New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-05-15

! lad. coupled with the fact that In the case
! OF a state hospital no reason exists for the
detention OF a sane person by the super
| irtendent or others, IS a sufficient guar
antee Of the liberty Of the individual ciu-
I aer.
/ With reference to the discipline in the
wards special examination has been
made and II appears that no restraint -
used pxcept the restraining sheet. which II
! IN use in state hospitals, and what r. known
as n camisole. or canvas shirt. So arranged
| that the arms are retained inside OF the
shirt although they have free play there.
| loss freedom IN the wards and In the
grounds than 10 the case elsewhere. NO
punishments are used In the hospital, and
! the attendants are not provided with any
/ use of such force as is necessary TO pre-
vent violence upon the wards and between
| thu patients
| Continuing the report states that the
character of the buildings, in the mat
ter OF design and appearance. is OF the
| highest order; that the grounds are eXten-
sive and well titled. and that as working
plant no substantial criticisms car be Of
\ fered. except upon the theory that the de-
/ sign follows too closely the plans OF
/ prison. having been planned exclusively foT
convcts. and Is not sufficiently open for
curative hospital purposes" The report
! continues:
! In regard to the conduct o. tn. mainten.
ance and financial affairs of the hospta.
/ your commissioners find that the quality OF
/ food and clothing and the method Of re
! CeiVing and distributing supplies are in gen
| eral the same that in force In the state
! hospital system. The cost OF maintenance
averages in the neighborhood OF 800 per
capita, and Is about IN" same as me coS'
of maintenance of state hospitals Of sim
| liar size
Your commissioners find that the medical
/ care IL somewhat less systematic and less
! scientific than that IN the state hospltal
1 system and believe that by transferring the
/ Institution to the Commission In l.unacy
needed reforms IN this respect will follow
! They find that the estimate system t. not
! followed in detail with the thoroughness
/ followed in the state hospital system. ano
/ believe that n closer supervision should he
had They wish To state. however. tnat
they have no reason TO believe that any
1 inproprieties exist or have existed. In THIS
regard.
Drs. Macdonald and Flint in their re-
port cite instance. o. the dangers 10 he
! apprehended from the more violent patients
in the institution. \ vicious assault on an
attendant was made IN the presence Of the
experts while they we're conducting their
| investigation. and murderous attack was
made on Superintendent Lamb recently by
D
mstelv two hundred OF the inmates arc
violently and dangerously insane. half OF
Them with homicidsl tendencies.
! 1T is easy 20 understand" the experts
say. THAT in an institution which contains
S62 insane who have committed offences
/ against the person. many - thes" being
/ homicides by persons still homcidal.
discipline must Toe maintained much more
rigid than Is necessary IN a civil hospital
They cite an instance OF a Sicilan VINO
secured a revolver and a number Of car
/ tridges and who. ont Of strips OF iron,
made stilettos which were given 10 certain
other inmates They planned 20 kill the
/ superintendent and The first assistant
/ physician. hut the plot was foiled 10y an IN
mate and the revolver found IN bag
belonging TO the sicilan The report
adds.
The man now claims that the oftic as
/ OF the hospital are preiudiced against nm
l that ne IL sane. and that he should be re-
/ turned 70 tho courts for trial He ~ clearly
+ insane cunning. plausible vindictive. lrrl-
table and very homicidaL We heleNe Ua'
the spirit Of unrest and resistance 70 as
ciplins g., fcstered by popular agitation on
T the question ~ management Of tn" nos
/ pital as pst.uts arc well informed OF
/ this point having free access 10 the news
% pers.
Mr. Brown in his report recommends
! that tho prison characteristics OF the hos
pital be changed and the institution p'i
/ on distinct hospital basis. that more
modern therapeutic equipment be Installed
+ that the patients he better classin'd ac-
cording 10 their mental condition. ana a.
meal times placed IN smaller dining rooms !.
/ that instead OF the one now used several
exercis. courts be provided. that IN"
[ wards he decorated by suitabl" pictures
/ ,hat ADEQUATE amusernents be prov u,
ana that regular employment bc furnished
! TIC more capable patients.