Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-05-23
THE CHICAGO ASYLUM.
More Revelations of the
Horrors Therein.
BoODLERIsM AT THE BOTTOM.
Filth, Vermin, Drunkenness, Profan-
ity, immortality and Murder
Reign Rampant.
Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALD

| Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALD.
Chicago, May 22.-In the inquiry Al
to the state of affairs in the Cook County
Insane Asylum, to-day, DR.. Clevenger
formerly a member of the medical staff
there testified that it was impossible fol
reputable practitioner or attendant te
stay there. The most disreputable onef
were the ones to stay, because they de-
voted more time to intrigue. The disrep'
utable ones practiced system of elm
ination of the better element. either by
physical violence or other means. In
1885," said the Doctor, "the physicians
who secured bodies at the asylum for
dissection at the Rush Medical College
told me that the bodies were SO covered
with vermin that they had to be scorched
before being placed on the dissecting
table. Once, in 1885, l heard screams of
pain and, running from my office, found
two attendants standing over patient
who was bleeding profusely. [ kne W
there was no use making any complaint
as these attendants were supported by
influence on the county board. Soon
after they refused to obey my orders.
They secreted bodies on which l desired
to hold post-mortem examination, and
l could not get them for two or three
days after they were buried. l pub
lished statement, and the following
night one OF the attendants abused me.
A few minutes later a shot was fred
down stairs, and the bullet crashed
through the floor and lodged in my book
case.o Soon after this the Doctor re-
signed.
"What is the matter with the institu
ton now ?" asked the attorney.
1T is under the influence of boodler-
ism. tits in bad place, on unsalubri-
GUS grounds. There should be two new
buildings-one for male and one for fe-
male patients; then the county board
should be kicked out and the asylum
put into the hands of a State commits
sion." DIR. Clevenger told how the
boodlers had prevented an investigation.
Even ministers of the gospel were afraid
of the boodlers who occupied seats in
their churches. He said there.has been
re peated testimony that vermin abounded
in the wards, and DIR. Kohler, an assist
ant physician, found maggots in the
wounds of neglected patients. In 1884
bedbugs would torture patients under
their straight jackets, land rats would mu-
tilate the bodies of those who
had died unattended during the
night. The male attendants were
usually appointed by the county
Commissioner for their fighting abilities
at the polls, at election time. The
brawls, drunkenness, oaths. incessant
alarms, pistol shooting, immortality,
stealing, etc exerted very depressing
influence upon decent officials there, and
caused them to waste much OF their en-
ergy in keeping out of rows. The County
Board financial reports were falsi6ed and
confused in variety of ways, and often
the expression general expenses" would
cover thousand dollars of unaccounted-
for bills. Everything was done to make
an apparent showing of external cleanli-
ness, but the whitewashing, and the
flowers, and well-kept lawn constituted
the place but whited sepulcher.