New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-30
ALMSHOUSE HORRORS.
EXPOSED BY THE STATE COMMISSION IN
LUNACY.

THE FIRST ANNUAL REPoRT-sHooKING ABUSES
DISCLOSED REcoMMENDATuoNs OF
THE COMMISSION.
Albany Jan. 20.-The first annual repor. VI ~. .n
state Commission in Lunacy was transmi.'eu !" .o
Legislature to-day. The Commission CONSISTS Vi u
Carlos F. Macdonald, chairman, and Messrs. "oou l
Brown and Henry A. Reeves. with T. H. Mc"aii
% s.cretarv The report is quite elaborate anu con-
tans large amount Of well-tabulated satisucS' ono
Of its chief features is its graphic description OF 'no
neglect and abuses TO which pauper insane pauenS'
are subjected in some Of the county aimsnouseS "0n
are exempted from the operation Oh the "'naru aoS
MANY OF the things related are almost Voo eho'Ae
for belief and entirely unfit for genera puOhoauon
Names of the keepers and places have, however oeen
emitted lest apy sense of personal injustice De iei''
since many of the keepers and other employees VI oso
institutions are worthy, Woodworking ana ialr hnuea
peope who appear 10 be conscientious anu ]cAiou'
in the performance OF duty; and the Oolnnilssion
takes occasion to acknowledge the fidelity anu pauen'
devotion to duty displayed by many OF those uiuo'
maid and oyerworked people who have insane pauehts
in their charge, and who are only III nin0i U'e'0'
responsible for the evils observed.
within a small room, in an old and dilapiuateu
wooden building suitable only for an outbundhg, oh
bleak and wintry day was found demen'eu ON
woman apparently about seventy years OF age on'
was in state Of turbulent dementia, scanlly oi@a'
barefooted, exceedingly filthy and unable 10 aPpro.
cate her condition or surroundings sne "ene aoou'
the narrow confines of her cell-llke room, beauhs
snoon against the wall and utterng unintelgibe cries
The furniture in tho consisted OF dilaplda'ca
bedstead on which was tick hal1nlleu WIN "0'
and filthy straw the quantity being msunhcieh' i"
make comfortable bed even If the material hao ooo
wholesome and clean. Upon this LICK was So
and wet cotton comfortable or quilt. Inc moor
9TH
which was exceedingly offensive. While the cominlS
soners were standing in front OF the cell, pauper
girl apparently about sixteen years OF age ehtero ~
room through a side door which was lasVeheu WIN
hook on the outside. She carried Dasih vi ioo'
which she placed on the bed anc passed out Inc
old woman proceeded to MUNICH some OF tlle ioou o"
of the basn and placed it on the floor. upon oelps
Interrogaed this young girl explained that she ana
another inmate of the poorhouse coloreo gl' "eio
the only persons who attended TINS OLD woman .i"s
they did the best they could for her. that hey iooh
after her bed that they brought her ned-cIotns V
night: carried her food, etc. She SAID tha' inc
was left alone there being other occupants Oh Io
bullding except FIVE or six filthy mon patients VINO
occupied the other rooms and these without attendants
either day or night, except pauper VINO tooh thein
to a distant building 10 their meals. Inc Keeper "pon
being questioned did not deny that the woman was
left alone in the building with the men, anu ~
extenuaton OF such horrible state of affairs SAID
here a few years ago. In this same puilding 'e
ev NJ the doors of the other rooms was only found
after some difficulty and delay. The beds IN these
rooms were examined and presented noSt shocAils
anncorance The ticks were only partly filled Win
straw and the bedding saturated and dscooreo pS
human filth. The odor from the beds was extremely
offensive penetratil the whole building The keeper
sIinod that the occupants Of these rooms were all
e,hv natients that there not sufficient facnueS
nronery 70 care for them, and that therefore they
were placed in this old structure; were taken py
manner 10 their meals and at night were left togeter
In the building with the woman, unattended
At this same Institution in the new building upon
ope.ing the door Of a patients room, woman was
fonnd standing in a corner with cotton quiz over
her head she was barefooted and evidently had ho's
On her person except blue cotton skirt and mans
coat The attendant when asked II the woman had On
any other clothing replied that she mad not 9ne
said that the patient was extremely hlthy anu us
turbed: that she was kept in the room In oruer "
avoid trouble that occasionally she was oroushV ou'
and strapped TO wooden post which supported 'lio
calling of the room adjoining. The floor OF the room
which the patient occupied was wet and foul.
When il is remembered that the day In question was
50 cold that snow had fallen and that there was
no way for warm air to enter the room except through
the door which was kept closed, 1t may be justly
inferred that this woman suffered from cold.
In another institution found man about thirty
wears fastened III u cHhlr dU uo INV W $50
he'd He was chewing tobacco and was expectoratine
h ,ice rnon tho onee white coverlet of his bed. To
tho most casual observer it would have been evident
that the man. aside from his clearly marked INSANITY
was much debilitated. When asked why he was
he said IL was TO prevent his running away; that
when he went out to work he was chained IL uu
not clearly appear why 1t was necessary for ths SICK
and feeble man TO be taken out In chains ana worked
AT the same place a woman was Observed slttns
| rnon the ward with badly swollen face. She COM
pained that she had been unable for days 10 see uo
| doctor When the attendant was questioned IN re-
| card 10 the matter. she SAID that IL was
| evident the Commissioners did not understand the
case that the woman frequently made similar COM
nlaints and even If a doctor called he could do
| little for her. The medical commissioner examined
the woman's face and found that the swelling ana
main were dine TO an liberated tooth, from which a
very little medical attention would have reheVeu her'
In the women's ward Of another Institution the
scene presented was that of veritable bedlam' IN
this ward were found, Unfortunately huddled to-
gether paupers, children Migrants ana insane, all III
a state of extreme disorder. One motherly looking
woman was discovered going about the place bare
| footed with apparently nothing on but a skirt and
cotton undsrwaist the latter much dsordered as to
permit the exposure of her person. The keeper eX-
plained that at intervals this woman was sane and
was then permitted to leave the institution That at
such times she a modest, respectable, hardworh-
ing woman. II certainly appeared to be monstroui
wrong that woman who at times is rational should
be compelled to stay in place where there Is little
or no distinction made between the sane and the In
sane pauper
In one instance, when the question Of bathing was
under discussion and when II found that four and
five patients were bathed in the same water, the ex
PLANTATION was made with some care that tc patients
with skin diseases bathed last" In another II
was stated that two filthy patients were put In the
same bed undoubtedly this was for the purpose Of
saving bedclothing, trouble and annoyance. These
two instances of loathsome practices might also be
cited in illustration of the crude ideas OF classification
that obtain in some OF these county institutions.
In one Of the largest county Institutions IN tho
state. one Of the only two In which resident ply
stefan is employed, most deplorable condition o.
affairs was discovered. This physician was found
acting In the place of attendant; in fact, was at
| .ondinr male paiients portion