New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-30
ILLNESS OF DIR. MACDONALD.
A FALSE REPORT ABOUT HIS CONDITION.
H1s p1ysIcIANs AND TIE CHARITIES CoMMIs-
sIoNERs INDIGNANTLY DENY THE
RUMOR THAT HE is INSANE.

report was published yesterday statlng that
Dr. A. E. Macdonald the general superintendent Oh
the insane asyums of the city, and one OF the most
celebrated experts in insanity cases In this country
was himself insane at his home on Wards lsiand
The report grew out of the fact that Dr. Macdonald
has been seriously III for several weeks reference 10
which has been made several times in The Tribune
The rumor that he insane caused general sur
prise and the Commissioners OF Chariues were Oe
sieged with inquiries at their ohce'
The Commissioners were themselves no less as
tonlshed declared that tbs rumors had no iounu
tion d.. Simmons, president OF the board ana Mr
Brennan said that there absolutely no ground
for such a r,mor Commissioner Porter at once
rang The telephone Of Dr. Bond, who is superintendent
of the Wards Island Asylum for Males, and asked
him what he knew Of Dr. Macdonald's condition. III
Bond repet that the rumor was not true ana NO
added that DR.. Trautman, who had been attenuins
Dr Macdonald during his illness, and who resigned
rom the superntendency of the asylum last month";
mad Just informed him that Dr. Macdonald was s,esa
i,y convaescng and would be able to so out In
few days
Dr. Bond and Dr. Trautman subsequently gave an
account to a Tribune reporter OF Dr. Macdonaiu
Illness He has been for nearly two years atnicted
with malaria contracted in the Wards Island Asylum
Last summer the attacks were severe at times ana
have ,rostrated him for several weeks He dld not
however leave his duties for rest, except 10 go
TO Isl5 with his family, where he has couage sn"
at thg same time he gave his attention ana super
vision 10 the farm for the insane which the department.
is establishing there He became Ill IN NOVEMBER
but on his recovery SIX weeks ago returned with his
.ar,ily TO his home on Wards Island. -Four weeks
Az, his strength again gave way, and Dr. Trautmah,
WHO was then about to Leave his position, remahen
to assist and attend him. The last attack was coi
Mi ,ated with rheumatic fever which, in his exhausted
condition, assumed serious character lie de'cI
opd high temperature and for moro than two
annplV
and was attended with frequent intervals OF delrum
"Were there any indications Of Insanity at these
times ~ DR.. Trautman was asked
"There were manifestations Of Insanity. speak
of deijrIum as distinct from insanity We have moro
than 1000 cases in the asylum at the present time'
many Of them among the worse cases OF INSANITY,
but among them Of delrum; that Is the
difference. The delirlum may come from typhoid
fever or any sickness which affects the brain. The
insane patient has always certain consistency with
which you can reason, but patient who Is delrious
from fever often cannot be reasoned with or con-
trolledS
Did DR.. Macdonald become vioentl'
Not at ALL His weakened condition aggravated
his case but there any violence. Mrs
Macdonald or myself with him most OF the time.
and be had but one other attendant at time day
nurse and a night nurse tho same as patients In
similar condition. The most marked indication OF
violence was dislike that he took to the manner
of one Of these nurses at first and he got up from
bed and called to have another nurse sent him. At
all other times his delirium was OF the ordinary KIM
distinguishing such cases"
"To what do you attribute such rumor as TO his
condition.
a have no knowledge as TO how It started except
thar it may have grown out of some exaggerated
report Of an attendant of the asylum Naturally, his
condition would give rise TO exaggeration on the part
Of those who were msinformed and did not know how
distfn hetIC condition
of the inmates. / have suffered from similar
Illness contracted here and of the reasons OF my
retirement is the consequent III health"
DO you consider DR.. Macdonald out of danger
now ~
"Yes, he has had no fever for five days and
will be able next week to 60 out. In three weeks
he Will be fully recovered unless there should be
return of the fever. To-day he sat for time and
nc said that he was feeling better than he
had for many months with recovery
from the malaria he should be in short time well
and strong man As ever You say from me
that he is not insane likely to be. His brain is
not affected, and his mind IL p,riectly clea""
Dr. Macdonald became member OF the medical
Than twenty-five years ago lie devoted himself
specialist to the OF the insane and his ability,
rank in this specially and secured him the control OF
the institutions Of the city As an authority IN ms ms
country and in Europe. He has been frequently called
as an expert IN prominent cases alGns ae pr no
dent Garfield. The Of his methods of trrai-
ing in ane patients has contributed lal Scly In IcVO
luilOnzng the methods followed I'm asS luns all over
the country. lie among the ilst 10 do away
with personal restraint and the general use OF strait
Jackets and chains, which were always re orted 10
with patients who became violent He is a man OF
large and commanding appearance, six feet In height
Weighing 200 pounds, and with natural tact
of manner and command which g1ye him the cohtroi
OF his patients without the use OF force
DE- seaman, who was for many years associated
with DR.. Macdonald In the pu0llc lhstltntl0nS ana
who is his warm c.sOna frrnd. said ycste dag thai
this unoundcd repOr of the doctor calculated to
devoid OF truth In p ivate life Dr Macdonald has
friends all over the country, who Will hear with