Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-11-20
WATERBURY ASYLUM.
The Legislative Committee Visits
the Institution.

Damaging Evidence by a Former AssIs-
tant PhysIcian---Dr. GIddings In His
Own BehRlf---Dr. LRvtOn of Brattle-
bOro TestIaes as an Insane Expert---
the Records of Mrs. Larrabee and MIR.
Nash at BrattIebOrO.
DR.. L. X. Graves Of New York, who was assist
ant physician at the Waterbury asylum from
june 1892, to July, 1S93 the first winess last
Thursday before the legislative investigation
committee. He thought the patients were treated
kindly. The temperature was sometimes great
deal lower than he could endure with comfort.
This in the daytime. The steam was turned
off at night, and the halls we're cold. An attend
ant had rheumatic fever, apparently from expo
sure to cold in the building. He thought that the
superintendent meant TO give the patients enough
food. There were sometimes complaints about
the quality of the butter. He thought that the
meat was generally good Once after some sick
hogs had died the asylum farmer reported that
one hog had an abscess in the intestines and
asked what he should do with IT, There was no
answer given and the farmer afterwards told him
that the pork was sent to the asylum to be used.
He did not eat the meat and because of the Incl
dent asked leave to get his meals at home.
Cross examined by Mr.. Stickney, he said that
he could not remember examining Fitzsimmons
for marks of injury but that he probably did,
and II marks were IOund the asylum record maze
by him would show the fact. DR.. Graves read
copy of a letter he mt to Trustee Hunt after he
left the asylum, complaining that the patients
were not properly warmed or amused, that the
attendants were not properly instructed, that the
patients had no books and the institution no
books on insanity nor instruments. The letter
charged that the management was too penurious
and tnat the asylum was run as an almshouse
rather than as hospital II also charged that the.
carcasses of animals which died Of disease were
used as meat in the asylum. The doctor said that
he was not on good terms with Giddings when he
left the asylum He wrote OF penurousness and
of the low pay of attendants and the use Of bad
meat and poor butter.
DR.. Giddings, the superintendent, testified In
his own behalf Thursday afternoon. He had
practiced medicine since 1866 and had been in the
asyl um since April, 1922. He denied in toto the
charges Of striking, kicking, choking and hogglnR
female patients. He fed Mrs. Larrabee, patient,
with a spoon and presumed that he bruised her
gums using it. He had fed patients by seizing
their noses SO that they opened their mouths. Pa
tIents have deusions as to eating that they have
no threats or that the food is poisoned, and the
aim is to destroy the decisions.
The asylum has no punishments. The idea Of
punishment is absurd in an asylum. He saw
wet cloth brought out and laid on the table to
scare a patient to prevent her biting herself and
it was ffectual. He at that time threatened the
patient with the CLOTH He never saw the cloth
applied, but had heard about 1t.
He said that the patients were deprived of their
clothing only as a last resort. His instructions
always were that patients should have all the
clothing they could be induced to wear Emma
Hoyt very destructive, and when given
blankets at night would tear them In pieces and
throw them out of the room before 9 O'Clock.
The scalding of Somervllle wa immedi ttelY re-
ported by the attendant. Somerville had burn
on the lower part of his back He found that
Somerville complained that the water was cold,
that the atten ant raised him up on the side Of
the tub and turned the hot water on and somer'
vile slid into the tub and was burned. Somer-
vile about again In fortnight.
He did not hear of Fitzsimmons having any
fight or receiving any injury. He was called TO
see the man three or four days before he died. He
was never entirely satisfied about the cause Of
Fitzsimmons's death, but thought there might be
complications with the kidney trouble
He never helped turn Fitzsimmons in the bed
to expose his back when Edgar Tuthil was
present, ana he performed no operation with
Tuthill present. Sally Towne died from hemor-
rhage. The witness thought that every possible
thing was done after her child was born to save
her life. He never heard about the little girl
being shut up in the small closet until the testi
mony was given at this hearing The child was
an epieptc. The closet lock was spring and the
child might have locked herself In or Mrs. Legget
might have put her in. Mrs. Legget was reck
oned one of the best attendants, but Is dead He
had yarn and leather mittens for the men, and
either were furnished at all times asked for.
I1is .aaSt bad always been to keep the
halls warm. Hey yer knew about q pig with an
abscess beng used a. the asylum
The investigating copmittee visited the asylum
Friday. They found many sights that were re-
voting. but moth ng more than TO be ex
pected in an institution OF the kind. Some OF the
patients complained about the food furnished
them and othe rs begged TO be released. The asy-
lum burying ground was found TO be small I'M
were marked by small boards like stakes driven
into the ground upon few of which were writ
ten the names OF the patients buried.
Three witnesses we're briefly examined at the
asylum. Harry Lease, who lives in town and
used to work in the asylum, said that the water
was Tanning out Of the tub and CIRCUIT, the attend
not obey ed and Circuit said II have lifted you out
all that am going IN; will see whether you will
and Somervllle was burned. de thought that the
help did not tell tales on each other.
DR., G. Bidwell assistant physician at the asy
lum, said that Mrs. Perry never told him about
any struggle between MARY Gabraith and DR.
Giddings and he never saw any injuries on Mary
that be coull remit mber. He also testified about
Chas Ii. Pownell, who works in the asylum,
said that he never told Attendant McAllister to
fog patient with hose TO make him eat and
never saw McAlster do such thing, but di see
him with hose IN his hands. He never saw any
patient struck by an attendant and never heard
any patients complain OF abuse.
DIR. 5. K. Lawton, superintendent OF the Brattle-
boro Retreat testified Saturday, and was the last
witness called in the investigation. He fatty con-
Iauicted Mrs. Larrabee and some other witnesses
called by DR.. Gddings In relation to the way pa
tients were treated at Brattleboro and expressed,
in general TERMS decided opinions as To various
things connected with the Waterbury manage
menL that have been developed by the hearing.
Especially did he condemn keeping patients naked
and IN bare rooms
The Brattleboro Retreat has pamphlets Of rules
and cArus OF rules posted, and had lectures to at
tendants upon their duties Mechanical restraint
u
possible 1t is used when patients might other.
wise suffer in some way Women disinclned to
wear clothing can generally be managed by at
PENDANTS during the day, but in the night they are
in his Retreat restrained or put into a special
strong dress which they cannot get of. Filthy,
violent patients restrained straw beds.
The witness explained in detail how patients were
restrained IN bed 80 that they could not get out
nor uncover themselves. He never knew a single
instance in that institution when patient went
two days without clothing, and patients always
had blankets. The "tacks" referred 10 in the evil
dence are blankets, as comfortable as anybody
has, and an attendant who gives patient less
than four breaks an old and welestablished rule,
which the authorities think Is enforced. Emma
HUyt was never confined in a room without bed,
or cIothlng except two tacks. Every room in the
asylum is light. There have been no patients in
the basement for 80 years.
Destructive patients generally use straw beds,
with the ticks sewed up Some patients had TO be
kept secluded day and night. They always have
warm ruOms. Dr. Lawton could not conceive of
Justification OF keeping naked patient day
and night in a cement hoored room with blank
cts. Insane patients are very sensitive and re
Quire more hta than people in health The Brat
tleboro asylum Is kept 40 degrees above zero dur
ing the day, but may run down to 80 or so at
night DR.. LawtOn could hardly conceive of a
case in which patient would be kept naked in a
room, but If 1t were done the temperature should
be as degrees or So Brattleboro patients have
the be- Of butter three times day. DR.. Law.
ton said that Mrs. Larrabee was attendant at
Brattleboro awhile, but was transferred to the
laundry, as DR.. Draper told him, because Of in
efficiency. William Nash worked at Brsttleboro
as an attendant but was discharged for striking
patient with broomstlck Brattleboro asy-
lum has a6so utely no form OF punishment for
patients. The witness thought that using wet
cloth over a patients mouth would be uniustiha-
bic. In forci0le feeding the nasal tube was al
ways used as the only humane method There
was danger Of injuring the teeth and other dan
gers If feeding by the mouth was tried He
Nould never use spoon for forcible feeding.
DR., Lawton never found It necessary to choke a