The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-02-15
InxArrcs.
The Death Rate By Fire In r.-ar- Aryiurss-
A Pennsylvania Pructicc.

a FeunsSfvnntn Frnctec.
To THE Eptrop OF THE suN-Srs A fow days
ago the insane asylum ut Dover. n. H.. was
burned. and forty-four OF tho forty-elght in
mates. heiplessly locked In cells. were roasted
to death. snch occurrences re not
At the burning Of the asylum at Tongue
Pointe. near Quebec. Canada one hundred
were burned to death. A partial list. however.
OF recentasylum fires AID the number kiliedis;
Central Insane Asylum. nashville, Tenn. nine sur~s'
to death.
Chenanso County Poarhcuie. Preston. y, Y" thir.
teen burned to death.
Biockley Aimshonse Philadelphia. Pa. twents'ons
burned to death.
Asylum at Columbus. o, many burned TO ,eath.
Asylum Mt st. Peter. Mimi. twelve burned to denth.
Asylum at Anna. IL. one burned 10 death.
There is no record Of tho number burned at
recent fires OF asylums at the following places'
Augusta. Me-: Dratticboto. Vt: Ut.cn, n. u:
Eh"xInE;sn. Ky.; HorEinsylilc. kyi; w Ill Mn':
Denville., Pa: Ossnwntomir. Kan. -,
In all these case. tho b ,lients were locked
from the outside, and there was no one at
hand to release them. II seems TO be q fact
mat 1t Is entirely unnecessary to lock patients
Moro than ten years ago Dr.. Alico Bennett
Of Norristown, in.. Asylum. in whiri, there 10
an average, uf l.UOO women patients. She
iMS Her rn;ien ,ne l "ss q not lH Tssn Is"sss I IN celia eeIis.
~ wv ''V'
Nor docs it seem to, ue necessary. unless In
rare ca.es. to use such cells. ...
will, the insane the one fact which impresses
me is the wonderfully little difference there IL
It is true that | hav. seen soine few insane
men and women VINO seemed ~ REQUIRE the
was that their vicious habits lad resulted
from being chained ur. lust as u dog becomes
ef TSe " iaet Is Xxi ,h si'e for mnrS than a decade
Alice Bennett has very successfully treated
loo insane women repr"sep.inR ever, tyre
locked in cells In other American nsyl6ms.
and every nov aud then a lot OF them are
What i the reason? WHY has no asylum
Why has tie natter not been discussed? Why
n 1fo not Il 9ssi np GGet"r ss GHnsid Nn Mia LIZ tenn snn.
sons 70 lock themY, WY IS such expense
made. It nnnesessaryy Why have not asylum
have not Tie frionds and re atives 81 the pa:
iocksd eslIss il cells are nnnecesssry they
must prevent or retard the recovery Of the pa
n nsnss n at TIE hss'G asylu ,me and tS 81 ' inere %S,n Tie
expense. Why this absence ,ot economy. hu-
mnnity. and mercy in the asylumsp -
as the remedy. When the horrible custom Of
abandoning a man az the asylum, door closes
at5ocious features will be abolished.
The action OF u Grand Army post in regard
to their insane members confined in asylums
Is commended by the Genepd democrat:
The action Of Swift Post In recommending the Grand
Encampment TO amend the rules so that each post
shall each month visit comrades confined in insane
asylums is very important. The Governor Of the state
IL now investigating CHARGES OF Inism Anag lent in
certain state a.yiuins The Mayor Of New York 10 in
restignting similar charges against city Asylums. In
every State similar charges ar. pending. Old sol.
uiers receiving pensions are easy ' victims OF design
Ing parsons. II the Grand ENHANCEMENT, v hIch meets
at syracuse on Feb. % and ~, shall ndort the recon-.
m.ndat.on of Swift Post. some lively developments
will resut I.
When Masons. Odd Fellows. Grand Army Of
the Republic. and other frnternities visit their
brethren each month in asylums. humane
treatment, will be enforced. Until then. the
insane will be tortured as heretofore.
GENEVA. N. \. ALBEIT b. GUILBERT,