. The dOrnitories will hold beds
enough to accommodates from twelve to twenty
inmates.
"AlI the cases." said DR.. Egan. are carefully
classified. DIR. Macdonald and myself go through
the entire institution every day. The bad cases
are put in the upper part OF the building. where
they either have room TO themselves OF are placed
ny twos or thees. In these large dormltOrles are
CHARTERED the men who work These are the
chronic insane, those who have deuslons aud re-
quiro watching ana restraint; DuJ unuer inc Wise
provisions of IL well regulated asylum even they
may become useful The windows of the dOrmito-
guarded on the inside Dy a strong wire
shutter. fastened by bar. There IL aIso a strong
wire netting over the transom. Besides the opening
into the general ward there the registers. one To
let cut bad AIR and let in that which Is fresh and
cold, aud the other to let IN warm air from the
steam radiators in the Enclosed chamber system
of fans has tried bat they have been found to
be nearly worthless for the purpose OF securing
good ventilation"
So good was the ventilation in the wards, bath.
rooms aud Mushrooms, that not trace of any oteu-
sve odor could DO noticed. The towels are re-
moved each day and clean ones substituted.
The census of the asyu IN, Dr. Egan stated was
1921, all males OF this number 40 do work OF
some kind. In one end OF tue pavilion, north OF
the executive building, are tho huge boilers that
supply the steam for the entire institution There
are five boilers in all aud the work connected with
them is done by lunatcs, under the direction OF
competent engineers. lutte further along IN the
basement of the pavilion Is the stationary engine
that drives all the machinery Hnre are po%et
forced to tanks IN the upper part OF the buildings
There is a ire plug and valve ia eacn ward TO
which could he quickly attached hose OF SUFFICIENT
length to resch into any dOrmitOry or any part OF
the ward. There heavy pipes running from
each of these powerful pumps, which are so con-
nected that, in case of fine, they can draw the
water from the IIver and so let the engines that
might respond TO an alarm have all the water from
The printing Office employs the printers who, hay
my become chronic lunatics NAV be sent to TINS
ASYLUM. They did all the printing OF the Depart
meut of Charities and Correction. They have
fine press. run by steam; small, old-fashloned
lever press, for job work. ana plenty OF type lhs
place presents the appearance of we'll ordered
lob printing Office, rather than part of n lunatic
as YUM. In another room are all the appliances
for shocmaking. Here the rough shoes OF the m
mates are made. and all the mending OF tue whole
institution is done. In the taliors shop all the
clothing worn by the inmates is made aud repaired.
In another room IS the machinery IGI naAt tn,g
farm connected with the Institution, aud since the
mandatory has been established, no broons
have been purchased by the department Tor use IN
the asylum. Some idea oil the saving TINS causes
may be found in the statement that Two dozen
hrooms required every two weeks. In announcer
room mats OF all kinds. are made the ceilings ana
wa Is of tho old wards and dining rooms are all
frescoed aud painted all of this work being done 0y
the patients The kitchen Is model OF healnesS
and convenience. On side OF theekltchen aie
Jacket kettles of the newest and most improved
pa tern Ono of tho luEatlcs, when the reporter
VISITED the room, cutting beef with knife that
looked dangerously sharp. But no person would
have surmised that he ANY one oil the men AT
work there, was insane When passing through
the ward. DIR Egan called man lantastiGaly
dressed and adorned with medals and brilliant
LuttOns. The Doctor said:
sOne of the characteristics OF the chronic insane
man is this love of inery for personal adornlnent
He works in the shoeshop and Is steady, usetul
hand but he must be- kept under constant watch
Over 1,400 persons are led in TINS asylum; go
oyer-crvwded il the institution that building |
v Inch accommodates 300 Is now rented from the |
Commissioners of Emigration. The increase III the |
number OF patients has been small since January l. |
ISSo. when there wore 1224. Out CT this large |
number only two of the inmates were under re- |
straInt The restraint consists OF inserting their |
hands In leather muff attached to strap buckled
around the waist Sometimes wTistlets are Used |
the same way speaking of the CRIB. pr. |
Macdonald said that ht preferred to place WatGh
over q restless patient, rather tnan use lhe crp;
MANY of the patients have been tried as nurses ana
for watching under suitable supervision, and scme
ther, is one leading out of each ard, every
thing was invitingly neat and 5crupulousIy clean.
All the tin basins used III the dormitorles wer
made by the inmates In TACT every trade almost
was rep,esepted and utilized as far as possible.
One of the Jules required tnat the men should I'M,
aress in the ward. put on their night clothing and
90 INTO the dormitores LEAVING their day clothing
hrhind hem. Tie ward mastor made careful ex-