New-York tribune., 1886-05-14
SECRETS or IN INSANE ASYLUM.

PATIENTS DRAGGED ABOUT BY THE HAIR AND
THEIR LIVES MADE BURDENsoME.
PI1TsBuRG. MAY 13 lSpecian.-Mrs. Annie Agnew,
Of Main-st Lawrenceve has written book en-
titled From Under Cloud" the manuscript of
which she has Just placed iii the hands of publishers
The volume records the observati pms OF the seven
years life of patlent Mrs. Agnew herself. IN an asy-
lum Tor the insane, patient who was supposed TO be
hopelessly insane but who unexpectedly Iecover d
and with her recovery developed wonderful memory
for details. Mrs Agnew says insanity came on her
like fash of lightning and the chief feature of 1t was
a d, sire to take her own life. This WAS in her
Younger DAYS She married and settled IN Cincinnati.
After the birth of my third child, in the spring Of
1876 " she adds was attacked with nervous pros
traiion and awakened one morning knew it.
For three years | at home insane; the ruling
passion all this time was to take my own life. used
to have about my kitchen a shoe knife which was very
sharp That knife haunted me. | would hide it and
an hour afterward an impulse could not govern
would lead to it. The fear became 30 terrible mat
at last threw it in wei one day and then was
unable to get ii again. tried other plans to rid my
self of life but thy failed The next step IN the cs-
case was the desire to take the life of my children
watched for opportunities and my great hopc was 10
be able to kill them and then myself. feared had
cursed them with insanity and the best could DO
would be TO take them out OF existence. gave tuo
Youngest poison one day and then with the vaclaton
of insanity | told my husband what / had DONE
The proper remedies applied and the childs lie
was saved. But was sent to the asylum for the IN
sane at indianapolis This in 1879, and was
there for nearly seven years.
"My case was considered hopeless The superinten-
dents were invariably kind but the dongs in the wards
we're secrets sealed from them secured the Ill Will
of the assistant superintendent and be made my lite
perfect hell lie placed Inc in an epieptic ward ana
when was taken out of that ward at the end OF a
wear had on the same calico dress. The sleeves
were worn away. the shoulder blades hal worn
through and it hung in tatters The popularity OF my
disease was that could not find words in which to
express myself. could think but the only talking
could do was TO swear in horrible manner An I'M
pulse would seize me and had to do something.
would pick up chair and break il to pieces. would
run my hand through pancs Of glass. When that
assistant superintendent died expressed my Joy by
cutting off my hair o, but he was hated l heard
one night when the windows were raised away over III
another part of the building a woman swearing anu
shouting with joy because he dead But inc
ward attendants the worst. They were mostly
inexperienced young gls. ley would heap al k,ha
OF indgnites upon the patients. There was one lau5
there from the Soutt who thought she was the wiie oil
by the hair to the bathroom make her wash theI
stockings telling her that the State OF lDdiana Paiu
| them tor making her DO such things. l have often
| been dragged by the hair TO the dining room"