New-York tribune., 1909-01-25
INSANE BADLY TREATED
HOUSED NTH CRIMINALS.
Tenn poray Detention Inquiry Shorrs
Startling Condition of Affairs.

Albany. jan 24-A startling condition OF a1sfrs
has been uncovered by the Commission In LunaeN
as a result OF its investigation Of the pr0ceours
adopted by county officials in different parts OF tnA
state in the temporary detention and care OF 1sans
persons pending completion OF the papers nec-
essary for their commitment 10 state insane nos
pftaIs according TO a statement issued By the COM
mission to-day.
DR. Albert W Ferris and the other commissioners
In lunacy will confer with representatives OF tns
state hospitals for the insane in this city next
Tuesday. when ii is expected steps viii Be taken
TO bring about an immediate improvement OF exist
ing conditions
Dr. W 1. Russell the commissions medical in
spector has submitted data showing that -outsids
OF the metropolitan district $50 patients OF whom
eighty-seven women. were confined In jalis-
Iock-ups and police stations during the last r"eivs
months IN many instances violation OF the spirit
of the insanity providing that, pending tn9
completion Of the procedure necessary for commit
ment to a state hospital the patient must De cared
for in a safe and comfortable place
The commissions statement continues
The report Of DR. Russell showed further that ths
were found in unssnitary. uncorfo fortaoie sonne
times filthy and vermiu-infested cells, not infre-
queIftIy in company with persons accused or crime
notwithstanding that this IS speelncaIS I9rDlasn IN
by law. In one instance the patient was found m
the same with person accused 9f being IN
pcated IN a murder and detfopS t5 Ei, = II snother
a patient received a scalp wound BY being sIeSN
Pent reT without windows dark and damp.
with no toilet facilities and separated only BY
Stat door from the quarters Of a drunken nan
found By the nurse in a cell In which she could
aresy 5t s up D IL Ea Sors 80 5afsr sa an the fourth
the front. grated door Thers was no ,9r Eass[
entirely naked and was extremely nitny ana
The worst feature Of all in the case OF the insane
women confined in jails and l0ck-ups Is the lsck or
provision for f stenrs % ssness OF the % reports
indicated that Ihey were ieft ent1rey 20 Ine
both the patients and their custOdlans scarcely
ice Officers or jai keepers been made BY some
of the women In one instance the nurse Ioa1o An
insane woman entirely nude in her CELL ana tns
only person 10 attend TO her was man sho hand
ed her food in at each meal
Dr. Russell has also reported TO the temporary
care OF the insane in New York City. OF the Isis
new cases developing during the year. SS3 OF whom
were women all were able to obtain hospital cars
only through police channels. condition which,
the commission points out requires 1mnediass
remedy. The statement continues:
In the county of Kings. which has a Wen eqgigped
County Hospital capable properly caring for all
40 came from police stations and jaiIs. total OF
25 per cent OF the whole number; No sPeeis4 Pro
houses or jails Of Brooklyn and some Of the worst
places In Brooklyn and queens County the prac-
tice of habituay committing insane persons 70 jan
There seems be good reason why, with its
/ otherwise admirable PROVISION Ine CITY OF w.
york should not furnish qualified as special
officers II necessary. bring insane persons 20
Bellevue l., -. -.
The actual confinement OF women IN 1aiis ana
IncLrps merely because Of insanity even Y violent
sboIIId he prohibited BY law. Provision for their
safekeeping can be. and Is. IN some places IN
riabfy made otherwise In the towns and sllalier
cities better results would probably follow u the
raSnousibfirv for the of insane persons were
transfe-reI from the pool authorities to the health
of1cer This would place the duty IN medical hands
TTere il ought be Such step may seem radf-
cal but since the state care policy was adopre1
bss bea- entirely changed. and there seems TO -
NO good reason why they should continue 20 os
q OtherWise