The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-11-02
7kEI TNENT or THE INSANE
Good Results Oh aimed by tho Mild Methods
Used at Wards Islaad.


Used at Wards Islasd.
1t Is safe estimate that nine out OF every
ten persons think OF an insane person as
violently insane. and picture an insane nj lum
rs massive structure largely made up Of
dungeons and padded cells. This almost
universal idea makes the condition OF the
| city's insane wards Oh Wards Island interest
ing. The treatment OF patients there is as
different from the almost universal belief as
oprosites can be.
wards Island insane asylum is big hos.
pital. Mental ailments are treated. instead Of
purely physical ills. In tho asylum patients
arc obliged to remain until cured. In the hos
pitfalls patients frequently insist upon leaving
long before they are cured. This ia tho main
difference between the respective institutions
under the present system Of treating the In
sane.
At present there are 2.266 insane patients in
the Wards Island asylum. MufYs. strait
Jackets. and the dozen and one other i'm plc-
ments Of restraint ips eparable in the minds
OF tho public with the treatment Of tho In
sane have not been used in the asylum for
the rast three years. The naludy OF tho
patients there ranges all the way from the
profound melancholy OF those afflicted with
the worst types OF melanchoia to the raving.
the suicidal. and homicidnl manins OF the vio-
little restraint aud absolutely no letters have
been necessary among the large number OF
patients and the variety OF phases. no two
exactly alike in their mental ailments.
In every respect the insane vagaries Of pa
ti"nts are humored us much as possible.
Meeting with no opposition. tho patient for
gets his particular vagary. while II contra
dicted or opposed his nerves. are excited. and
he broods over his especial delusion or studies
how To kill the ono who opposes him II his
mania is Of homicidal type. Under tho present
is finally forgotten entirely. This means n.s; 49," a
tabooed in the presence OF patients. because
forgotten the meaning Of the terms. and they
resent their application to themselves with
I more energy tnan sane man would. For
rouragcd ms much as possible. The pntients
AS objects OF curiosity and resent it. even
though they may give no outward sign that
they do. and tho consequent excitement is
The patients have free access to the daily
newspapers ever when they contain articles
winch are certain to excite the readers If
We kent the papers from such patients rs want
them They would feel sure there was some.
and the effect would be worse than LISTING
them see for themselves the doctors in
clihIEe shy.
Articles have beon printed which have i'm
posed extra watchfuneSs and increased our
responsibilities for weeks afterward. while
some have actually endangered our lives
among tho homicidal patients. and others
again have aroused tho suicidal mania to a
wonderful degree among the patients whose
malady assumes that FORM" the doctors add.
!ncreas ed wntchfulness and n lurger force of
attendants Is the treatment accorded the vio-
lentiy insane. while to all the in mates is given
as much liberty rs possible. Many Of them
spend much OF their time in the open air. un-
der the caro- OF attendants.
Even the noisy patients arc humored, II
they choose to vel! they are allowed to do So
They get tired Of shouting much quicker
rnre Il lat their cries disturb the other patients
enough TO make it necessary to try to stop
them. Then some active employment is given
them and they soon work off the surplus on
er:y which caused them to yell" the doctors
say. and add that the system Of opposing tho
insane as little as possible is ono OF tho
most important REASONS for placing them in
such an asylLin Allowed to bs mt large. the
lunatic is pretty sure to be ca ed fool by the
first one whom he introduces himself to as the
King Of T. ngnnd or the III esident OF the United
States. Angered by opposition he argues il
mildly insane. nr it may be tries to kill the one
who contradicts him il violently insane. In
either instance his malady is increased by ex-
rit-nent and anger. Under tho trsatine emit
accorded on Wards Island larger percent
age Of cures are effected than ever before.