Annual report of the managers of the State Lunatic Asylum. : Utica, January 16, 1844.

  • New York (State). State Lunatic Asylum
Date:
1844
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual report of the managers of the State Lunatic Asylum. : Utica, January 16, 1844. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    lo keep her clean, and lo do all for her comfort that her unhappy con¬ dition permitted. There is at this house no provision for the insane who are at any time too violent to be permitted at large, except low, dismal cells, fit for no use, and which should never be employed for any persons of this class. The true remedy will be found in State asylums, on a cheap, but comfortable plan for the incurables. Franklin County-House, at Malone, fifty miles from Plattsburgh, is at present under so good administration, that it is to be hoped a change of its present master will be avoided, for years to come. The defects of the present system are, however, apparent here quite as much as elsewhere. The house is crowded with inmates beyond its capacity for either health or convenient accommodation. There is no proper provision for the insane, who need separation, by occasion of their violence, from the other members of the household. There can be no really suitable arrangements planned for them in county-houses. There are few insane in the alms-house at Malone. These are kept pretty comfortably ; yet I say this by comparison with many found in worse conditions. I heard in this section of the country of many re¬ cent cases of insanity ; several of much suffering. It was not seldom replied, when I questioned why these, and also others in remote coum lies, were not sent to the hospital at Utica, that they could send but one or two from any county ; and assurance has repeatedly been given that some of these would have been sent, if it had not been officially declared that only a specified number would be received from each county. In many instances, no doubt, this was a true reason ; in others it was made an excuse for not incurring the expense necessary for re¬ moval, and board at the Asylum. It is frequent to hear of whippings and other severe measures ; and many have yet to learn that the all- prevailing law of kindness, has a truer influence than brute force or vehement language. Of one truth may all be sure ; if, for a time, the former appear ineffective, the latter not only never accomplishes the end aimed at, but aggravates the malady while it enhances the sufferings of the unfortunate maniac. St. Lawrence County-House, at Canton, consists of several ex¬ cellently constructed buildings, in many respects adapted for conve- nience and classification. The apartments were well arranged, decently ordered, and comfortably furnished. There was a general attention to [Assembly, No. 21.] 11