The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-11-06

what surprised me, and I asked DR. Ward
whence this particular class of prisoners
came from.
1.-The alcoholic patients are principally
from the upper section of the city, but
the morphine or opium victims, as a rule.
all come from the lower part of the city"
he replied "One of the most pitiable sub
jects of the opium habit that comes here
was George Apo, the green goods opera
tor, who is the son of Quimbo Apo. the
Chinese murderer. Apo testified before
the Lexow committee against McNally
he king of the green goods men. Apo
lad not been in the Tombs without his
opium over a few days when the want
Of the drug began to assert itself on his
entire system. His means and groans at
night fairly kept awake and annoyed all
the prisoners in the other cells on the
same corridor"
One curious feature, from a medical
standpoint, about the Tombs prisoners is
that they almost Immediately become
seized with the impression that they ara
suffering from an sorts of ailments, and
want treatment They ruminate over
their old complaints and shout for the
doctor; whereas. II they were at home.
they would never think Of needing medi-
cal attendance.
Wtth the habitual criminal or repeat
ers' and "revolvers," as they are called
this Is not the case. These know the reg
ulations of the prison, and understand that
the least troublesome way to get along
Is to cause as little annoyance as possible.
1t Is remarkable also to notice how new
corners to the city prison quite readily be-
come reconciled to the surroundings. The
first day they apparently feel their degra-
datfon, but in few days II Is wonderful
to behold them, laughing and joking about
their predicaments.
Equally remarkable is the way the new
corners, or at least those committed for
petty offenses, win take to lionizing and
looking up to those committed for tho
higher grades of crime such as murder
and bank robbery.
"A class of people who are great at
feigning illness are those who come here
from the work house on Blackwelrs
Island" said DR.. Way, further. As soon
as hear of one of these complaining, and
find them in a normal condition, 1 tell
them they require no medicine, and IL
they take any 1t will do them more harm
than good. If they are persistent after
my examination or advice, why, 1 give
them a prescription calling for placebo,
which Is really something in the name of a
medicine only, but in reality composed OF
pills Of common bread or a colored water.
This placebo acts like a charm in these
cases, for when / go my rounds and ask
the placebo patients how they feel after
taking this medicine, they declare the
remedy excellent, and want to know why
aid not prescribe 1t for them before.
zone thing that surprises me here Is the
way criminals charged with monstrous
crimes secure the sympathy Of those wo-
men who are OF a benevolent or charita-
BILE turn of mind. These criminals pour
alleged stories of their fall from grace
and innocence into the ears Of these con-
fiding people, but in nine cases out of ten
where the prisoner is helped and gets out,
he or she makes sport OF the credulity OF
the benefactor," concluded DR.. Ward, as
he stepped out Of his Office to make his.
rounds.