Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1896-11-30
THE INSANE ASYLUM.


Burlington Daily NeaUs:
The report of the legislative inves-
tigating committee in regard to the
State insane asylum features, as fol-
low:
We do consider that steps should
have been taken at an earlier period
TO remedy the defects in the beating
system, ard we cannot approve of
the custom of reducing the amount
of heat furnished during the night es-
pecially dnring the winter Of 1898 "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 a
blanket for their protection.
The committee find that the food
furnished was sufficient in quantity
but deficient in variety and not al
ways of good quality.
We consider that the board of trus-
their duties, by not relieving DR.. Cid
dings of these added burdens Of adj
ministrative detailsl, and that some
of the abuses mentioned in our report
might and probably would have been
avoided, If the attention of the super
intendent had not been SO mnch en-
crossed by other duties and cares.
We could not learn from the Super
visors of the Insane that they had any
adequate knowledge of how the pa
tients were being treated by the atten-
dants or physicians. They did not
sufficiently investigate to ascertain if
any abuses were going on i'll the asy-
lum or whether patients were confin-
ed in the asylum who ought to have
been discharged; and we find that,
without complaint was made to them
or some abuse or irregularity was call
ed particularly to their attention, the
supervisors made no investigation.
The invidual cases are then mention
ed Of Fitzgerald, whom the committee
finds was beaten to death by an atten-
dant, Sally Towns, Emma Hoyt and
others, and the committee finds that
the charges brought concerning ill
treatment of these persons are true.
AS to DR.. Giddings' personal abuse
of patients, the committee says:
Different witnesses were examined
as to Dr. Giddings, and testified to va
rious acts violence upon his part. We
considered their evidence carefully,
l.
with reference to some of the occa-
sions. we do find that on one occasion
a patient named Grace Wright, haV-
ing become insubordinate, DR.. Gid
diugs was called, and directed that
she should be placed under restraint,
by,putting straps upon her with which
to conine her hands; the patient re-
sisted and struggle ensued, during
which the doctor was assisted by two
female attendants. III the course Of
the struggle the patient was struck
several blows by the doctor across
her legs with a strap, used for the
purpose of fastening her hands. She
wore at the time skirt and long
waist that buttoned down the should
er and arm.
This strap was of leather, about an
inch and a half in width, and had
buckle at one EIDE. Upon the follow
ing day there were marks upon the
patients limbs of the blows, and in
one place there appeared to be mark
where some part of the buckle had
broken the skin, and the wound had
bled 1T was stated by one Of the at
PENDANTS, who was present at the
time, that DR.. Giddlngs was enraged
at the patients conduct. We consid-
er the circumstances of this transac-
ton, so far as the striking is concern
ed, as entirely uniustifrable.
On another occasion, patient
named Hattie Lackie, became violent
in the evening and by the attendant
was locked in her room, and DR.. Gid
diugs notified of the fact. He came
to the room aud upon opening the
door she threw chamber" at him;
whether it hit him or not is not
known. He entered the room and
struggle between them ensued, dur
ing which she was thrown down acros
the foot rail of the bed, and after
wards removed to the hall, struggling
all the time. While in the hall she
was laid down upon the floor and DE-.
Giddings, with the attendants, at
tempted to restrain her hands and
feet with straps. She resisted, and
was choked by the doctor into sub
mission. Her feet were fastened to-
gether with contrivance similar to
handouts, and in that condition was