Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-11-27

mittee, appointed TO investi gate the charges
against the management of the state in
sane asylum at Waterbury, was submitted |
to the legislature Monday. The report re-
lates to the lack of heat at the asylum, to
the food, the clothing, the lack of proper
supervision, and the charges of cruelty.
1t reveals more scandalous state of affairs
than anybody had anticipated. 1t shows,
either by direct statement, or by plain in
ference, that the patient Fitzsimmons died
soon after being severely beaten; that the
patient Somerville was scalded because he
did not get out of bath tub when so d.
rected by an attendant; that women pa
tients we're confined without clothing, COW
ering or bed of any kind in basement rooms
with cement floors; that Sally Towne,
deaf and foolish woman, died in childbirth,
and the officers were ignorant of the pater-
nifty of the child and did little in the way
of investigation of the case; that the
graves of patients are in pasture, unat-
tended and unmarked, and that the decen-
cies of civilization require a more suitable
burial place.
The history of the institution is first
given, showing that the legislature of 1888
appropriated 100000 for building an
asylum, and that the additional appropria-
lions since then make the total amount ex-
pended on the buildings $350,000. The
south wing was ready for patients in Au-
gust, 1891, and 200 were received under
the SUPPLEMENTARY of DIR. Sylvester, who
resigned in the spring of 1892. DR.. Gid
dings acted as superintendent from then
until the following December, when he re-
ceived his appointment, and has since con-
tinued as superintendent. The central
building and north wing have been con-
structed since the first wing was opened,
and when $50 patients were received from
the Brattleboro Retreat last May and June
the total number of inmates became 498.
There has been one attendant for each ten
patients and an assistant physician has
been employed for each ward.
The Heating.
The system of heating was found made
quate and in the summer of 1894 it was
improved at an expense of $4,000. The
committee report: We do not impute to
the management any fault for the original
defects in the system of heating, but its in
adequacy was demonstrated during the
first winter it was used.
During all of the winters that the
asylum has been in use the steam has been
reduced at night and in some cases entirely
shut off from the wing in which the pa
tients were kept and the exhaust steam
only went to the administration building.
We consider that steps should have been
taken at an earlier period to remedy the
defects in the heating system, and we can
not approve of the custom of reducing the
amount of heat furnished during the night,
especially during the winter of 1893 "a, as
it is shown that at least two of the female
patients at times during that winter were
secluded in their rooms without clothing,
bedding or covering, and at other times
with nothing but blanket for their pro
lection
The Food.
Out of the large amount of evidence CIV
en- about the food the committee reach tn(
conclusion that the food was sufficient IL
quantity, but deficient in variety and no
always of good quality. A routine dietary
was followed which was the same for eacl
corresponding day in each week. This di
etary with slight changes was adopted
when the asylum was opened and has beef
in use ever since. 1t was copied from TN
New York state asylum at Willard, N. I
We find the butter was often of poo
quality and furnished but once day, ex
cent Thursday, when it is furnished twice
We recommend a greater variety OF 100
and more liberal supply of butter, an
that care be taken to provide butter 0
good quality. The evidence shows, an
we find that on occasions the meat SUI
nlied the patients was net of good quality
This we believe was the result of an al
tempt on the part of the management !
keen the expenses at the lowest possibl
aum per capita and this policy has bee
controlling in the purchase OF general SUI
plies for the asylum.
where the Trustees Were at Fault
Section 1855 of the Vermont statutes
as follows: 1.-THE trustees snail make al
enforce such rules and regulations as ma
no necessary for the internal governmel
and discipline of the asylum and for col
ducting in a proper manner the ouslne
Of the Institution, and shall fix the como
tion of admission, support ana dlscnars
of patients" It'll =,
,oint a we'll educated physician, experien
I'd in the treatment of insane, as medic
superintendent, who shall give Donds
snch sum and with such sureties as =
state auditor approves, conditioned IoT r, y
faithful performance of his duties, ~ IN
shall also appoint sle"aiui NnNP
matron. and necessary officers, attendan
and assistants" ,,,os a,
The testimony showed that no rules al
regnlations.had been adopted for the lnt'
nal government of the asylum and ior co
Quoting in a proper manner the pusine
of the Institution, and the commitiee we
unable TO gain any information win rega
m the conditions of admission, suPPo
and discharge Of patients, or that any
been fixed by the trustees. 5000
In the appointment of superlntenoe
the provision that the appointee should
Inexperienced in the treatment OF nsAn
was ignored, and there has never oeen a :
stewagd. matron, attendants or asslsIal
Npointed by the board OF trustees.
duties cast upon the trustees
70 sections, so far as they na
heen performed, with the exception o.
snnointment of a superintendent anu
sistant physicians, have been lei1 Dy
trnstees to be discharged by tne sup,
tandent. These duties necessary 1'
onSrossed considerable of his time anu
sa5t,on which we think should have D'
Savoted to the discharge OF MS dutleS
snnerIntendent, and we consider . ina
Saprd Of trustees were remiss In tne
oSsr0e Of their duties by not relieving !
from these added burdens, ana tnA' .s az
~ the abuses mentioned III Eu, =,