The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1891-12-24
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by large body Of physicians.
When DR. David Tilton Brown, who had
been superintendent of the BlOomingClAle
insane asylum, in New York city, foe
nearly quarter Of n century, became ir-
rational in 1874 or 1870, and, after being
taken abroad for change Of sceno, developed
the most Violent form Of insanity. neccssi-
tating his incarceration in an Edinburgh
Institution, the case was cited as IN illus
sration of the Old tradition, and it was al
legged that the unsettling Of his mind was
due entirely to the depressing influence
exercised upon it by daily intercourse with
hundreds Of afflicted mortGls during so
many years.
So, too, with DR.. Andrew McFarland
The proprietor and former head physician
Of Oak Lawn Retreat, Jacksonville Ills.
who committed suicide few weeks ago
An additional argument cited was that DR.
Mcfarland, before establishing Oak Lawn
Retreat, had been up to 1850 supCrintend-
ant of the New Hampshire hospital, and
from that time until 1871 had had charge
Of the Central Illinois insane asylum. It
was also recalled that he had been u great
friend of DIR. David Tilton Brown, and
that, like him, he had for "a long time been
recognized as one of the most prominent
alienistS in the United States. Like DIR.
Brown, too, he was OF a particularly sym
pathetic nature, and this, along with the
other facts, WAS brUught forward to
strengthen the claim That his mind had
been affected by his profession.
These arc the things which have been
told, but the exact manner of the death Of
DR.. Mcfarland and the causes leading up
to it, rs well as the event which first made
the reason OF DIR. Brown Waver, have not
been generally published.
When DIR. David Tilton Brown took
charge Of The Bloomingdale asylum in 1852
he was young man-in fact, the youngest
who had ever held so important u position
in New York state. He was of an exceed
ingly jOvial temperament, was fond Of good
living, played u good game Of billiards,
liked any kind of books except medical
works, and though he soon made u national
reputation as an authority upon diseases of
the brain, it was more rs the result of the
Influence given him by his position and
his wonderfully brilliant intellect than be
| cause of any deep research. AS for his con
slant contact with the patients, that is u
myth. Leading alienists and other persons
| familiar with the duties OF tho officials of
| insane asylUms know that the suIcrintend-
! ent exercises only general supervision over
| the patients, and that most Of his informa-
| ton as to individual cases IS derived from
| the reports Of tho heads of the various do
| paTtmcntS. Even these are usually only
| lightly scanned, except when something of
| especial moment occurs. Therefore, as DR.
| Browns administration Cf the affairs at
| BlOOmingdale was about tho same Us that of
| other insane asylum Observation-Disclosures
| talnly no moro CXscting-it is scarcely prob
able that his duties would havo unbalanced
| his mind. Besides, whilc DR.. Brown WIS Il
particularly warm hearted and genial man,
his was not what might have been called Il
| sympathetic nature.
What really did break down tho intellect
| of Dayid Tilton Brown was this: During
the early months of 1872, when it WIS pro-
posed to nominate u Liberal Republican
candidate against President u. S. Grant,
| whose first term WAS then drawing to q
| close, the question of Horace Greeley's
availability was canvasSed. Greeley mind
was at that timo In a very weak condition
Some of his most intimate friends urged
! the great editor TO foreSo his ambition,
| which was certain, they pointed out, TO re
suit in disaster. But Greeley was prover-
bially obstinate, and he refused to listen to
| any advice which counseled tho relinquish-
| ing of his idea that he could beat Grant
| However, as Charles, Francis Adams
| seemed to be developing strength, it was
| decided TO leave Greeley alone to his va
gary. But when theconvention assembled
at Cincinnati, to the great surprise Of al