New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-21
WORKIAG IN BEHALF OF THE INSANE.
INVESTIGATING The CONDITION OF SEVERAL


ASYLUMs.
In It's twenty first annual report which the State
Board OF Charities has presented to the present Legls
laure, an abstract Of which printed In THE TRIB.
UNE last week, # devoted great deal of attention
the care and treatment of the insane i'm the State In
situations. More than half Of the report is occupied
with the consideration of this subject In regard to
tho number, II Is said:
Inc number of insane in the city asylums Of New
1 6oih OcioDer !, 1857! was 1.416, as against 4.261
OCtoDct i, l1o6, Of whom 1.90} and 2.J16
women The increase since October l. 1880 when the
ms ane numbered only 301s, has been 400 or nearly
80 per cch', While the increase of tho population OF
The CITY, In the meantime. upon the basis Of present
population OF 100000 Is generally accepted. has
v'eh ht'e less Than 20 per cent. The accOmmOda-
tion' for the insane by the city have not been ex-
lonued during the time so as properly to meet the
requirements OF this great increase, and II sends
Few II any OF this class TO the state institutions, its
asylum buildings ,rc, consequently. all greatly crowd
acres OF land on Long Island near Central Isip, some
forty miles distant. with tho intention of erecting
part Of them at least to that locality, but until
been taken.
Last juno an Investigation was made by tho Board
OF the Asylum for Insane Men on Wards Island, ut
tention being called to 1t officially by Mayor Hewitt.
From the report OF the committee on this nvestiga-
ton 1t IS stated:
The accommodations in the mems asylum are great
y crowded II then having 1926 patients In tho main
Dnllding, with proper room for only about 600,
While there were 100 patients In detached structures,
Two OF winch cont aiming 40 patients. the committee
state should DO condemned as unnhabitabe." The
1000 Tor the insane was found TO be generally poor in
quality and badly cooked, the attendants were mostly
OF low grade OF Character and the committee was sat
isfed that grave abuses and glect existed In the
treatment and care of the patients By them. To
remedy these evils, tho committee recommend, first.
tho Immediate erection Of buildings upon the asylum
farm on Long Island, and tho removal Of patients TO
that locality, as to relieve the crowded condition of
the present buildings second, the employment OF "A
moro Intelligent and better class of attendants. and In
greater numbers than at present institution and
maintenance Of training school for attendants and
nurses, tho furnishing Of more generous and varied
diet for the patients and the Introduction Of proper
facilities for their amusement and for beahful and
productive labor and for their better Justification
the wards and third, the placing Of the insane under
department separate from the governing board of
the other charitable, penal and correctional lnstiiu-
lions of the city. subject TO the appointment dlrec
ton and control OF the Mayor.
Upon the application Of the Commissioners of Char
tiles and Correction. an appropriation Of 100000 has
recently been set apart by the Board Of Estimate and
AppOrtonmcnt for the erection of plain, inexpensive
cottage buildings for 100 male patients the Long
Island farm the plans Of which have been submitted
and approved by this Board. The work of con
struction has been entered upon, and tho Board IS
assured by Commissioners that these cottages will
be completed and occupied before the close OF tho
present year, and that further appropriations VIII De
made for the erection of additional cottages thereon
the coming year.
Attention IS also called to the nauper immigration
which, In spite of the law against 1t, continues to in
crease Last year 216 persons returned TO =
ropo by the Board few had provided for them
selves on landing but most Of these soon found their
way to hos pitfalls and pooThouses.