Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-23

CHICAGO, May 22-In the inquiry as to
the state of affairs at the Cook County Insane
Asylum to-day DR.. Clevenger, formerly a
member of the medical staff there, testified
that it was impossible for reputable prac-
titioner to stay there. The most disreputa.
BILE ones were the ones to stay, because they
devoted more time TO intrigue. The disreputa-
BILE ones practiced system of elimination of
the better element by either physical violence
or other means
I'm 1856, said he, "the physicians who secured
bodies at the asylum for dissection told me
that the bodies were so covered with vermin
that they had to be scorched before being put
on the dissectng table. Once in 1855, heard
screams of pain, and, running from my office,
found two attendants standing over patient
named Harrisburg, who was bleeding profusely.
knew there was no use in making any COM
plant, as the attendants were supported by
John Cummings influence on the County
Board. Soon after they re beIled and refused
to obey my orders. They secreted bodies on
tons, and could not get them for two or three
days after they we're buried
A VERY BAD PLACE.
81 published a statement, and the following
night one of the attendants called me a,vile
name, and few moments later shot was fired
downstairs, bullet crashed through the floor
and lodged in my bookcase"
Soon after this the doctor resigned.
What is the matter with the institution
now?' was asked.
sit is under the influence of boodlerism. 1t
is in bad place, on unsalubrious ground.
There should be new buildings for male, as we'll
female patients. No building should have
more than 500 patients because it is impossible
for one man to oversee more. Then the County
hnfl1h hal ar76
into the hands of State commission"
The doctor told how boodlerism had pre-
vented Investigations
There has been repeated testimony that lice
abounded in the wards, and DR.. Roller an as
sistant physician, found maggots in the wounds
of neglected patients. Bedbugs would torture
patients under their straight jackets and rats
would mutilate the bodies Of those who had
died unattended during the night Male at
tendants were usually appointed by the COM
mlssioners for their fighting abilities at the
polls in frauduIently carrying elections and
seemed to want to keep in practice at the ex-
pense OF the insane. They often openly defed
the superintendent and when threatened with
dismissal reminded the official that he hadn't
sufficient political influence. The majority of
the attendants being of this low character the
efforts of those who were well disposed were
discouraged.
WORSE AND MORE OF IT.
"Brawls, drunkenness, oaths, slamming of
doors, incessant alarms blackmailing buster,
pistol shooting, intrigues, immortality, stealing,
neglect of duty on part of subordinates, exerted
very depressing influence upon the decent
officials there and caused them to waste much
of their energies in keeping out of rows. There
are stealages in the clothing in various ways,
and even the rags and the bones were sold for
the Deneft of the one who had control of such
offal. The County Board financial reports
were falsified ana confused in a variety of
ways; often the expression general expenses
would cover thousand dollars or more of un-
accounted-for bills, and at one time some
$50 900 was included in a lump in some such
item to the perfect satisfaction of the commits
sioners.
ITO add.to the turmoil. while the perfectly
new boilers were being destroyed in the engine
room to enable more stealings and the patients
were suffering for want of heat the Commis-
sioners would interfere with the classification
of the insane by ordering violent cases, in
which they happened to have an interest, to be
placed within the wards assigned to quiet and
convalescent patients, and otherwise inter-
fered with the proper treatment of the insane.
Everything was done to make an apparent
showing of external cleanliness, but the white
washing and-the flowers and the well-kept lawn
constituted the place but whited sepulchre"