The evening world., 1894-06-08
HAD VERY LITTLE CLOTHING.
More About the Treatment of New
York's Insane Poor.
Scant Raiment, No Shoes and Dirty
Laundry Work.

The proceedings in the investigation OF
the manner in which New York takes
care of Its insane poor which Is being
carried on by the State Commission in
Lunacy at he Park Avenue Hotel, was
resumed at II o'clock to-day with Dr..
Louise h. Rabinovitch again on the
stand.
Ex-Judge John d. McMahon continued
the examination OF DIR. Rabinovitch,
who yesterday told so much about the
way the patients were treated.
The witness was first asked to de-
scribe the clothing worn by the women
patients in Winter on Blackwell's
Island. Or. Rabinovitch said that in
her judgment both the Winter and
Summer clothing of the women was in
sufficient In Winter the clothing con-
sisted OF suit OF canton flannel under
wear, n short petticoat of some coarse
material like canvas and a bingham
dress. Cotton yarn stockings, knit by
the women, and heavy shapeless shoes
muCh too large for their feet, completed
the outfit
Sometimes, according to the witness,
thcfe were not enough shoes to 60
around, and the women who were with
out footgear were compelled to remain
In the wards, while those who had shoes
TOOK their daily walks. Sometimes the
patients took turns wearing the shoes
ana then all got their walk.
In Summer the womens clothing con-
sisted of chemlse, a short petticoat
and and the same Bingham dress worn in
winter The women were allowed no
garment to clothe their neither limbs in
summer.
DIR. Rabinovltch said she had never
seen "A Sineh an dress come back from
the laundry which was not so dirty that
II was hard to believe that It had seen
the washtub.
The clothing which came from the
laundry was Invariably 30 damp that II
had to be hung up In the wards to-day.
The steam arising from the drying cloth
Ing was, the doctor thought, dangerous
TO health She had 80 expressed herself
| to Dr. Tyler, who was recognized as the
| medium of communication between the
stan physicians and DR.. Dent, the Medi-
cal Superintendent
Frequent consultations were held
among the stan physicians concern
ing the Acknowledgement OF the institu-
! ton, but no complaints were made to
DIR. Tyler or DIR. Dent. because both
gentlemen knew the state Of affairs as
The witness declared that d. Dent
| made round OF inspection not oftener
| than once a month.
Commissioner Reeves brought out the
fact that there was no system by which
patients could keep track OF their cloth
Ing to the laundry, and that every
thing was what might be termed inter
|
The witness said that she had otter
heard Of acts of personal violence com
mitted on the patients by the atten
dants. DR.. Kuntz. who was in the
violent ward. had told the witness thai
he had often seen attendants inflic'
bodily punishment on the poor. de
mented women.
DIR. Rabinovitch was called to quiet q
patient, a Mrs Brown. She found tha
an attendant had been having a re
| ligious discussion with Mrs Brown, ant
was holding the insane woman on tn,
floor.
Each member of the medical stan, &C
cording to the witness, always carrie,
a hyperdermic syringe ready to jab int
any Of the patients who became violent
She had hers with her. with didn't fin,
II necessary to use II.
The witness had frequently spoken I,
DR.. Tyler about the incompetency o.
the attendants. They were selected
from among Irish immigrants. who
were qualified physically, but had ne
mental qualifications. Some could hard
| ly read or write.