New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-12-21

not onlv failed at any time TO report brutality
to me- but when summoned before me made the
definite statement that they not only never saw
any evidence of brutality, but to their pest
knowledge and belief were sure that no orutahty
existed, I could not but hesitate before accept
ing the statement from two patients one an
alcoholic and the other a morphine victim SO
I took the names of persons who had been
patients in the alcoholic ward since November
II and seat my men out TO question them as 10
whether they had received ill treatment or had
seen other people Ill treated. While the vast
majority of these could not be found, owing 10
false names false addresses and changes OF
residence 1 did find or eight people who
stated that they had been Ill treated in the alco
holic ward. have no doubt OF the honesty OF
these statements. These men had no object In
telling an untruth. They did not volunteer their
testimony. I had to go out and hunt them up
I believe, therefore, that the service In the alco-
hoIic ward is characterized by brutal disregard
for the feelings of the patients in the language
used by the nurses and by petty spite ana I'M
necessary violence on the part of the nurses
1t is clear to me that the present system or
depending on the Mills Training School Tor
nurses is inadequate for the protection or the
patients, and have determined to nix the re-
sponsibility for the care of the patients in the
alcoholic and insane wards upon one man, VINO
shall act my personal representative. That
man is DR.. Louis Schultz. general medical IN
spector of the Department of Charities, VINO IS
we'll equipped for this work. is a qualified exam
liner in lunacy, had three years experience with
and, six years experience as Coroner, and ex-
perience with all kinds of people as physician
attached to the Bureau of immigration.
have also employed trained nurse, Reuben
]. D. Wright, a graduate OF the City Training
School on BlackweIls Island, who has had ex-
perience with the insane In the State Asylum of
Iowa and at Bloomingdale. He is to be head
nurse of the insane pavilion. When l can get
suitable nurse from the eligible list l shall ap-
point one for the alcoholic ward. These two
men are to be permanent head nurses subject
to the orders of DR.. Schultz
set of rules will be adopted which VIII make
1t impossible for the continuance OF some or the
alleged abuses. For instance, the falslhcatlon
of the record A rule will be made requiring
the nurse to enter in the book OF record the
marks on a patient when he is brought In, and
the physician at hand will be required TO verify
the record.
When 1 began this investigation it was
with the determination to get all the evidence
obtainable, but never expected to get sucn
a mass of evidence. and OF such an alarming
nature as that have already received.
There are four nurses in the insane pavinon,
an ample enough number to look after all
patients. If a patient becomes so violent that
four men cannot handle him they can get all the
additional force they need right here. The
grounds are alive with policemen. and there is
a small army of other nurses around the puiio-
ing. 49, - -
As to what I shall do with the nurses now &C
cused I cannot say until l have conferred with
the governors of the training school, further
than that they will be punished 1t Is not neces-
sarv for me as Commissioner to prove charges
against the nurses If I am dissatisfied with
conditions I can change them without going
through the rigmarole of proving charges.