The Delta independent., 1889-01-08
INSANE AND HEApLEss,
Old-Tlme and Modern Practices Of
Treating the Demented,


sane people were almost invariably
treated by what has been designated
the restraint system" It's whole ten
aency was to curb every feeling, delu-
sion and action. This, writes New
York correspondent, could only be
done by force, and it has been truly
said that the cruelties practiced upon
patients in the effort to cure them
made an asylum veritable 'chamber
Of horrors"
Insane asylums are now turned into
workshops and Fairgrounds. The pa
tient, instead Of being kept in the gloom
Of cell, where even well man could
not long retain his reason, is induced
TO work and play under as gentle treat
ment as can be maintained consistent
with every one. The kind of work is,
Of course, very important thing to de
termine, and the whims and notions of
patients must be taken into considera-
ton. Each patient must be considered
alone, as no general rule can be laid
down, the main point being to keep
the patient at some sort of labor or
play from the time of arising in the
morning until bedtime.
Experiments are being constantly
made to improve the condition of the
insane and to discover universal cure
for the disease. It matters not how
deeply a person may be involved in de-
iusions there always remains some rea-
soning power, and 1t is the belief of not
few alienists that II the proper ma
serial can be brought to excite this
power it can be built upon to such an
sxtent that it will restore the patient to
sanity. In following out this idea in a
general way this strange malady was
recently cured at the Bloomingdale Asy-
tlm in unique and peculiar manner
by DR.. Hammond. The patient was
John R. Haskell, southern gentleman
who formerly lived at Atlanta. He is
highly educated, and came of an old
family and noted for pride. He carried
himself from childhood with an aristo-
cratic bearing, and was noted for his
integrity, intelligence and intellectual
ability There is no history OF insanity
In the family.
Mr.. Haskell married when quite
young, and has an interesting family
of several children. He is about forty
years of age. About year ago, fol-
lowing the death of Mr.. Haskell's eldest
son, there came sudden and unac-
eountable change in his disposition,
thoughts, desires and modes of living.
he squandered money fo0lishly. flew
Into a passion at the least thing, and
exhibited great profanity. changed his
Intentions momentarily, and aston
lshed the wives of several of his init
mate friends by Offering his hand and
heart in marriage. He was very rest
less, and his facial muscles werG con-
stantly in motion. He asked pointed
and insulting questions talked about
his family affairs greatly to his infe-
riors in social position, was unt!dy in
his dress and filthy in his habitu, and
appropriated every thing to his own
nse to which he took fancy without
regard to ownership. He finally threat
ened to kill his wife-who was heart
broken at his unfortunate condition
believing that she had poisoned him,
and, as q precautionary measure, he
was removed to the asylum. A month
Rfter he was put in duress he reached
y maniacal stage. He dressed gro
tesquely, assaulted the attendants,
smashed furniture, tore the chothing
from every one he could reach, oonsid-
ored himself in full dress in white
plug hat, drew vile pictures, selected
the devil as his friend and companion,
burned of his hair and whiskers, fell
deeply in love with every woman he
saw, and spent much of his time heav-
ing fuel into the furnace that supplied
the intense heat and kept the lake of
fire burning in hades.
He was better and worse at intervals,
and though dirty in inclination and
habit, he still maintained nearly all the
time that courtly grace that distin-
guished the Southern gentleman of the
old school. 1t was very sad spectacle
to witness the strange and disgusting
antics OF one who had been so truely
good and noble.
His many delusions after a time CEN
tered in the idea that his happiness on
earth and in Heaven depended on the
removal of his head and that OF his at
.tendant. He talked about this inces-
sanity, and it took up SO much Of his
time that many of his former maniacal
demonstrations seemed to be, as itwere,
forgotten. DIR. Hammond considered
the condition of the patient an excel
lent one for experiment, and carried
out the patients notion in the most
realistic manner possible. He proceed
ed to cut off the patients head. A
large sword was procured, and while
the patieat was firmly held the cold
steel was run around his neck sew
eral times. To make it thoroughly i'm
pressed "a bladder containing blood was
punctured and the crimson fluid spilled
around and a wax head was shown the
patient and he was convinced that it
was his own. The attendants head
was also cut of, and this pleased the
lupatic greatly, To carry out the idea.