The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-03-04
A VISIT 70 BEDLAM.
LONDON. Feb. ls-what is that man d


or Of villa; can he be thinking? He was already
leaning against that partition wall some time
ua, when first passcd through tho long cor
rlor. Tho twilight has descended. and l can
~. 900 his face 80 well. He stands as still IA u
tTo, III brcezeess weather. He IL very tall
moro than six fcot. He Is fair he wears a
hrari. His arms nre folded His fine blue eyes
look sor,swh"rc far. far away, with indescriba-
lilo nSity. People constantly pass by him.
some address him. noises are suddenly made
lie docs not move. should tho old building
forthwith sink down, except the narrow spot
ha stands upon, believe that when the dust Of
tho fallen ruins had vanished he would bo
found undisturbcd. his eyes still intent on tho
same spot. No shall ever know the secrets
IL this impossible man. for even II he were to
speak no one would care to listen. We are in
No. ward OF Dethcm Hospital. He has not
been there long. few months only. How often
will the doctor or the clergyman In his melan-
choy round find him in the same place. His
case seems to be incurablc. He is therefore
In the asylum for life. and no looks young and
strong. wonder II in twenty years some Wis
itor like myself will marvel ut the same tall
r'an nnd ut his long gaze into space. What was
his position in the world | do not know. but he
has tho appearance Of an educated man.
Strnys from all classes strand on those
hospituble shores. In few minutes l
eibowe1 half dozen cergymen. an OIL
cor. q detective. four students u dozen
clerks and shppnen. some servants and mo.
chances. and three or four surgeons. The
same variety exists on the female side where.
strange to say. sovernesses seem to be in ma
!prity. The community Is OF course divided
into two perfectly separated sides. and patients
hover meet except in the chapel on sunday
End on tho theatrical and dancing evenings.
Lately patients have been admitted-but male
patients only-on weekly payment Of two
guincas. The reason which has brought about
this alteration OF the Fundamental rule of the
hospital liz the hope Of thus alieviating the
o. extending the sphere OF its usefulness. The
resolution was justified by the great number OF
beds f9nstantly unocenpiei IN the male wards.
tlcs but onlylor those OF whose recovery
ON the expiration Of that tini". are either re-
turned to their friends If sufficiently we'll or
sent 70 the convaiescent establishment OF Wit
ley or TO some other asylum.
!, was in February. tho day was exception
nily bright. tho time was not o'clock in the
aitrrnoon yet the wards uf the ground floor
were din. aud II melancholy darkness. broken Mt
Irregular Intervals by the hckerng flames of
and low. corridors. The lunntcs we're dis
inrsed along them, some basking by the fire.
"tnsrs Waking nHtomaticaiiy, the majority
the pensive and lent contemplation OF cattle
Here, however. between two doors stands y
mildle-assu man. whose face Is turned
Srs,sss WIN .passion,svl;s eiqausneo ana
% make out his argument young man
sprinss up from a corner; PUSHES forward. and
The person Who is with me- frowns,, 30 doub,
lmyss!i look repellant. What selfish brute |
lot say word" asks he impioringly and lnco-
lsrenty of my companion. to that gentle:
gda n @s hea Ana s turns lsS e me 9 sad
Iw" Then he tells me. II you are com:
missioner or a physician pray listen to me;
am not mad: they Keep mo hcre-l don't know
why. Examine me il you ara doctor. and il
you are one of the Commissioners. order them
10 !et mel 30. for there is nothing the matter
Here my companion stopped tho speaker
whose, demand I promised to report; Tho
ohlcia, opened door, and justas he had locked
Ii again on us. II terrible cry rang out behind 1t.
medical arrangements OF the Bsthem ' H los"
rita! are such rs 70 preclude-as much Us men
ress 10 ih o. efF9Ts bs'1es ahs
Jesire to restore as quickly rs possible TO so
getty these who have been Entrusted To its care.
In certain cases. moreover. tho medical Mt
even, permits some of Them to 90 in and out
=" sE S nc let Sut shey
hnl degrading badges affixed to their arms
rteSs for The kospsai They we're wsil Eno%p
iiy Ne people Of the town. who had christened
About 800 patients can be accommodated in
the hospital One-half is the annual average
sictnn, believes much in good, substantial.
tni variable diet. Once week there is u fish
snnsr another day the fare n is Of
oalcgs for The males aud Ave for the feinales Of
roast or boii-d meat with vegetables and beer
constitute the principal meal tor the rest Of the
week. Indoor and outdoor annsemonts are
vel. supplieh There is II billiard room II bag'.,
tel!e table. and two wn-tenns courts. A ball
and concert room is situated on the female
sd. was surprised ut not being shown my
workshop. and thought how much better IT WAS
npetlpwDrk. j.
mtle patients generally we're. than to BIS idle,
itc recent methods Of treatment which have
been tried, the most successful seems to have
ban III" French system OF a prolonged bath OF
Inings 10 not always run smoothly in tho
have 10 be put in the refractory rooms. These
an. y.rl9usy padded. some son, with sort OF h 1
nt-r any circumstances. to ram my head: some
- mattresses: md one o. the female S, side
tce adjunct to nursery would such room
either d1Gns the day or III. night
ol",ais or show sign OF an impending desire
u ~ themselves or somebody else. for the
Fr"mpt. N n events. must be the action OF the
officials. BECAUSE the deed is soon attempted or
a VIC, was so sSpslitoasy and effectively han
90 by another lunatic that he died IN Il isw
AVN 81 t sfnsT fSiar9 %! .s r rn Ab TO- ha
care. suddenly !enped over 'he stairs and lust
escaped with her life. although seriously in
.Jr"i. quick and efficient restraint Is ths
more necessary in cases Of violence. at least
with the male pat !cnis: there is always n we'll
founded apprehension lest they would be con-
i'.:iuu- and lend to riot.
Ia" female side Of Bethlem IL brighter and
t"'irr upu"in.si than the mnie wards
-u'n.'s look NOR. cheerful on that side. and
PATENTS ess gloomy. With rare exceptions
it',e were all employed AZ ,ometh nx or other
me were scwlpE some We're cutting out ma
t''W.s, some were writing letters or reading
!"fa were engaged in convprSu ton. giving ~
u" rooms tine COMMON abb Appearance of homo
Most Il them were ladies'. If the toast skilled
pBslu,numst OF men cd hnltol'lcd into
the mems wards would Ut once have rcrog
Ird ~" sort 81 society lie had been
t.sen INTO. tha k"oncst Observer. under
iur same conditious might have been con
SI s,.n, I NO or t,r". Very '" yoHnl
!H! extremely pretty girls wclo ,her"
4 they Looked uEconccrnci, the hap
i''tr. \ . doubt. 10, what NO called their mis-
Ir.S -,Al,s