../J.xS.... ■. ; K: ■ Disturbed and Violent Insane 
IN 
County Asylums and Poor-Houses. Compliments of 
DR. CHARLEYS. HOYT, 
Secretary Stte Board of Charities, 
ALBANY, N. Y [Report regarding disturbed and violent insane in county poor-houses and 
county asylums, by Dr. Charles S. Hoyt, Secretary, transmitted with the Seven- 
teenth Annual Report of the New York State Hoard of Charities to the Leg- 
islature of 1884.] 
REPORT. 
To the Slate Board of Charities : ■ 
Agreeably to the resolution of the Board of January 10, 1883, on 
motion of Commissioner Miller, directing me to visit the asylums of 
the counties exempted by the Board from the Willard Asylum Act, 
and the poor-houses of such other counties of the State, containing 
any considerable number of insane, as practicable, and to examine and 
inquire into their condition,with the view of securing the removal of 
the more disturbed and violent cases to the Willard and Binghamton 
State Asylums, and to communicate the result of such visits and ex- 
aminations to the Board, I beg respectfully to report: 
The demands upon my time in other directions were such, that I 
was unable to. enter upon this work until January 18, 1883. It has 
frequently been interrupted by other duties, and the inclement weather, 
and at times almost impassable condition of the roads, in the winter 
months, also greatly embarrassed the work. During the year, I have 
visited the asylums of the exempted counties, and the poor-houses of 
all the other counties of the State, one or more times, and have exam- 
ined the insane in them as follows : 
The exempted asylums of Broome, Chenango, Cortland. Erie, Oneida, 
Onondaga, Orange, Oswego, Queens, Suffolk and Wayne counties, each 
four times; and the exempted asylums of Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, 
Jefferson, and Wyoming counties, each three times; the poor-house 
of Genesee county, three times; the poor-houses of Lewis, Livingston, 
Madison, Montgomery, St. Lawrence, Tioga and Warren counties, each 
twice; and the poor-houses of the following counties, each once, viz.: 
Albany, Allegany, Cayuga, Chemung, Clinton, Columbia, Delaware, 
Dutchess, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Herkimer, Monroe, Ni- 
agara, Ontario, Orleans, Otsego, Putnam, Queens, Rensselaer, Rich- 
mond, Rockland, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Seneca. Steuben, 
Sullivan, Tompkins, Ulster, Washington, Westchester and Yates. 2 
The number of insane in the counties thus visited, October 1, 
1883, according to the reports of the proper officers, was as follows : 
In the asylums of the exempted counties, males, 569; females, 747; 
total, 1,316. In the poor-houses and asylum departments of the other 
counties, males, 228 ; females, 325 ; total, 553. This gives an aggre- 
gate of 1,869 in these institutions, October 1, 1883, of whom 797 were 
males, and 1,072 females. 
My visits to these institutions in every instance except one, when it 
was desirable to meet the superintendents of Genesee county, have 
been made without previous notice. The examination in each county 
was extended to all the insane in its care, and in the case of disturbed 
and violent patients, careful notes were made of their condition, and 
as to the means employed for their custody and care. In many of the 
exempted asylums, the examinations were made unattended by the 
superintendents or keepers, at the request of these officers. A number 
of the visits were made in the evening, and opportunity was thus given 
carefully to observe and study the night service in these institutions. 
In making these visits, I have frequently been accompanied by the 
Commissioner of the district, and in numerous instances by the State 
Commissioner in Lunacy, who often united with me in recom- 
mending removals, and in other matters respecting the treatment and 
care of the insane; and whenever practicable, the attendance of the 
visiting physicians has also been secured. It may be well to add, that 
all recommendations for removals have been made in -writing, and 
that every such positive recommendation, except in the case of Warren 
county, has been cheerfully and promptly carried out by the superin- 
tendents, unless subsequently modified or changed, upon consultation 
with these officers, or with the physician in charge. 
As the buildings in use for the insane in the counties exempted 
from the Willard Asylum Act have so recently been described in the 
report of the committee of the Board upon the subject, it is deemed 
unnecessary for me to refer to them at length in this report. I shall, 
therefore, only notice the improvements in them that have since been 
effected, the condition of the insane at the times of my visits, and the 
recommendations as to removals, etc., that have been made. In some 
of the counties not exempt from the Willard Asylum Act, separate 
buildings have been provided for a limited number of chronic insane, 
while in others they are domiciled in the poor-houses, in common 
with the paupers, or in rooms set apart for the purpose. In a few of 
them, attendants arc employed to care for the insane, but they are 
generally overlooked by paupers, under the direction of the keeper, 
and the medical supervision is usually the same as that extended to 
other poor-house inmates. 3 
Before entering upon this work I learned from the late Dr. Wilbur, 
superintendent of the State Idiot Asylum, that the Custodial Branch 
Asylum at Newark had accommodations for about twenty-five addi- 
tional inmates. I, therefore, examined such feeble-minded girls and 
young women as were found in the various poor-houses visited and 
recommended their removal to that institution. A considerable 
number of this class has been thus removed during the year, but 
there are still large numbers in the poor-houses whose removal cannot 
be effected, owing to the lack of adequate State accommodations for 
their care. 
The condition of the insane in each of the counties of the State at 
the times of my visits, and the recommendations in regard to removals, 
etc., will now be noticed : 
Albany County. 
Visited May 18, 1883, in company with Commissioner Van Antwerp. 
The asylum building then contained 33 insane - 16 men and 17 
women. There is one male attendant at $50 per month ; one female 
attendant at $20 per month; and one female cook at $5 per month. 
The 'male attendant is said to be on the ward both day and night; 
the female attendant lodges in the alms-house department, the cook 
at night taking her place upon the ward. This county sends its 
chronic insane mostly to the State asylums, its policy being to retain 
no cases requiring special oversight and attention. It now* has about 
250 such insane in those institutions. At the time of our visit the 
cases under care were of the mild and harmless class, except two acute 
cases awaiting removal to the State Lunatic Asylum, and there were 
none in any form of restraint. Of the men, ten were at work upon 
the farm ; and a few of the women do kitchen and other domestic 
work. The wards and rooms were clean and the kitchen, dining- 
room and laundry in good order. We did not regard it necessary to 
recommend any removals. ' 
Allegany County. 
The poor-house of this county was visited November 2, 1883, in 
company with Commissioner Letchworth. Its inmates then numbered 
56, being about equally divided between the sexes. These were 
temporarily quartered in detached structures of the old poor-house, 
awaiting the completion of the new buildings. They were mostly 
aged, feeble-minded and infirm persons, and several were confined to 
their beds with sickness. There were three classed as insane, viz.: one 
man and two women, all quiet and harmless cases, and domiciled in 
common with the other inmates. r 4 
In accordance with the action of the board of supervisors of 1882, 
the erection of a new poor-house in this county was begun early last 
spring, on the site of the old structure. It consists of three wooden 
two-story detached cottages, connected by covered walks, with a central 
extension at the rear for kitchen, dining and laundry purposes. The 
buildings were erected, inclosed, plastered and painted, and, it was 
said, will be finished and occupied before the close of the present year. 
The centre is designed as a residence for the keeper and his family, the 
1-ft for the male, and the right for the female inmates. Each of the 
latter is planned to accommodate about 45 persons. The entire insti- 
tution is to be heated by steam, abundantly supplied with water and 
conveniences for bathing, and the plan will enable a proper classifica- 
tion and complete separation of the sexes. It makt s no provision for 
the chronic insane, it being the settled .policy of the county to send' 
this class to the Willard Asylum. 
The completion of this poor-house will supply a need long felt by 
the citizens of the county for its sick, disabled and infirm and aged 
poor. The buildings are in accordance with plans devised by the Com- 
missioner of the district, and embrace the most advanced ideas respect- 
ing the comfort of the inmates, sanitary considerations, and the 
enforcement of discipline with economy of management. The total 
expenditure, it is said, will amount to about 818,000. 
Broome County. 
My visit to this county was made February 1, 1883. It then had 
7-1 insane in its care, 38 of whom "were men, and 36 women. The 
paid force, in addition to the keeper and matron of the poor-house, is 
as follows: Two male attendants, each at 825 per month; two 
female attendants, each at 812 per month ; one cook at 812 per 
month, and one night watchman at 818 per month ; total pay for 
attendants, 8104 per month, or 81,248 per annum. The visiting 
physician receives a yearly compensation of 8350, thus making the 
total annual outlay for attendants and medical services 81,598. 
Upon the basis of an average of 74 insane, this would give an annual 
per capita expenditure of 821.59 for supervision and care. My visit 
was made in the evening after the insane had retired. 1 went through 
all the halls and wards in company with the superintendent and night 
watchman, and there was no noise nor excitement among the patients ; 
indeed, they were generally so sound in sleep, that but few were awak- 
ened by the visit. Two of the woriien, said to be epileptic, were in 
open cribs; all of the others, both men and women, occupied beds. 
The rooms were warm and comfortable, although the night without 
was cold and boisterous. The attendants' sleeping-rooms are in prox- 5 
imity to those of the insane. The superintendent informed me that 
a few of the insane were at times disturbed and noisy, but that there 
were no continuously excited or violent cases. In view of the large 
force of attendants, and the evident watchfulness and care exercised 
over the insane, I did not regard itnecessary to examine them further, 
for the purpose of recommending removals. The county has three 
insane in the Binghamton State Asylum. 
Visited June 9, 1883. The number of insane was, men, 39 ; women, 
37 ; total, 76. Of these, five were in the poor-house proper. There 
was one hospital case, a woman, paralytic and helpless. Two were in 
the restraint of muffs. The halls and rooms were clean, and the 
patients generally well clothed and orderly. There were a few men, 
however, in the rear yard, that were sloven and untidy in their per- 
sons. The inclosure is an extremely high, tight board fence, and 
there seemed to bo a lack of proper supervision of the men in this 
yard. I advised the removal of the fence and the enlargement of the 
grounds both for the men and women, with an ordinary picket-fence 
inclosure. The closets, situated out of doors, are defective, and the 
superintendent said that they should be rearranged and improved. 
Visited August 9, 1883. The number of insane was : Men, 36 ; 
women, 40 ; total, 76. Of these, five,- two men and three women.- 
were in the poor-house, and 71,- 34 men and 37 women,- in the 
asylum department. There were two destructive and untidy male 
idiots in the apartments for the men, and I advised the fitting up of 
rooms for them in a detached building, used for demented and filthy 
cases. I also arranged for the removal of Edward J. Dobson, insane 
State pauper, who was found in restraint, to the Binghamton State 
Asylum, and he was, on September 1, transferred to that institution. 
There were no other cases in restraint, and the rooms, beds, bedding, 
etc., were throughout clean and in good order. 
Visited September 6, 1883. The arrangement for the removal of the 
high board fences surrounding the asylum buildings was being carried 
out, and it was said that the alteration would soon be effected. Rooms 
were being fitted up for the idiots referred to in my visit of August 9, 
and plans had been adopted for improving the closet arrangements. 
There were no insane in any form of restraint. 
Visited November 22, 1883, accompanied by Superintendent Payne, 
the keeper being absent. Since my visit, August 9, 1883, there had 
been three admissions, all women, coming from their homes, one 
being an acute case and two chronic cases. One had been transferred 
to the State Lunatic Asylum at Utica. One woman had been dis- 
charged improved, and one, it was said, had recovered and gone to 
her home. This left 76 under care, viz.: 36 men, 40 women. Five of 6 
them, as heretofore, were in the poor-house department, and 71 in the 
asylum building. I went through all the wards and saw all of the 
patients. There were no cases in any manner restrained, or confined in 
rooms. They were comfortably clothed and clean, and the halls and 
rooms were in good order. The removal of the high board fences was 
not begun, but the superintendent said it would be effected, with other 
improvements contemplated, before the close of the year. 
Cattajiaugus County. 
Visited May 24, 1883. in company with Dr. King, attending physi- 
cian, The county then had 46 insane in its care : Men, 20; women 
26. Of these, eight,- three men and five women,- were in the poor- 
house proper, and 17 men and 21 women in the asylum department. 
This consists of two wooden cottages,- one for each sex,- connected 
with a central or administrative building by covered ways. The at- 
tendants arc: One man at 8200 per year, one woman at 82.50 per week, 
and a cook at $2 per week My arrival at about noon enabled me, 
first, to observe the insane at their dinner. This consisted of broiled 
pork, boiled potatoes, bread and butter, and tea. The insane at the 
poor-house take their meals at the table with the paupers. One of 
these, a man, is demented and filthy ; the others are quiet, orderly 
cases, and said to be good laborers. Six of the men from the cottage 
were at work upon the farm, and the others were in the day room. 
There were no men in restraint or seclusion, nor were there any hos- 
pital cases. Two were classed as epileptic. One of- the women, in 
the cottage, said to destroy her clothing, was in the restraint of a 
camisole. There was one violent woman, at times causing consider- 
able trouble. She frequently has periods of quietude, and then returns 
to her home. At the time of my visit she was quite turbulent and 
suffering from injuries of the face, inflicted by herself. Two women 
were prostrate upon the floor. The others were mild and quiet cases, 
and their rooms were cleaned and well -ordered. Three were engaged 
in the kitchen and dining-room, and three others assist in the laundry 
work. The county has three insanoat the Willard Asylum and ten at 
the Buffalo State Asylum. Of the latter, two are soon to be removed 
to the Willard Asylum, both of whom are women. One of these is 
said to be extremely violent, and the other feeble and helpless, requir- 
ing to be forcibly fed. The number of attendants for the insane of this 
county, it will be seen, is not equal to the requirements of the Board. 
As so many of the men go out daily, in summer, to work under the direc- 
tion of the farmer, the male attendant is enabled to overlook those 
remaining in the building. In winter, however, when most of them 
are within doors, another male attendant would seem to be required. 7 
The women, during the day, are mostly on the wards, and one,attend- 
ant, in my opinion, in which Dr. King concurred, is entirely inade- 
quate to the task. 1 therefore communicated with the superintendent 
of the poor upon the subject, and urged the employment of an addi- 
tional female attendant. 
Visited August 2, 1883, the State Commissioner 'in Lunacy accom- 
panying. The insane then numbered 54, of whom 26 were men, and 
28 women. Of these, 46 were sheltered m the asylum cottages, viz.: 
23 men and 23 women, and eight-three men and five women - in 
the poor-house department. There had been no discharges nor deaths, 
since last reported. Two cases, both quiet, harmless women, had 
been brought from the Willard Asylum. Among the other admissions 
there were : A man 73 years of age, feeble and infirm, a recent case ; 
a congenital feeble-minded boy, 17 years old, also epileptic ; and a 
married woman, the mother of six children, an inmate only two days. 
The latter, said to have been subject to short periodical attacks of 
insanity for several years, was brought to the institution greatly 
excited and violent, and suffering from bruises of the face and other 
parts, inflicted by herself before leaving home. She was in an open 
cribj and her hands were firmly restrained by a leather muff. We re- 
moved the restraint, and as she remained quiet during our stay, ad- 
vised its discontinuance, keeping her under the constant care of an 
attendant. There were no cases, other than this woman, in restraint 
or seclusion. The wards and rooms were clean, the beds and bedding 
in the women's cottage neat and orderly, but some of the beds in the 
men's cottage were damp and untidy. No additional female attendant 
had, as yet, been employed, but it was said that the matter was under 
consideration. The State Commissioner communicated with the 
superintendent, sustaining my recommendation upon the subject, and 
also advised that chief female attendant, or matron, be given the 
general oversight of the cottage, beds, bedding, clothing, etc., of the 
men. The two women at the Buffalo State Asylum, referred to in my 
last visit, have since then been transferred to the Willard Asylum. 
Visited October 25, 1883, in company with Commissioner Letch- 
worth. Since last visited, the changes in the insane had been as 
follows: Received, two men, transferred from the Buffalo State 
Asylum, and two women, direct from their homes. One of the latter 
had formerly been an inmate, and the other had for a long time been 
held in family care. Two women had been discharged and returned 
to their homes, one of whom was the excited and violent case referred 
to in my last visit. This left 56 insane under care, viz.: 28 men and 
28 women. Of these, three men and five women were in the poor- 
house proper, and 25 men and 23 women in the asylum cottages. We 8 
went through the entire institution, both the asylum and poor-house 
departments, and saw all of the insane. There was one woman, 
destructive of her clothing, in the restraint of a muff, and one woman 
who was filthy and noisy. The'others were at liberty in the day 
rooms, and several of the men were at work upon the farm. The 
attendant in the men's cottage had recently been transferred to the 
poor-house, and Mr. Follett, the keeper, was temporarily performing 
the duties of attendant. No additional attendant has as yet been 
employed in the ■women's department. The necessity for another 
female attendant, and a more thorough personal supervision of the 
insane, and especially of the women, was everywhere apparent. A 
number of them were prostrate upon the floor, in the upper' hall, and 
their dresses disordered ; indeed but few, comparatively, were neat 
and tidy in their persons and habits. We regard it as impossible for 
one attendant properly to supervise and care for so many patients, and 
urged upon the keeper the importance of immediately calling the 
attention of the superintendent to the subject, with the view to the 
employment of another female attendant. Dr. King, the attending 
physician, and Mr. Hernan G. Button, chairman of the visiting com- 
mittee of the State Charities Aid Association, who were present, con- 
curred in this recommendation, and also as to the importance of 
greater freedom and out-door exercise, as well as of employment and 
amusements for the insane. It is believed that many of the patients, 
whose time is spent almost entirely in the buildings, might, under 
proper supervision, be largely out of doors, engaged in amusements or 
industrial pursuits, and thus greatly better and improve their con- 
dition. The buildings for the insane of this county are among the 
best of their class in the State, and we trust when the matter is fully 
understood, a more liberal policy in the employment of attendants will 
be adopted. 
On the 31st of October, 1883, Superintendent Truby wrote me : 
" I have directed Mr. William Follett, keeper, to procure an additional 
female attendant without delay." 
Cayuga County. 
The poor-house of this county was visited March 21,1883, at which 
time it contained 95 inmates, of whom 19,-nine men and ten women, 
-were classed as insane. Most of these were aged and demented per- 
sons, and none were in any form of restraint; The county has 67 
insane at the Willard and three at the Binghamton Asylum. I did 
not regard it as advisable to recommend any removals. 
At the request of its chairman, I attended a meeting of a commit- 
tee of the board of supervisors of Cayuga county, at Auburn, No- 9 
vember 30, 1883, to consider the subject of the erection of an asylum 
in that county, and the withdrawal of its chronic insane from the 
State institutions. There were present Supervisor J. V. White of 
Mentz, Chairman, Supervisor Elisha Cook of Venice, and Supervisor 
W. A. White of the Seventh ward of Auburn, and Morris M. Olm- 
stead, County Superintendent of the Poor. Upon my invitation, the 
State Commissioner in Lunacy, who was in the city on an official 
visit to the Asylum for Insane Criminals, also attended. . According 
to the statement of Superintendent Olmstead, the county has about 
100 insane in all, in public care, viz. : At the State Lunatic Asylum, 
20; at the Willard and Binghamton State Asylums, 65 ; and at the 
county poor-house, 15. The latter occupy a separate ward in the in- 
stitution, and all are said to be quiet and harmless cases. As the 
county has no buildings whatever for its chronic insane, other than its 
poor-house, and as this class is now adequately provided for in the 
State asylums, I did not regard it advisable to recommend an ex- 
penditure for new buildings, involving, as it probably would, an out- 
lay of at least $35,000; but, on the contrary, to discourage the under- 
taking. At the same time, I assured the committee, that if the 
supervisors decided to erect buildings for their insane, the Board, so 
far as practicable, would aid them in devising suitable plans, and in 
systematizing the work. The State Commissioner in Lunacy sus- 
tained my views in the matter, and the committed, which seemed to 
be actuated for the best interests of the insane, as well as the eco- 
nomic bearings of the question upon the county, took the subject 
under consideration. 
At a meeting of the supervisors, December 12, 1883, the commit- 
tee, through its chairman, presented a detailed report against the 
erection of a county insane asylum, which was accepted and adopted 
by the Board. 
The poor-house and asylum of this county were visited May 25, 
1883. The insane then were, men, 33 ; women, 4-1; total, 77. During 
the past year, the buildings for the insane have been remodeled, the 
small cell-like rooms removed, the first story being converted into 
large, airy and well-lighted dayrooms, and the second story into sleep- 
ing rooms : and steam heating has been introduced. The high, tight- 
board fences at the rear of the buildings have been removed, and the 
grounds are being laid out and planted. Additional attendants have 
been employed, so that the entire force now foots up as follows : The 
keeper at $600 per annum ; two male attendants, at $20 each per 
Chautauqua County. 10 
month \ two female attendants, each at $3 per week, and one female 
cook at $2.50 per week. The physician, who also attends the poor- 
house department, receives $250 per year. 
I made an extended and very careful examination of the insane, 
and none were in any form of restraint. Of the men, 13 were in 
the day rooms, or about the grounds ; one was confined in bed with 
acute rheumatism, and 19 were at work upon the farm. Three are 
epileptic, two of them being youths, and one middle-aged. Of the 
women, four work steadily in the kitchen, and it was said that the 
patients make and mend all of their clothing, and do the laundry work. 
The buildings throughout were in good order, the beds and bedding 
clean, and the patients were well clothed, quiet and orderly. I saw no 
excited, violent or noisy cases, and no removals, therefore, were recom- 
mended. The county now has eight chronic insane at the Willard 
Asylum,- removed there during the past year, under the advice of the 
Commissioner of the district. 
In the poor-house department, there was one idiotic child, Mary 
Hodge, ten years old, for whom I recommended the superin- 
tendents to apply for admission to the State Idiot Asylum. There 
were also two feeble-minded young women, viz. : Kate Booth, aged 
17, and Ellen Germaine, aged 22 years, whose removal I advised to 
the Newark Custodial Asylum, and Superintendent Warner informs 
me that they were received at that institution June 18, 1883. 
Visited August 1, 1883, accompanied by the State Commissioner in 
Lunacy. Since last visited, May 25, 1883, the changes in the insane 
have been as follows: Admitted, 1; died,3; absconded, 2 ; leaving under 
care, men, 32 ; women, 40; total, 72 as against 77 when last reported. 
The deaths, all women, were from consumption, 1; from epilepsy, 2, 
both cases of long standing. One of the absconded had been ab- 
sent about twenty days, and the other three days. These cases, both 
quiet, harmless men, left while at work on the farm, and their absence 
had caused no anxiety, as it was probable they had gone to their 
homes. The discharged patient, a woman, had been an inmate about 
six years, and was removed by her friends with the approval of the 
county judge. We carefully examined every patient, and there were 
no violent, noisy, restrained or secluded cases. The kitchen, dining- 
halls, laundry, day rooms, and dormitories throughout were in good 
condition; the beds and bedding well ordered and comfortable, and 
the patients properly clothed, orderly and clean. The grounds 
have been laid out and improved, and the place presents a pleasing 
and attractive appearance. The force of attendants remain's the same 
as last reported, and appearances indicated close attention to their du- 11 
ties. It seemed to us that no removals, for the time being, were 
necessary. 
Visited October 24, 1883, with Commissioner Letchworth, accom- 
panied also by Dr. Wilson, attending physician, and by C. G. Maples 
and J. H. Plumb, members of the local visiting committee. The ad- 
'missions of insane, since my last visit, August 1, 18S3, have been : one 
man transferred from the Buffalo State Asylum ; two men, both 
chronic cases and former inmates, received form their homes ; and 
two women, who had been sent out improved, returned by their 
friends. There had been only one discharged, a quiet, harmless man 
sent to his home. The number under care was 7G, as against 72 
August 1, 1883, of whom 34 were men and 42 were women. Our visit 
extended to all the wards, and the buildings throughout, including 
day rooms, dormitories, kitchen and dining-rooms, were models of 
neatness and good order. The patients were comfortably clothed, 
free from excitement, and cleanly in their persons and habits, and 
there were none in any manner restrained, nor secluded. The keeper, 
Mr. E. II. Sperry, informed us that not a single case had been in re- 
straint during the present year, and that the institution contained no 
appliances whatever for restraining patients, it being the aim to man- 
age and control them exclusively by means of attendants. Of the men, 
twenty-one labor upon the farm, garden and grounds ; six of the women 
work in the kitchen and laundry, and a few engage in sewing, mend- 
ing, etc. We urged the general introduction of such simple employ- 
ment for the women as seemed feasible, most of whom appeared capable 
of and would probably be benefited by doing some light form of work. 
In answer to a communication to Dr. Wilson, attending physician 
of the poor-house and asylum of the county, as to the comparative 
merits of the old and new system of management of its insane, he 
addressed me, November 1, 1883, as follows: "It gives me pleasure to 
state, that the management and care of our chronic insane, during the 
past year, has been improved and successful almost beyond belief. 
The changes inside gave two large sleeping-rooms up stairs, with at- 
tendants' rooms between and communicating in each of the asylum 
buildings. These rooms are vacant and well aired during the day, 
while the two large day rooms below are vacant and aired during the 
night, and all the rooms admit of being made bright with sunlight. 
Ventilation is easy, and heating equalized. The mingling together of 
the patients begets sociability and good behavior beyond anticipation, 
and the continued presence of attendant averts disturbance, appar- 
ently by moral influence. As no restraint has been used during the 
present year, doubtless kind and intelligent attendants have much to 
do with this satisfactory state of affairs. The day rooms contain 12 
centre tables, on which are magazines, etc., which are read by some of 
the patients,while others play various social games, and piece bed 
quilts, and on a stormy day an attendant's violin affords the motive 
power for those inclined to dance, thus making many a sad heart 
almost gay. The most noteworthy improvement is the removal of 
the high tight-board fences around the yards, into which our insane 
were formerly turned. Now, attendants go out with the patients 
for recreation or work. We have fewer attempts to escape, and less 
opportunity, because the attendants have no fence upon which to rely, 
and the patient no fence of which he would see the other side. In- 
deed, an inmate objected to the fence being gone (he was a lunatic of 
course, no one else would object), and on being asked his objection, he 
said, ' now there is nothing to climb over, and nothing to run away 
from.' The patients and employees have plays and many creditable 
games of base ball, in accordance with the latest rules, and also some 
other games. A few days since, I saw ten insane with a similar num- 
ber of sane persons playing base ball. On asking a patient if he liked 
to play ball, he replied, 'yes, I forget I am called crazy when I play 
base ball.' The mental condition of our patients lias certainly very 
much improved., Want of space compels me to omit many details. 
The improvement in the surroundings and care of our patients has 
been rewarded by a surprising improvement in the patients, greater in 
extent than during the six or eight years previous to our present 
plan, as suggested by your Board, yet chance for improvement still 
remains." 
I visited the poor-house of this county, June 8, 1883. It then con- 
tained 44 inmates-28 males and 16 females. They were mostly aged, 
infirm and. helpless persons. Among the number were three epilep- 
tics-one a feeble-minded boy, and two young girls. I saw all of the 
inmates, and there wTere none that could be properly classed as insane. 
The county has 68 chronic insane at the Willard Asylum. The poor- 
house has been remodeled the past year, so as to separate and classify 
the sexes. 
Chemung County. 
My visit to this county was made March 22, 1883. It then had 
43 insane in its care, viz. 15 men and 28 women. Of these, six 
were over 70 years old, and 14 were between the ages of 50 and 70 
years.' The only case in restraint was a woman 81 years old, recently 
admitted, with senile dementia. She was confined by a strap in a 
chair. There were no noisy nor filthy patients ; all were comfortably 
clothed and clean, and the halls and rooms were in good order. The 
Chenango County. 13 
attendants are the keeper, and his wife, and one female nurse. The 
upon the recommendation of Commissioner Miller, removed 
four violent insane to the Binghamton Asylum last fall, which af- 
forded great relief. It is in contemplation to remodel the asylum 
building the present year, and the Board will be consulted before en- 
tering upon the work. 
Visited June 22, 1883, accompanied by Superintendent Lewis. 
Since my last visit there have been two deaths and one admission, the 
number of men under care being 42, divided between the sexes as 
follows: Men, 15 ; women, 27. There was one - a woman-suffering 
from periodical excitement, and quite noisy, but at liberty. The gates 
to the grounds, which are surrounded by an ordinary picket fence, 
were open, and the insane permitted to go out and in at their pleas- 
ure. A number of them were outside the yards at full liberty, and 
there were none in any form of restraint nor secluded. Two are epi- 
leptic - one male and one female. My visit was at an early hour, but 
the morning work had been completed, and the wards and rooms were 
cleaned and well ordered. I did not regard any removals to be neces- 
sary. 
Visited August 28, 1883, with the State Commissioner in Lunacy. 
The changes in the insane since my last visit - June 22, 1883 - had 
been as follows: Discharged improved, one woman; lost by death, 
three - one man and two women. Two of these were extremely aged 
This left under care 14 men and 24 women ; total, 38. There was one 
woman suffering under considerable excitement and confined in her 
room. She was released and remained quiet during our visit. There were 
no other cases in confinement or restraint, and we did not advise any 
removals. The patients were generally well clothed, clean and orderly, 
and their rooms in good condition. 
Visited November 8, 1883. Since my last visit, August 28, 1883, 
there had been two admissions to the institution, one man and one 
woman. The former was brought from the State Lunatic Asylum, 
remained a few weeks, and was taken to his home; and the latter had 
been an inmate only a few days, and had not been certified to as in- 
sane. There had been no other discharges nor deaths, thus leaving 39 
under care, of whom 14 were men and 25 women. My visit was early 
in the morning, and I saw the patients at their breakfast, all of whom, 
but one man and two women, were at the table. The meal, which 
was in abundance, consisted of fried fresh pork, boiled potatoes, bread 
and butter and tea. It was well served, and partaken of in a quiet 
and orderly manner. There were no insane in restraint, nor any ex- 
cited or noisy cases. The buildings were being thoroughly cleaned, 
the beds and bedding renewed, and the walls whitened. There seemed 
no occasion to recommend any removals. 14 
Clinton County. 
The poor-house of this county was visited July 21, 1883, in com- 
pany with Commissioner Foster and the State Commissioner in Lun- 
acy. The institution then gave shelter to 74 inmates, of whom 
33 -13 men and 20 women - were classed as insane. The men 
occupy the third story at the left, and the women the second and 
third stories at the right. The attendants are, a man at $30 per 
month, and a woman at $5 per week. The county has seven chronic 
insane at the Willard Asylum, and five recent cases at the Hudson 
River State Hospital. 
After a careful examination of the insane, we united in a recom- 
mendation to the superintendent, who was present, for the re- 
moval of the following cases to the Willard Asylum, viz.: Bridget 
Fitzgerald, 31 years old, brought from the Hudson River State Hos- 
pital, June 10, 1880, suffering from chronic mania; is subject to fre- 
quent paroxysms of great excitement, at which times she is violent, 
noisy and destructive, requiring restraint or confinement in her room ; 
and also Mary Jane Mayo, 21 years of age, an insane epileptic, filthy, 
violent and destructive. The others were mostly quiet and orderly 
cases, and there were none in restraint nor seclusion. We advised 
the employment of another female attendant, and that the women be 
allowed greater freedom and out-door exercise and amusement. 
Among the poor-house inmates was a deaf-mute girl, 1G years old. 
She was first admitted March 14, 1882, sinc.e which time she has been 
twice placed in families and returned. She is a bright, intelligent, 
industrious girl, neat and tidy in her person and habits, and said to 
be of good character. We advised the superintendent to apply for 
her admission to one of the State Institutions for the Deaf and Dumb, 
and he assured us that he would give the matter immediate attention. 
The poor-house of this county, at the time of my visit, February 
13, 1883, was clean and well ordered, and the buildings were in good 
repair and comfortable. The number of inmates was 194, about two- 
thirds being males. Of these, 30 were classed as insane - 
1G men and 14 women. These occupy a comfortable, separate 
building. The county has also 27 chronic insane at the 
Willard, and 7 at the Binghamton State Asylum. Previous to 
my visit, the superintendent had decided to remove eight of the in- 
sane women, then in the institution, to the Binghamton Asylum, viz.: 
Mary Murphy, Susan Palmer, Harriet Simmons, Anna Brosie, Mary 
Shadock, Elizabeth North, Catharine Collins and Rosina Haines. I 
examined these cases, and found them generally disturbed and violent 
Columbia County. 15 
patients, and advised their removal, and they were soon after taken 
to that institution. Six of them, at various times, had been at State 
asylums, and two had received no treatment except at the poor-house. 
The cases now remaining in the institution are mild and harmless pa- 
tients, giving little or no trouble. 1 also found in the poor-house a 
feeble-minded young woman, Nancy Allen, who had been the mother 
of four illegitimate children, the youngest of which, about six months 
old, was an inmate. I advised the removal of this woman to the 
Newark Asylum, as soon as her child reached the proper age for sepa- 
ration, and was assured that the matter would receive attention. 
Cortland County. 
Visited March 23, 1883, in company with Superintendent Murray 
and Dr. Webb, attending physician. The insane then under care 
were 21 men and 22 women ; total, 43. There are one male and two 
female attendants. There were no insane in restraint nor in seclusion, 
nor were there any violent, noisy or filthy cases. The addition erected 
last, year gives, at present, considerable spare room for the insane. 
The buildings throughout were clean and in good order, and the 
furnishing, though simple and plain, is comfortable. The county has 
only one insane patient at the Willard Asylum. 
Visited June 21, 1883.-Since last visited, two women have been 
discharged from this institution, and one man and one woman admit- 
ted. The number of insane at the date of visit was 43, of whom 22 
were men and 21 women. One woman, with periodical mania, and 
quite noisy, had her hands confined in a muff; the others were without 
restraint. The wards and rooms were clean, and the patients generally 
quiet and orderly. Dinner was served during my visit, and all except 
one,- the woman referred to in restraint,- took their places at the 
table. The meal consisted of pork, beef, vegetables, bread, etc., and 
was palatable and abundant. The rear yards are inclosed with high, 
tight-board fences, and the insajie, when in these, are wholly shut out 
from the surrounding view. I recommended Superintendent Murray, 
who accompanied me, to remove these high inclosures and substitute 
for them ordinary picket fences, thus relieving the institution of its 
prison aspect, and at the same time giving greater freedom to the insane. 
Dr. Webb, attending physician, who was present, concurred in this 
recommendation, and the superintendent assured me that the change 
should be promptly made. 
Visited August 27, 18S3, in company with the State Commissioner 
in Lunacy. The only change in the insane since my last visit, Juno 
21, 1883, is the escape of one man, a quiet, harmless case, whose ab- 
sence had caused no serious apprehension. The number of patients 16 
under care was 42, of whom 21 were men and 21 women. The din- 
ner, consisting of fresh meat and an abundant supply of wholesome 
vegetables, was served soon after our arrival, and all the patients came 
to the table. My recommendation to substitute ordinary picket fences, 
for the high, tight-board stockades surrounding the grounds of the in- 
sane department, were being carried out, and will soon be effected. 
We found two cases, of late causing considerable trouble, and united 
in advising Superintendent Murray, who accompanied us, to remove 
them to the Willard Asylum, viz.: Thomas Ryan, a married man, 40 
years of age, epileptic, and at times violent and dangerous ; and Amy 
Crampton, single, 27 years old, restless and vicious, and most of the 
time in the restraint of a muff. The others were mild and harmless 
patients, generally well dressed, clean and orderly, and their rooms 
throughout were in good condition. 
Under date of September 24, 1883, Superintendent Murray ad- 
dressed me the following, in regard to the removal of the high inclos- 
ures of the asylum department of the poor-house of this county : 
" At your suggestion when you visited our county asylum, I have 
caused the high board fences surrounding the asylum yard to be re- 
moved, and have replaced them with an ordinary picket fence. I 
assure you it gave me great pleasure to see those prison walls aban- 
doned, for I am confident that the patients, having their liberty to a 
certain extent, will feel more at home, and the desire to escape will be 
banished from their minds. I wish you could have been here with me 
to see the joy manifested by them at seeing the beautiful surroundings, 
and to feel that they were no longer prisoners, but at liberty to enjoy 
the God-given beauties of nature. I hope that your efforts in this 
direction may bo everywhere successful, and that the time is not far 
distant when the prison aspect of our insane asylums will be a thing 
of the past." 
Visited November 7, 1883. Since my last visit, there have been two 
admissions to this institution, both women, and formerly patients at 
the State Lunatic Asylum. One of these had been in family care 
since then, nearly two years, and one, about three years. No dis- 
charges nor deaths have occurred since last reported. The number 
under care was 44, of whom 21 were men and 23 women. The violent 
man, referred to in my last report, viz., Thomas Ryan, soon after be- 
came more quiet, began to go out of doors, and it was said had become 
a very good laborer. I did not, therefore, urge his removal. Amy 
Crampton was found in the restraint of a chair, and her hands con- 
fined in a muff. Superintendent Murray, who accompanied me, stated 
that his proposal to remove her to the Willard Asylum met the strong 
opposition of her aged father, who visits her frequently, and pays for 17 
her maintenance and support. She was in a pitiful condition, with 
her clothes torn and disordered, and required constant oversight and 
care. I renewed and urged my recommendation for her removal, re- 
garding her as an improper case for such an institution, and the source 
of great annoyance and distress to the other patients. No other cases 
were in any form of restraint, and all were quiet and orderly. With 
the removal of the high board inclosure, and the substitution of an 
ordinary picket fence, the insane were given greater liberty than here- 
tofore, and there had been no attempts to escape. The fences were 
being painted, and the paint on the inside of the building was being 
renewed, and other improvements are soon to be effected. The insti- 
tution throughout was clean and well ordered, and had an air of com- 
fort and cheerfulness. It was the testimony of the keeper and others 
convened, that the insane had been more contented and quiet since 
the change in the yards, and that their condition in all respects had 
been largely improved. 
Delaware County. 
1 visited the poor-house of this county in the early evening of De- 
cember 7, 1883. Its inmates then were: Males, 19; females, 26; total, 
45. Of these, seven - five males and two females - were in the old de- 
tached asylum building, and the balance in the poor-house proper. 
Three of the males in the asylum building were aged and infirm, and 
two, each about 30 years old, were idiotic. One of the females was a 
harmless chronic insane woman, and the other, a crippled deaf-mute 
about fifty years of age. In the poor-house proper, was one woman, 
recently admitted, with two children, aged respectively three and five 
years, who, it was said, would soon go out; and one girl, 14 years old, 
with an illegitimate nursing infant. The other inmates were mostly 
aged, and generally feeble and infirm. I went over the entire building 
and found the rooms, kitchen and dining apartments clean and in 
good order. The sexes take their meals in separate rooms, and the 
tables have recently been furnished with plain earthen ware. The 
institution has considerable spare accommodations. 
The poor-house of this county was visited November 10, 1883, in 
company with Commissioner Carpenter. It then, as reported by the 
superintendent, gave shelter to 103 inmates, of whom G8 were males 
and 35 females. Most of them were aged and infirm persons, and a 
considerable number were extremely feeble and confined to their 
rooms. We saw and carefully observed all of them, except a few of 
the men who were at work upon the farm, and found but two - both 
Dutchess County. 18 
women -who could properly be classed as insane. One of these, it 
was said, takes sole charge of the scrubbing and cleaning of the 
kitchen, dining-rooms, etc., and both were chronic cases, regarded as 
inoffensive and harmless. It has long been the settled policy of this 
county to send its chronic insane to the State asylums for this class. 
The plans upon which this poor-house was recently remodeled con- 
templated a complete separation of the sexes. This may be effected at 
night, when the inmates are in their rooms, and the division passages 
and doors secured ; but during the day there is more or less association, 
especially on the kitchen and dining-room floors. A very important 
improvement, as frequently recommended by the Board, has been 
effected the past summer, in the removal of the unsightly small cells 
in the old asylum building, and its conversion into large, airy and well- 
lighted rooms for sick and infirm men.. The day room in the third or 
attic story of the male department is almost wholly devoid of ventila- 
tion, and the air in it was hot and stifling. A few of the rooms and 
beds, especially in the female department, were dirty and untidy, but 
the apartments generally were clean and in fair condition. 
One of the most disagreeable features of this institution is two small, 
dark, unventilated brick cells or dungeons, on the first or basement 
floor, in which it was said that refractory inmates are from time to 
time confined, as a means of punishment. It was also said that they 
are occasionally used to confine excited and violent acute insane, 
awaiting removal to State asylums. They are wholly unfit for habita- 
tion, endangering the health, and degrading their occupants, and we 
strongly advise that they be demolished. If punishment of the inmates 
need be, it seems that some more humane and equally effective mode 
might be instituted, and that more suitable means might be devised 
for the temporary care and custody of the acute insane, nending their 
removal. 
Erie County. 
At the time of my visit to the asylum of this county, January 25, 
1883, it had 273 insane in its care, viz.: Men, 136 ; women, 137. There 
were then no greatly disturbed nor violent cases,and none were in seclu- 
sion, nor in any form of mechanical restraint. Dr. Ring, the resident 
physician, assured me that the force of attendants was adequate to 
the present requirements, and that ho saw no necessity for any removals. 
The county has 13 chronic insane at the Willard Asylum, all of whom, 
when removed, were violent and turbulent cases. At the time of my 
visit the temperature was at zero without, yet the halls and rooms for 
the insane were warm and comfortable. The county has little or no 
spare room. 19 
May 23, 1883. Number of insane-men, 133; women, 132; total, 
265, as against 273 at the time of my last visit. January 25, 1883. Of 
these, one man and six women were in bed in the hospital depart- 
ment, most of them suffering with, various forms of chronic diseases. 
The number of attendants is fourteen,- seven male and seven female. 
This gives two attendants on each ward, and one in each hospital room. 
The day was stormy and the insane with few exceptions were in the 
building. I went through all the halls, rooms, hospital and kitchen, 
in company with Dr. Ring, attending physician, and saw all the pa- 
tients. The building throughout was clean, and the inmates were 
generally orderly and well behaved. One woman was temporarily in 
the restraint of a camisole, and one, Cora Tucker, was restrained by a 
leather muff. The latter, a congenital feeble-minded woman, abput 
28 years old, is a violent, destructive, noisy case, and requires of late 
to be constantly restrained. Several years ago she was at the State 
Asylum for Idiots, but was returned to the county on account of her 
violence and insane impulses. In a personal interview with the super- 
intendent of the poor, I recommended her removal to the Millard 
Asylum. There were no men in any form of restraint, and Dr. Ring 
informed me that there had been but one man restrained during the 
past three months. One of the men,- Thomas Chase, recently trans- 
ferred from the State Asylum for Insane Criminals,- was regarded as 
dangerous, but thus far he had exhibited no violence. As he had 
committed a homicide before being sent to the State institution, I ad- 
vised his removal also to the Willard Asylum. I learn from Superin- 
tendent Fuller that these removals were made June 7, 1883. 
Visited July 31, 1883, in company with the State Commissioner in 
Lunacy. The number of insane was 270, of whom 135 were males, 
and 135 females. There were no violent or noisy cases, nor any in 
restraint. I did not, therefore, advise any removals, in which the 
Commissioner concurred. 
Visited October23, 1883. The number of insane then was, males, 
134; females, 134; total, 268, as against'270 at the time of my visit July 
31, 1883. The day was cold and stormy, and most of the insane were 
in-doors. I went through all the halls and rooms in company with 
Dr. Ring, resident physician, and saw all the patients. At the time 
of my visit with the State Commissionei' in Lunacy, July 31, 1883, 
there were no insane in any form of restraint, and all the apparatus for 
their restraint had been removed. On this visit, I found five heavy 
restraining chairs, one muff and two straps in the halls of the asvlum, 
ordered there by the keeper, the resident physician informed me, and 
against his desires. There was one woman, confined in a chair her 
hands secured by a strong leather muff; one woman in the restraint 20 
of a camisole; and one man with his right hand strapped to his side. 
The latter was said to be suffering from temporary excitement only. 
The building throughout was clean, and the patients comfortably 
clothed and generally orderly. Aside from the cases above referred 
to, none seemed to call for special mention. 
Essex County. 
The poor-house of this county was visited July 20, 1883, accompan- 
ied by Commissioner Foster and the State Commissioner in Lunacy. 
Its inmates at that date numbered 04, of whom nine - four men and 
five women-were insane. The others were mostly aged, infirm, 
idiotic or feeble minded. There are no special accommodations for 
the insane, these being domiciled with the other inmates. We selected 
two cases and recommended their removal to State asylums as follows: 
To the State Lunatic Asylum: James Kerr, a single man, 27 years 
old, admitted May 13, 1882; was at large in the yard with a billet of 
wood, weighing 10 or 12 pounds, chained to his ankle; form of in- 
sanity, melancholia; clean in his person and habits, not noisy, but 
inclined to run away, and considered dangerous. To the Binghamton 
State Asylum : Roxana Winter, a married woman, GO years of age, an 
inmate nine years, transferred from the State Lunatic Asylum ; is 
subject to paroxysms of great excitement and violence, and at such 
times is filthy in her person; was found locked up in a darkroom, 
with no ventilation except from a small inner grated window. These 
cases, Superintendent Holt informs me, were removed in accordance 
with our recommendations, August 7, 1883. The other insane were 
quiet, harmless cases, and said to be generally good laborers. The 
garden, a large plot of land, giving promise of an abundance of vege- 
tables. was being tilled entirely by an insane man. The buildings 
throughout were clean, and the grounds in good order. 
Franklin County. 
Commissioner Foster and the State Commissioner in Lunacy 
accompanied me in a visit to the poor-house of this county, July 23, 
1883. It then had 65 inmates. One of these was a quiet, aged insane 
man, and nine were insane women. We advised the removal of two of 
the latter to the Willard 2\sylum, viz.: Margaret Sullivan, admitted 
October 15, 1878, then 30 years of age, having never been at any State 
asylum ; is a noisy, violent, filthy patient, and tears her clothing; was 
confined in a nearly dark ill-ventilated room, with strong iron grated 
doors, sitting on a bed with no clothing, except an old dress thrown 
over her shoulders, and itwas said she is thus confined the most of 
the time. Ellen Premo, a congenital, feeble-minded insane epileptic, 21 
17 years old, an inmate about one year ; is destructive, violent and 
noisy, and most of the time confined or secluded. 
This county has 26 chronic insane at the Willard Asylum, and it 
has been its policy heretofore to retain no excited nor violent cases in 
the poor-house. It has no proper -accommodations for this purpose, 
nor are attendants employed. Wo advised that the use of the cell-like, 
iron door rooms, be discontinued for the confinement of either insane 
or other inmates, and that, hereafter, no insane requiring special at- 
tention be retained. The cases, other than those referred to, were 
quiet and orderly, and we saw no necessity, at present, to advise 
further removals. 
Superintendent Hadley informs me that Margaret Sullivan and 
Ellen Premo were removed to the Willard Asylum, in accordance with 
our recommendation, August 8, 1883. 
Fulton County. 
The poor-house of this county was visited November 19, 1883. It 
was said then to contain 61 inmates, about equally divided between 
the sexes. Of these, three men and two women were classed as in- 
sane. I saw and examined these cases, but there were none requiring 
special mention. All were of the chronic class, and most of them had 
long been inmates. They were in the association of theother paupers, 
and, it was stated, receive the same care and attention. There were 
two children in the institution, both boys, aged respectively twelve 
and fourteen years. The former is congenitally deformed in one of 
his hands, and is also weak-minded ; and the latter was a truant from 
his homo, having before been an inmate. Among the others, was a 
feeble-minded young woman, Jane Birdseye, 25 years old, recently ad- 
mitted, being enceinte. She hud already borne two children outside 
of the institution. I advised her removal, when in proper condition, 
to the Newark Custodial Asylum. My visit was in the early evening, 
and in the absence of the keeper. The house does not admit of classi- 
fication, nor even of a separation of the sexes, except when confined 
in their rooms. The inmates were generally of a low order of intel- 
lect, and many of them were quite aged and infirm. 
Genesee County. 
Visited May 1, 1883. The number of insane in the asylum depart- 
ment of the poor-house then was men, 9; women, 12; total 21. Of 
these, six men and four women were paying patients, and three men 
and eight women were chargeable to the county. Two deaths had 
occurred since January 1, 1883. The county has four insane at the 
Willard Asylum, but none in any of the State hospitals. Of the in- 22 
sane in the care of the county, three of the men, it is said, labor upon 
the farm, and one woman assists in domestic work. One male and 
one female attendant are employed. The asylum building is greatly 
dilapidated, and has no proper conveniences for its purposes. I made 
a careful examination of all the insane present, and recommended to 
the superintendents, in writing, the removal of the following cases to 
the Willard Asylum, viz.: William L. Spaulding, excited and vio- 
lent, suffering from injuries of the face, inflicted by George Wicks, a 
fellow patient; Chauncey Hayden, at times very violent, found strapped 
to a bolt in the wall of the room ; George Wicks, noisy, vicious and 
treacherous, and at times violent; John Nolan, returned from the 
Buffalo State Asylum about two years ago, very turbulent ; Catherine 
White, in bed, with no clothing except a light cotton skirt, and very 
filthy; Betsy Walkley, at large in the yard, filthy, and her clothing 
torn and disordered ; Eliza Porter, feeble and filthy, lying on a bench 
in the open air, in the yard, with an old woolen blanket over her head; 
Mary Coffee, a spiteful, treacherous woman, striking other patients as 
opportunity offers; Emma Main, disturbed, and at times quite vio- 
lent; Margaret Haley, violent and noisy; Polly Bassett, in bed with 
a woolen blanket drawn over her head, at times very noisy ; and Lo- 
rinda Lounsbury, crippled in her lower extremities from long confine- 
ment at home, at times disturbed and noisy, suffering from injuries 
inflicted by Mary Coffee. 
An additional building for the aged of both sexes is being added to 
the poor-house of this county, and the old buildings are to be repaired 
and improved. 
Visited June 1G, 1883, accompanied by Commissioner Letchworth, 
Dr. Croff, attending physician, the board of superintendents of the 
poor, and ex-Supervisor Markley, of the building committee of the 
poor-house. The number of insane was the same as at the time of 
my visit, May 1, with the exception of one - Lorinda Lounsbury - 
who had been removed and was being cared for in a family by relatives. 
We made a careful examination of the disturbed, violent and filthy 
cases referred to in my last report. A few of them were more quiet 
than then reported, but their condition generally was but little, if 
any, improved. After a full consideration of the subject, the super- 
intendents decided to remove these cases to the Willard Asylum. They 
visited that institution the following day to arrange for their recep- 
tion, and subsequently informed me that the removal would be made 
at an early date. 
Visited September 12,1883, with the State Commissioner in Lunacy. 
The number of insane was 1G-seven men and nine women. One 
of the men, recently admitted, had been in the Buffalo State Asylum. 23 
Since my last visit, in company with the Commissioner of the district, 
June 16, 1883, the following insane had been removed from the 
institution, viz. : George Wicks, John Nolan, Mary Coffee, and Polly 
Bassett, to the Willard Asylum; Chauncey Hayden to the Wyoming 
county poor-house, and Margaret Haley to her home. Of those whose 
removal was recommended May 1, 1883, the following were still in the 
institution: William L. Spaulding, emerging from a period of great 
excitement and violence ; Catharine White, extremely filthy, her room 
being disordered and besmeared; Betsey Walkley, very filthy and 
turbulent; Eliza Porter, filthy and disturbed, in the yard with an 
old blanket over her head and shoulders ; and Emma Main, just re- 
covering from an attack.of prolonged excitement, during which she 
had inflicted severe injuries upon her attendant. I immediately com- 
municated with the superintendents with regard to these cases, re- 
newing my recommendation for their removal to the Willard Asylum, 
and the State Commissioner also addressed them upon the subject. 
They informed me that they would meet September 22, to consider 
the matter. 
Under date of November 1, 1883, Superintendent Crossman wrote 
me that the superintendents, on the 30th of October, removed the 
following insane from the poor-house of this county to the Willard 
Asylum, viz.: Eliza Porter, Catharine White and Margaret Haley, 
returned to the institution by her friends with whom she had been 
placed. They also, at the same time, removed one male patient, who 
bad been in the institution about four years, and who, they feared, 
would give them trouble in the near future, although he had 
generally been quiet and harmless. This left only three of the twelve 
insane in the pcor-house whose removal was advised May 1, 1883, viz. : 
William F. Spaulding, Emma Main and Betsy Walkley. The latter 
fell down the back stairs, leading into the yard, in October, and frac- 
tured her hip, so that her removal was not practicable. The relatives 
of William L. Spaulding and Emma Main, who pay for their mainte- 
nance and care in the poor-house, had been requested to remove them 
from the institution. 
Greene County. 
Visited February 12, 1883. The poor-house then sheltered 87 in- 
mates- 55 males and 32 females. Among these were six insane - 
three men and three women. Of the men, two had been at State 
asylums ; the other had been held for several years in family care, and 
was admitted to the institution in 1882, suffering with chronic mania. 
This man, Edward McMannus, 25 years old, had been allowed to roam 
at large until he became a terror in the community. Since his admission 24 
he had constantly been confined in a cell, or chained in the hall, to pre- 
vent his escape, and was a source of great annoyance. Two of the women 
are old and cause no trouble. The other, Mary Carr, aged 37 years, 
was a disturbed and violent case. She had been an inmate 13 years 
and had never been at any State asylum. I communicated with the 
superintendent, and advised the removal of these two cases, and they 
were promptly transferred to the Binghamton State Asylum. 
This county has 26 chronic insane in State asylums,-11 at Willard 
and 15 at Binghamton. 
I also found in this poor-house a feeble-minded boy, Charles Bib- 
bins, 13 years old, and recommended his removal to the State Idiot 
Asylum, which I learn has since been effected. 
This county has no poor-house, and its insane, therefore, are sent 
to State asylums. 
Hamilton* County. 
The poor-house of this county, visited January 18, 1883, is situated 
near Middleville, about six miles from Herkimer, and is reached by 
railroad from the latter place. As it is nearly new, and has never 
been described in any of the reports of the Board, it may be well here 
briefly to describe it. The building is a three-story brick structure, 
heated by steam, well ventilated, and has good drainage. The centre 
is occupied by the superintendent and his family, the left by male and 
the right by female inmates. An extension at the rear centre divides 
the grounds so as to separate the sexes when out of doors. This is 
also three stories, the first being used for kitchen, baking and laundry 
purposes, and the second and third for insane men. The hospital 
rooms, of which there is one for each sex, are at the extremes of the 
main building, and these have good sun exposure. The furnishing is- 
nearly new, but rather scanty. The building throughout is lighted 
by gas, manufactured on the premises. 
The number of inmates at the time of my visit was, males, GO ; 
females, 30 ; total, 90. Of these, 12 were insane men and 15 insane 
women. The former, as before stated, were in the rear extension, and 
the latter in the main building, in association with the female paupers. 
One was under 30 years old, seven were between the ages of 30 and 50 
years, and 19 were over 50 years of age. Eleven had been at the 
State Lunatic Asylum, three at the Willard Asylum, and 13 had re- 
ceived no treatment except in the poor-house. Several of the latter 
were very aged, and had been in the poor-house many years, and a 
considerable number had been for a long time in family care before 
admission to the institution. 
Herkimer County. 25 
There were no insane in any form of restraint at the time of my 
visit. The men were allowed to go out and in at pleasure, and several 
of them were said to be good laborers. There is one male and one 
female attendant. A number of the men were sloven and untidy in 
their persons. The sexes dine separately, but there are no separate 
dining-rooms for the insane. The buildings throughout were clean 
and in good order, and though the day was quite cold, they were 
warm and comfortable. 
Among the inmates were a feeble-minded young woman, 22 years of 
age, and an idiotic girl, eightyears old. The former appeared to be a 
proper case for the Custodial Asylum at Newark, and the latter for 
the State Idiot Asylum, and I advised the superintendent to secure 
their removal respectively to these institutions. 
This county had 28 chronic insane at the Willard Asylum, October 
1, 188'L It is the desire of the authorities to remove several others 
from that institution and provide for them at the poor-house. Although 
the insane under care at the time of my visit were generally quiet, 
harmless cases, their future to me did not appear hopeful, associated 
so intimately, as they are, with paupers. It is not improbable that it 
may soon become necessary to remove some of the cases now in the 
institution to the custody of the State. 
The number of insane in the asylum department of the poor-house 
of this county, at the time of my visit, June 14, 1883, was 44, of whom 
8 were men, and 3G women. At the same time the county had 
24 chronic insane at the Willard Asylum. Owing to the recent death 
of the late keeper, a new force had been employed, consisting of a man 
and his wife at $450 per year, a female attendant at $3 per week, 
and a female cook at $2 per week. My visit was in the early morn- 
ing. The beds were made, and the rooms clean and in good order. 
There were no insane in any form of restraint, neither any excited or 
noisy cases. Of the men, only one labors to any extent. Ono is an 
epileptic, but not regarded as dangerous. Twelve of the women work 
more or less, and five are classed as good laborers. Two were inclined 
to disorder their clothing, throwing their dresses over their heads, etc. 
There seemed to be no occasion for any removals from this county, 
as several excited and disturbed cases have been sent to the Willard 
Asylum during the past year. 
Visited July 24, 1883, in company with the State Commissioner in 
Lunacy. Since my last visit, June 14, 1883, two women - Jane Mc- 
Michael and Mary J. Sorrow - have been transferred to the Willard 
Asylum, and one woman has been admitted, thus leaving 4.3 under 
Jefferson County. 26 
care, viz.: 8 men and 35 women. We saw and examined every patient 
and there were none in any form of restraint nor confined. The 
building throughout was in good condition, and the patients gener- 
ally clean and orderly. There seemed to be no necessity at present 
for any removals. The force of attendants was the same as when 
last reported. 
Visited October 18, 1883, accompanied by Dr. A. S. Low, attend- 
ing physician. Since last reported, July 24, 1883, one man, formerly 
at the State Lunatic Asylum, has been admitted direct from his home, 
and one, a woman, has died. The number under care was 43, of 
whom 9 were men, and 34 women. There were no noisy or ex- 
cited insane, nor any cases in restraint. It is the settled policy of the 
superintendent to remove all disturbed and troublesome patients to 
the Willard Asylum. I went through all the halls and rooms, the 
kitchen and dining apartments, and the entire institution was a 
model of cleanliness and good order. 
Lewis County. 
I visited the poor-house of this county, February 23, 1883, accom- 
panied by Judge Turner, chairman of the visiting committee, and Dr. 
Crosby, attending physician. It then sheltered 58 inmates, of whom 
nine were insane men, and six insane women. These occupied a de- 
tached building, and it had no spare accomodations. The women are 
under the charge of a female attendant, but she remains with them 
only during the day, sleeping at night in the poor-house department. 
The men receive no attention except such as may be given by the su- 
perintendent, who acts also as keeper. As he is necessarily absent much 
of the time, engaged in other duties, they are partially without any 
supervision. Among the men, I found three cases, which I advised to 
be removed, viz.: Gardner Little, 32 years old, returned from the 
State Lunatic Asylum about four years ago, suffering with chronic 
mania, at times violent and dangerous ; William Binkey, 23 years of 
age, discharged from the State Lunatic Asylum about one year ago, with 
chronic mania and inclined to escape ; and Thomas Shay, a broken- 
down, filthy, demented patient, 65 years old, an inmate only a few 
months, having never been at any State lunatic asylum. Judge 
Turner and Dr. Crosby concurred in this recommendation, and the 
superintendent promised immediate action in the matter. The county 
had twenty insane in the Willard Asylum. 
The building occupied by the insane of this county is a two-story 
brick structure, with a basement for furnance, coal, wood, etc. It 
furnishes accommodations for 15 patients. The rooms on each story 
arc in the centre, with halls surrounding them, and the partitions are 27 
of wood. The insane are locked separately in their rooms at night 
and in the event of a fire great loss of life would probably follow. The 
attention of the superintendent was called to the matter at the time 
of my visit, and since then I have addressed him a communication 
upon the subject and advised him to confer with Judge Turner and 
Dr. Crosby, and if means could not be devised speedily to liberate the 
insane, m case of fire, to place a night watchman in charge of the 
building. 
Under date of March 21, 1883, Mr. Samuel F. Douglass, superin- 
tendent of the poor, addressed me as follows: " In accordance • with 
your suggestion, and after consultation with Judge Turner and Dr. 
Crosby, I have put a night watchman in the asylum, who will faith- 
fully perform his duty. We shall feel safe now. The three chronic 
insane persons named in your previous communication, I have taken 
to Ovid. If there are any further suggestions you wish to make, they 
will be thankfully received and carefully considered at any time." 
Visited November 20, 1883, in company with Dr. Crosby, attending 
physician. The insane numbered nine men and six women; total, 15. 
Of these, one woman was in the poor-house department, and the others 
were in the asylum building. There were no cases in restraint or 
seclusion, nor any to excite special attention. Upon the approach 
of winter, and the renewal of furnace fires' the night watchman, who 
had been taken off during the summer, was replaced. The building 
was clean, the patients comfortably clothed and orderly, and there 
seemed no occasion to recommend any removals. 
The question of the enlargement of the asylum building, with the 
view of retaining a larger number of chronic insane than heretofore, 
has been agitated in the county during the year, and excited consider- 
able interest. The board of supervisors was in session at Lowville at 
the time of my visit, and upon the invitation of the chairman, I 
attended its meeting. The subject was fully discussed in its various 
bearings, and taken under advisement by the board. 
At a subsequent meeting of the board, it was decided to remove the 
wooden partitions of the old asylum building, and convert it into a 
hospital in connection with the poor-house. It was also decided to 
erect a small building, with open wards, at the right of the poor-house, 
for the custody and care of a limited number of quiet and harmless 
chronic insane. A committee was appointed to carry on this work, 
and it will probably be entered upon early in the coming spring. 
Livingston County. 
I visited the poor-house of this county May 2, 1883, accompanied 
by Dr. W. E. Lauderdale, the attending physician. The asylum de- 28 
partment then contained 58 insane; 26 men and 32 women. Two of 
these were acute cases, awaiting removal to the Buffalo State Asylum. 
The inspection was made in the evening, the patients having all 
retired. We went through all the halls, and heard no noise nor dis- 
turbance, except in the case of one man, suffering under temporary 
excitement. The superintendent stated that there were no continu- 
ously violent or noisy patients, but that two of the men and three of 
the women were at times excited and disturbed. There are two male 
and two female attendants. In the poor-house proper were two 
feeble-minded women, both of whom had given birth to children, and 
I advised the superintendent to apply for their admission to the 
asylum at Newark. After leaving the institution Dr. Lauderdale ex- 
pressed the opinion that three of the insane women, viz., Bridget 
Rollins, Martha McLean and Harriet Clark, on account of their fre- 
quently excited and disturbed condition, should be removed to the 
Willard Asylum; and, in accordance with his views, I soon after 
addressed the superintendent, recommending their removal. 
Visited September 11, 1883, with the State Commissioner in Lunacy. 
The number of insane was: Men, 2-1; women, 32; total, 56. Of 
these, two, both women, were in the poor-house proper; the others 
were in the asylum buildings. The employees are: Two female attend- 
ants, each at $4 per week, and one male attendant at $350 per year. 
The latter has an unpaid assistant. We went through all the wards, 
halls and rooms, and the kitchen, dining and laundry apartments, 
and the entire institution was clean and in good order. The women 
referred to in my last report, viz.: Bridget Rollins, Martha McLean, 
and Harriet Clark, had not as yet been removed to the Willard 
Asylum. Bridget Rollins was quiet and orderly; Martha McLean 
was confined in a strong room and was very violent and raving; and 
Harriet Clark was in the yard, with her hands confined in a heavy 
leather muff. There was one man. a private patient, extremely noisy 
and turbulent, and we advised his removal to some other institution. 
The other patients wrere generally quiet, clean and orderly, and most of 
them enjoying large liberty. We examined the supplies, and found 
them abundant and of good quality. The water supply continues 
deficient, and no improvement has been effected in the drainage. 
Madison- County. 
The number of inmates of the insane department of the poor-house 
of this county at the time of my visit, March 22, 1883, was 25, of 
whom 11 were men and 14 women. The county has also eight insane 
at the Binghamton and four at the Willard Asylum. The insane 
women in the care of the county occupy a plain, comfortable wooden 29 
building, and they were all quiet and orderly cases. A paid attendant 
is in charge. The men's apartments are quite inferior, and they are 
under the care of a pauper attendant. 1 found two men, whom I 
advised the superintendent to remove to the Binghamton State 
Asylum, viz.: Clayton Sweet, aged 23 years, a demented, filthy case, 
restrained by a muff, an inmate about three years, having never been 
at any State asylum ; and William Quinn, aged 38 years, a noisy, 
violent and filthy patient, an inmate about nine years, transferred 
from the State Lunatic Asylum. I also found two feeble-minded 
young women in the institution, and recommended their removal to 
the Newark Custodial Asylum, viz.: Harriet Snyder, aged 19 years, 
and Amanda Collins, aged 31 years. Dr. T. S. Armstrong informs 
me that the two insane referred to were admitted to the Binghamton 
Asylum, April 5, 1883. 
Visited August 28, 1883, accompanied by the State Commissioner in 
Lunacy. Since my last visit, March 22, 1883, two insane men have 
been admitted, two men - Clayton Sweet and William Quinn - sent 
to the Binghamton State Asylum, and one woman to her friends. The 
number found.under care was 24 - nine men and fifteen women. Four 
men were at work upon the farm ; the others were in doors, but in 
no manner restrained. We found one woman - Catherine Christman 
- a dangerous insane epiltfptic, whom we advised the superintendent 
to remove to the Binghamton State Asylum. The other' women were 
quiet, harmless cases, causing little or no trouble. The attendants are: 
A man at $15 per month, and a woman at $5 per week. The 
feeble-minded woman, Amanda Collins, referred to in my last report, 
was taken to the Newark Custodial Asylum, but being found soon 
after her admission to be enceinte, she was returned to the poor-hcuse, 
when she subsequently gave birth to a child. She is still ari inmate, 
with her offspring. The application for the admission of Harriet 
Snyder to the Newark Asylum was favorably acted upon, but for some 
reason she was not removed. She is still in the poor-house, and as the 
State Asylum has no spare room, she will probably continue in the 
institution. 
Monroe County. 
'This county provides for its insane in buildings separate from its 
poor-house, and under a special act of the Legislature. The manage- 
ment is vested in a board of trustees, appointed by the supervisors. 
For several years, it retained all of its insane, but of late it sends a 
part of its acute class to the State hospitals. It has also a few chronic 
cases at the Willard Asylum. The buildings are greatly crowded, 
having 238 patients, and the question of their enlargement, or the re- 30 
moval of the more violent and excited insane to State asylums, so as 
to relieve the pressure for room, is now being considered. 
During the year, I have visited the poor-house of this county fre- 
quently, for the purpose of examining the State paupers committed to 
it, and have inquired and examined into the condition of its insane in- 
mates. It has a few cases only, varying from five to eight - all of 
which belong to the quiet and harmless class. They arc domiciled 
with the other inmates, and are generally good laborers. In the event 
of their becoming excited and disturbed, they are removed to the 
asylum buildings, situated near the poor-house. The superintendent 
reported seven insane in the institution, October 1, 1883, of whom 
four were men and three women. 
I 
Montgomery County. 
The poor-house of this county was visited "February 24, 1883, 
when it contained 79 inmates. These are provided for under contract, 
renewed yearly with the board of supervisors. The rates the present 
year are as follows: For town paupers, $2 per week; for county 
paupers, composed entirely of insane, epileptic, idiotic and feeble- 
minded, $3.25 per week. The numberof town paupers was38; county 
paupers, 41. Of the latter, 23-twelve men and eleven women - 
were quiet, harmless, chronic insane. None of these were in any form 
of restraint. The apartments for the men arc quite inferior; those 
for the women are plain and comfortable, and were clean and tidy. 
The county has also 25 insane at the Willard Asylum. 
Among the inmates at the time of my visit was a feeble-minded 
young woman,.21 years old, who had been alternately in and out of 
the house for the past three years. I communicated with the super- 
intendent in regard to this case, and advised her removal to the Cus- 
todial Asylum at Newark. 
The supplies of this poor-house were carefully examined, and were 
found of good quality and abundant. 
Visited August 29, 1883, accompanied by the State Commissioner 
in Lunacy. The number classed as insane, then, was 29, viz.: Thir- 
teen men and sixteen women. The women were generally quiet, and 
there were none in any form of restraint. There was one man, John 
Mailor, aged 35 years, an inmate two years, transferred from the State 
Lunatic Asylum, excited, noisy and violent, whom we regarded as 
highly dangerous. With the concurrence of the State Commissioner, 
I communicated with the superintendent of the poor, advising his re- 
moval to the Willard Asylum. The feeble-minded young woman, re- 
ferred to in my last report, was soon thereafter transferred to the 
Newark Custodial Asylum. 31 
Niagara County. 
The poor-house of this county was visited November 1,1883, when 
its population numbered 131. Of these, 22 were males and 109 females. 
I went through all the rooms, halls, hospital wards, kitchen and din- 
ing apartments, •and found the institution, in every respect, a model 
of cleanliness and good order. The grounds are well laid out and 
drained. The inmates were mostly aged, and some of them feeble and 
infirm. Among the females were three feeble-minded young women 
whose removal I advised, as soon as practicable, to the Newark Cus- 
todial Asylum, viz.: Phebe Phipps, 29 years old, an inmate at irregu- 
lar periods from childhood; Maria Rooney, 30 years of age, periodically 
in and out of the institution from early life, the mother of two chil- 
dren, and now enceinte ; and Esther Clow, aged 21 years, born in the 
poor-house, but repeatedly placed out, the mother of one child, and 
also enceinte. There was but one insane inmate, a quiet, harmless 
man, said to be a fair laborer. The county early placed its chronic 
insane at the Willard Asylum, and the acute cases are sent promptly 
to the Buffalo State Asylum. 
The number of insane in the care of this county at the time of my 
visit, February 16, 1883, was men, 86; women, 151 ; total, 237. The 
building for the women is complete in all its appointments, and was 
throughout a model of neatness and good order. The accommoda- 
tions for the men are quite inferior, and arc considerably crowded. 
The supervision is thorough and effective, and daily visits are made 
by the attending physician. There were a number of disturbed pa- 
tients, but the superintendent assured me that his force of attendants 
was fully adequate to their proper oversight and care. There were no 
cases in seclusion, nor mechanical restraint. The county has no 
chronic insane at the State asylums, and I did not regard it advisable 
to recommend any removals. It is probable that the accommodations 
for the men will soon be enlarged and improved. 
Visited June 28, 1883. The number of insane was 236, divided 
between the sexes as follows: Males, 93 ; females, 143. There were 
two men in the restraint of muffs, but none of the women were re- 
strained or in seclusion. The wards throughout were clean, and the 
patients generally orderly and quiet. As the accommodations were 
about full, I arranged for the transfer of six of the most troublesome 
cases of the State paupers to the Willard Asylum, viz.: William 
Scott, B. McLaughlin, William Cornell, no name (alias " Dutch "), 
Sarah Davis and Kate Crowley. The removals will be made as soon 
as practicable. 
Oneida County. 32 
Visited August 28, 18S3, in company with the State Commissioner 
in Lunacy. The records showed 235 insane then, as against 236, at 
my last visit, June 28, 1883. Of these, 91 were men and 144 women. 
The six insane State paupers referred to in my last report were soon 
thereafter transferred to the Willard Asylum. We extended our ex- 
amination to all the wards, kitchen, dining and laundry departments, 
and saw all of the insane. The institution, throughout, was clean 
and in good condition, the apartments for the women being remark- 
ably neat and tidy. There were two women whose hands were con- 
fined by muffs, but none of the men were restrained. About 25 of the 
latter were engaged in out-door labor, and a considerable number of 
the women were occupied in sewing and other domestic work. There 
were four male and nine female attendants, the annual pay-roll, beside 
the salary of the attending physician, footing up $2,710. The insti- 
tution has additional accommodations for eight male and thirty female 
patients. We did not regard it advisable, for the time being, to ) ecom- 
mend any removals. 
Visited December 1, 1883. The number of insane then was 235, as 
against 236 upon the occasion of my last visit, August 28, 1883, of 
whom 94 were men, and 141 women. I went through the entire in- 
stitution, accompanied by Superintendent Comstock. The halls and 
rooms, especially in the women's department, were in the highest con- 
dition of cleanliness and good order, and the inmates were comforta- 
bly clothed, and generally quiet and orderly. There were no cases in 
any manner restrained nor secluded; and in view of the apparent, 
thorough and efficient supervision, I did not advise any removals. 
Visited January 19, 1883, in company with Dr. II. R. Wright, 
resident physician, the keeper being absent. The number of 
insane then was: Men, 39; women, 74; total, 113. Of these, 
one woman was restrained by a camisole, and one man, said 
to be suffering under temporary excitement, was confined to his 
room. All of the others were at liberty in the halls, or in the 
day rooms. The apartments for the women, mostly associate rooms in 
the old building, were bright and cheerful, and although the day was 
cold and inclement, they were warm and comfortable, and free from 
impure air. The new building, with single rooms ranged on either 
side of central halls, had a gloomy appearance, the air was quite foul 
and some of the rooms on the west or windward side were cold. It 
would be well, if the building will permit, to enlarge these rooms, by 
the removal of the division walls, thus increasing its capacity, and at 
the same time, facilitate ventilation and the diffusion of heat. The 
Onondaga County. 33 
accommodations of this county are about full, and it has 25 chronic 
insane at the Willard Asylum, including its most disturbed and vio- 
lent cases, sent from time to time to that institution. Upon the as- 
surance of Dr. Wright, that the cases in restraint at the time of my 
visit were suffering only, temporarily, and that there were no continu- 
ously disturbed insane in the institution, I did not regard it advis- 
able to recommend any removals. 
May 5, 1883. Visited in company with Dr. Wright, attending phy- 
sician. The number of insane was 114, as against 113 at the time of 
my last visit, January 19, 1883, of whom 36 were men and 78 women. 
There was one 'woman, Frank Sherwood, destructive of her clothing, 
in the restraint of a camisole. In an interview with the superintend- 
ent of the poor the same day, I advised her removal to the Willard 
Asylum; and as the accommodations of the county were full, I also 
advised him to select such other cases as Dr. Wright might deem 
proper, with the view to their removal. On the 31st of May, 1883, 
the following removals were made, viz. : Frank Sherwood, Grace 
Slater, Ann Newcomb and Theodore Vanorsdale. These removals, 
for some reason, were made to the Binghamton instead of the Willard 
Asylum. 
Visited August 8, 1883. my last visit the following cases* 
have been removed from this county to the Binghamton State Asylum, 
as previously recommended, viz. : William Mahar, Abram Jacobs, 
Mary E. Brown and Theresa Myers. These removals, it was said, 
were made, not because of the disturbed condition of the patients, but 
to relieve the crowding of the institution. The number of insane was 
112, of whom 38 were men and 74 women, and there was little or no 
spare room. There were no continuously noisy or violent patients, 
nor iiny cases in restraint. The institution throughout was clean, and 
the inmates comfortably clothed and orderly. In July hist, Dr. 
Wright, resident physician, resigned, and was succeeded by Dr. A. A. 
Aldrich, who accompanied me in my visit. 
Visited September 7, 1883, in company with the State Commis- 
sioner in Lunacy. The number of insane then was 113 - men, 38; 
women, 75. We saw no disturbed nor violent cases, and did not regard 
it necessary to recommend any removals. 
Visited December 1, 1883. To relieve the crowded condition of the 
buildings for the insane, and in pursuance of the general policy of the 
county, the superintendent, on the day of my visit, removed four in- 
sane- three men and one woman - to the Willard Asylum. This 
left 110, of whom 38 were men, and 72 women, in the care of the 
county, as against 113 when last visited, September 7, 1883. In the 
absence of the resident physician, who accompanied the cases to the 34 
Willard Asylum, and at the request of keeper Knapp, I went through 
the asylum building unattended. A few of the men were out of doors, 
at work, the remainder were in the day room and halls, and none were 
in any form of restraint. All of the women, except three temporarily 
sick in their rooms, were at liberty in various parts of the building, 
and a considerable number were engaged in making and mending gar- 
ments, and in the domestic work of the institution. The buildings 
throughout were in good order, and the inmates well clothed, clean, 
and apparently comfortable. I saw no greatly disturbed or noisy cases, 
and no further removals at present seemed necessary. 
Ontario County. 
I visited the poor-house of this county June 4, 1883. The number 
of inmates then was 76, about two-thirds being males, and mostly 
aged, infirm and helpless. Among the number were six insane, throe 
of each sex. I advised the removal of two of these to the Willard 
Asylum, viz., Ballard Anderson and Mary Cotter. The former, a 
colored man, is 37 years old, and an inmate ten or twelve years ; has 
fixed delusions, is entirely incoherent, and at times excited and violent. 
The lattei- is a woman about forty years of age, an inmate several 
years, wholly incoherent, and subject to paroxysms of excitement. 
The county has about 60 patients at the Willard Asylum. Among 
the inmates there was a feeble-minded woman, Nancy Barnard, 33 
years old, said to have been married ten years ago, and soon after 
abandoned. She has two children, the younger being about six months 
old, and also an inmate. I advised her removal to the asylum at 
Newark, as soon as her child reached the age to be properly separated 
from her. 
Orange County. 
There were 75 insane - 3G men and 39 women - in the asylum de- 
partment of this county, at the time of my visit, March 11, 1883. 
Two of these, viz.: William Frese and Willliam Woods, were restrained, 
the former by a muff, and the latter by straps. They are both trou- 
blesome cases, and I advised their removal to the Binghamton State 
Asylum. The others were generally quiet and orderly, comfortably 
clothed and clean, and the wards throughout were in good condition. 
The county has one insane patient at the Willard, and nine at the Bing- 
hamton Asylum. It has spare room for two men and five women. 
Among the poor-house inmates of this county, I found two feeble- 
minded young women, and recommended their removal to the Custo- 
dial Asylum at Newark, viz. : Mary Hays, 17 years of age, and an in- 
mate three years; and Jane Beebe, 30 years old, admitted about six 35 
months ago, soon after giving birth to a child, the offspring being in- 
cestuous. 
Under date of March 21, 1883, Mr. I. R. Clements, Chairman of the 
Board of Superintendents of the Poor, addressed me as follows: "In 
obedience to your suggestion, we shall immediately remove William 
Frese, and submit the case of William Woods to Dr. Ferris, who is 
now absent, as soon as he returns. In regard to the two females, we 
shall send applications to Newark for their admission." 
May 16, 1883. Number of insane, men, 39; women, 37; total, 76. 
Of these, six men and two women have epileptic convulsions. I went 
over the entire asylum department with Dr. Ferris, attending physi- 
cian, and saw all of the insane. They were comfortably clothed, clean 
and orderly, and there were none in any form of restraint, nor in se- 
clusion. Ten of the men were at work upon the farm, and twelve of 
the women were at various avocations in and about the buildings. 
William Frese had been removed to the Binghamton Asylum in ac- 
cordance with my recommendation of March 17,1883, but William 
Woods, the other case then referred to, has been retained, Dr. Ferris 
regarding him too feeble to remove. In the poor-house were two addi- 
tional feeble-minded young women, brought to my notice, one by Dr. 
Ferris, and one by Commissioner Carpenter, in a previous communi- 
cation, both of whom seemed proper cases for the Newark Custodial 
Asylum, viz.: Hannah Litts, 24 years old, and recently admitted, 
and Ellen Burke, aged 30 years, an inmate about eight years. 
In February, 1882, the latter was transferred from the poor- 
house and employed in the kitchen of the asylum department, where 
she constantly remained till in March, 1883, when she was found to 
be enceinte, and was returned to the poor-house, soon after, giving 
birth to a child. The cases referred to, March 17, 1883, Mary Hays 
and Jane Beebe, had not, as yet, been removed to the Custodial Asy- 
lum, though an order for admission had been received. I learn from 
Superintendent Warner that they were admitted to the institution 
May 25, 1883. 
Visited September 1, 1883, in company with the State Commissioner 
in Lunacy. The census of the insane department then was : Men, 
36 ; women, 41 ; total, 77. One of these, a woman, was an acute 
case, awaiting removal to the Hudson River State Hospital; and one, 
a young man suffering from inebriety, was about to be discharged as 
not insane. Since my last visit, one woman, Mary Harrison, had been 
returned from the State Homoeopathic Asylum, but proving to be an 
excited and violent patient, she was soon after transferred to the 
Binghamton State Asylum. Our visit extended to an examination of 
all the insane. We found one man whose wrists were in straps and 36 
confined to the waist, but no others were in any form of restraint. An 
excited and noisy woman, the attendant said, was confined in a crib 
nights, and quieted with chloral. Dr. Ferris, attending physician, 
who accompanied us, directed her to be placed on another ward, and 
the use of the crib and chloral discontinued. He said if she con- 
tinued excited and noisy, he should advise her removal to the Bing- 
hamton State Asylum. The buildings throughout were clean and in 
good order, and the patients well clothed and tidy. The accommoda- 
tions are full, but there was no crowding. It was said that there were 
no cases in the State Hospital likely to be returned to the county for 
some time to come. 
Visited November 13, 1883. The changes in the insane since last 
been as follows : Received one woman from the State 
Asylum at Middletown ; transferred one woman to the Hudson River 
State Hospital, and one woman, Mary Welsh, to the Binghamton State 
Asylum; and discharged one man. The number under care was, men, 
35 ; women, 40; total, 75. At the request of the superintendents, I 
went through the asylum department unattended. The patients were 
at dinner upon my arrival. The meal consisted of boiled fresh beef, 
boiled potatoes, bread and butter and tea. All except one, a woman, 
confined to her bed by sickness, wore at the tables. The food was 
palatable and abundant, and partaken of in a quiet and orderly man- 
ner. I went through all the wards and rooms, saw all the patients and 
heard no complaint. The whole institution was clean and in good 
order, the inmates were well clothed, and no cases were in any manner 
restrained. It seemed unnecessary to advise any removals. 
Obleans County. 
The poor-house of this county was visited on the evening of 
November 1, 1883. It is a commodious brick building, nearly new, 
heated by steam, and well supplied with water. The plaster in most 
of the rooms having fallen off, it had recently been replaced by wooden 
ceilings, and was being painted. The number of inmates, mostly aged 
and infirm, was 84, over two-thirds of whom were males. Of these, 
three men and three women were classed as chronic insane, only one of 
whom, so far as could be learned, had ever been at any State asylum. 
They were all regarded as quiet, harmless cases, and two of the men 
and one of the women were said to be good laborers. The building 
has no separate accommodation for the chronic insane, it being the 
policy of the county to'send all of this class requiring special attention 
to the Willard Asylum. The institution throughout was clean and in 
good order and the inmates apparently well provided for. I did not 
deem the removal of any of the insane necessary. 37 
I visited and examined the chronic insane of this county, February 
22, 1883, in company with Dr. George P. Johnson, attending phy- 
sician. The number then under care was, men, 16 ; women, 32; total, 
48. The attendants are one man and two women, each at $20 per 
month. The visiting physician receives $365 per year. The total 
annual expense for medical and other supervision of the insane, exclu- 
sive of the time devoted to them by the keeper of the poor-house, is 
$1,085, or $22.60 per patient. The old building adjusted to associate 
rooms under the recommendation of the Board, several years ago, is 
occupied wholly by women, and their apartments are cheerful and 
comfortable. The new building, at the rear, occupied by both men 
and women, is constructed with single rooms ranged on either side of 
central halls. It is gloomy and uninviting and has no outlook, the 
windows being very small and above the reach of the patients. This 
building might readily be adjusted to associate rooms, and by enlarging 
and lowering the windows, it could be made pleasant and comfortable, 
and that with moderate expense. There were no insane, at the time 
of my visit, in any form of mechanical restraint. Dr. Johnson 
informed me that one man was, at times, excited and noisy, but that 
there were no continuously disturbed men. There were two women 
considerably excited and one of them was noisy. As Dr. Johnson 
thought the supervision was adequate to the class of insane in the care 
of the county, I did not recommend any removals. He assured me 
that if the condition of any of the insane, at any time, should seem to 
demand, he would promptly inform the Board, or take measures to 
secure their transfer to the State. The county has now seven patients 
at the Willard Asylum. 
Visited June 14, 1883, accompanied by Miss Terry, Secretary of the 
State Charities Aid Association, and Dr. Johnson, attending phy- 
sician. The inmates numbered 18 men and 31 women ; total, 49. 
We went through all the wards and saw every patient, and none were in 
any form of restraint, nor in seclusion. The force of attendants was 
the same as last reported. The periodically excited man - Michael 
Cary - referred to in my last visit, has, at times since then, been 
extremely violent, and is regarded as dangerous. The superintendent 
decided to remove him to the Willard Asylum, and he will soon be 
sent to that institution. The two excited women noticed in my last 
report were, at the time of this visit, quiet and orderly, and, it was 
said, caused little or no trouble. There seemed to be no necessity for 
removals other than the case referred to. 
Visited July 25,1883, in company with the State Commissioner in 
Lunacy. Since my visit of June 14,1883, two cases - both women - 
Oswego County. 38 
have been brought from the State Lunatic Asylum at Utica, and the 
disturbed and violent man then referred to, Michael Cary, has been 
transferred to the Willard Asylum. One woman, 52 years old, had 
been admitted direct from her home, where she had been held for 
several years after becoming insane. No deaths or other changes, 
in the mean time, had occurred. The number under care was 17 men 
and 34 women, making a total of 51. There were no cases in seclu- 
sion, nor in any manner restrained, and they were generally quiet and 
orderly. We united in the opinion that no immediate removals were 
necessary. 
Visited October 19, 1883. At my last visit, July 25, 1883, there 
were 51 insane- 17 men and 34 women - in the asylum department 
of this county. Since then, the changes have been as follows: Ad- 
mitted, one man brought from his home, but formerly an inmate of the 
State Lunatic Asylum, and two women, one of these being a recent 
case awaiting removal. Lost by death, one man aged 63 years, an in- 
mate 27 years; one woman, 68 years of age, and but a short time in the 
institution; and one woman, 70 years old, an inmate 15 years. There 
has also been discharged, one woman, taken away by her friends. This 
left 50 insane under care, viz.: 17 men and 33 women. One of 
the men, temporarily excited, was confined in a room on the base- 
ment floor, and one woman, said to destroy her clothing, was in the 
restraint of straps at the wrist. One of the women referred to in my 
last report, returned from the State Lunatic Asylum, was on furlough 
at her home and it was thought she might remain permanently in 
family care. The other, Ellen Kelly, about 45 years old, had become 
extremely noisy and violent, and the superintendent had decided to 
transfer her to the Willard Asylum. There were no othei' disturbed 
or excited cases, nor any under mechanical restraint. The walls of the 
building were being cleaned and whitewashed, and the wood-work is 
to be painted in lighter colors, so as to give the halls and rooms a 
more cheerful appearance. 
Otsego County. 
I visited the poor-house of this county June 23, 1883, accompanied 
by Commissioner Miller. Among the inmates, 14 were classed as in- 
sane, of whom there were three men and eleven women. Of these, 
we recommend the removal of two to the Binghamton State Asylum, 
viz.: William Fuller, aged 65 years, an inmate nearly two years, hav- 
ing never been at any State asylum; is destructive of clothing and 
extremely filthy, and if allowed liberty is inclined to wander. Polly 
Powers, 54 years old, an inmate only a few days, but regarded as 
insane for several years, having been retained in family care; is violent 39 
and noisy, with homicidal tendencies. There was another insane man 
in the institution - Norman Tripp-40 years of age, an honorably- 
discharged soldier of the late war, whom we advised removed to the 
State Lunatic, or Binghamton Asylum, as the duration of the insanity, 
of which little could be learned, might determine as proper. He had 
been an inmate about two months, having been rejected by the 
State Soldiers' Home, because of his mental condition, and was 
very feeble, infirm and incoherent. The others were quiet, orderly, 
chronic cases, many of them being domiciled with the poor-house in- 
mates. The county has eighteen insane at the Willard and seven at the 
Binghamton Asylum. 
Among the poor-house inmates wo found two feeble-minded young 
women,viz.: Mary Niver,18 years old, an inmate several years, and Nellie 
Thayer, 27 years of age, an inmate ten years, and the mother of three 
illegitimate children, two of whom died in the institution, the other 
being at the Orphan Asylum at Cooperstown. We advised the super- 
intendent to apply for the admission of these cases to the Newark Cus- 
todial Asylum. 
Within the past few years considerable improvement has been made 
in the poor-house of this county. The evils of indiscriminate associ- 
ation of the sexes, however, still exist, notwithstanding that attention 
has repeatedly been called to them. A very moderate expenditure, in 
the erection of a division fence, and the inclosure of yards, would ef- 
fectually separate the sexes, and the importance of the matter was 
urged upon the attention of the superintendent, who resides at the 
institution and was present. 
Putnam County. 
The County poor-house of Putnam was visited December 11, 1883, 
when it contained 40 inmates - 24 males and 1G females. Of these, 
five men and four women were classed as insane. One of these, Dan- 
iel Clancy, 45 years old, had been an inmate about one year, commit- 
ted as a vagrant, and was then probably insane. He has fixed delu- 
sions that a conspiracy exists against his welfare, and is at times ex- 
tremely violent and considered dangerous. As the county has no su- 
perintendent of the poor, I communicated with the chairman of the 
board of supervisors, advising his removal to the Hudson River State 
Hospital. The others were quiet and orderly cases, and most of them of 
long standing. The inmates were generally aged and infirm persons, 
and several were helpless and bed-ridden. The only child in this in- 
stitution was a nursing infant in charge of its mother. There was 
one feeble-minded young woman, Emma Ferguson, 26 years old, 
whom I recommended to be removed to the Newark Custodial Asy- 40 
lum. The building was clean, in good order, and its supplies ap- 
peared to be abundant and proper. There is no means of warming 
the sleeping-rooms of the men's department, situated on the upper 
story, and in extreme cold weather it seems they must suffer. I ad- 
vised that a stove be placed in the upper hall for warming these rooms. 
Queens County. 
I visited the Queens County Lunatic Asylum, near Mineola, March 
12, 1883. Within five minutes after entering the building, I was 
upon its wards, and visited every hall, room and apartment devoted 
to the insane, and also the kitchen, dining rooms and laundry. The 
records showed 126 patients, of whom 57 were men and 69 women. 
There were a few spare beds, though some of the rooms, in my opin- 
ion, contained more beds than they can suitably accommodate. There 
were no insane in any form of restraint, nor were any found secluded. 
All were comfortably clothed, clean in their persons, and orderly and 
quiet. Twelve of the men were at work in the wash-room, pounding 
clothes in barrels, and about fifteen women were at work in the laun- 
dry and kitchen. A number were also engaged in making and mend- 
ing clothes. The building throughout was clean, and the beds and 
bedding comfortable and tidy. A number of the men were engaged 
in games, as checkers, backgammon, etc., and there were no disturbed 
or noisy patients. Within a short time, the county had removed four 
violent and troublesome insane to the Binghamton State Asylum, and 
it has also 16 insane at the Willard Asylum. According to the rec- 
ords, the whole number of patients in the institution during the year 
ending September 30, 1882, was 154, and the daily average was 129. 
The actual expense of maintenance and care is reported to have been 
about $3 per week; and deducting the income derived from paying 
patients, the cost to the county for its pauper patients is said to have 
been $2.23 per week. It is seldom that so large numbers of insane are 
found so quiet and orderly in any institution as they were in this, 
upon the occasion of my visit. The building, however, is poorly 
adapted to its purposes, and it requires constant labor and'vigilance 
to maintain a proper standard of care. In the event of a fire, there 
would doubtless be great loss of life. There is an urgent need for 
more land, so as to furnish out-door employment for the men. 
May 15, 1883. The number of insane was 127, of whom 60 were 
men and 67 women. At the request of Dr. Rogers, superintendent 
of the asylum, I made my examination unaccompanied by him. I went 
through the entire building, and saw all of the insane. In the wash- 
room there were twelve men and eight women at work ; in the laun- 
dry, six women; and in the kitchen and dining-rooms, three men and 41 
two women. Each of these departments was in charge of a paid em- 
ployee or attendant. During my visit the patients partook of their 
dinner, consisting of beef stew, potatoes, bread and butter, and tea. 
The meal was abundant, and the inmates were quiet and orderly at 
the tables. Upon the .wards, I found one man - Henry Halsey - in 
the restraint of a muff, and one woman - Ellen Donahue - in a 
camisole. Both of these cases were said to be, at times, destructive 
of their clothing. There were no other insane in any other form of 
restraint. Two cases were in bed, sick - one with consumption and 
one suffering from internal hemorrhage. These were isolated in sepa- 
rate rooms. I conversed freely with all the patients who so desired, 
and heard no serious complaints. There were no noisy nor filthy pa- 
tients ; all were comfortably clothed and clean ; and the wards and 
rooms were in good order. By resolution of the board of supervisors, 
no paying patients have been received since May 1, 1883. The supply 
from this source being thus cut off, the population of the asylum wdll 
probably soon be considerably diminished. There were two cases to 
be discharged in a few days, said to be improved sufficiently so as to 
go to their homes. The superintendents have been directed by the 
supervisors to remove all recent insane to the State hospitals, and to 
commit only the chronic class to the county asylum, which hereto- 
fore, under various pretexts, has received considerable numbers of 
acute cases. 
Visited September 5, 1883. Since my last visit, May 15, 1883, six 
patients - two men and four women-have been removed from the 
Willard Asylum, by the superintendents of the poor, and placed in 
the county asylum. An actual count showed 131 patients, viz. : 
64 men and 67 women, as against 127 at my last visit. I went 
through the building, in the yards, and over the grounds, unac- 
companied, and saw all the patients. These were found as follows : 
Of the men, 31 were in the yard under the supervision of two attend- 
ants ; one was in his room, temporarily sick; seven were on the ward 
in charge of an attendant; three were at work in the kitchen ; twelve 
were pounding clothes in the vTash-room ; two were painting the inner 
w'ood-work of the building; and the balance were at work in the 
garden and upon the grounds. Of the women, 39, in charge of two 
attendants, were in the yard; seven were employed in the wash-room, 
four in the ironing-room, two in the common kitchen, two in the su- 
perintendent's kitchen, and 13 were on the wards, of whom seven were 
engaged in sewing. There were no greatly disturbed nor violent men. 
One woman, an inmate several years, was in her room, feeble and 
emaciated ; one,in the yard, was excited and noisy; and one upon the 
ward-colored and blind - was destructive, aud in the restraint of a 42 
camisole. The walls of the building had recently been well white- 
washed, and the interior wood-work was being repainted. The wards 
and rooms were clean and tidy, and the building throughout in good 
order. I examined the bread, meat and other supplies, and found 
them of good quality and abundant. The number of patients, it will 
be seen, was greater than at any time before reported sincg the open- 
ing of the asylum. There are ten attendants and employees, who have 
to be accommodated, at night, upon the wards, and every bed is occu- 
pied. The matter would seem to require the attention of the Board, 
and I respectfully suggest that it be referred to the committee on in- 
sanity, with the view of conferring with the authorities in regard to 
the enlargement of the building, or the removal of a part of the insane 
to State asylums. I addressed a communication to the superintendent 
upon the subject, and requested him to bring it to the attention of 
the board of supervisors, at their next session. On the 13th of Sep- 
tember he informed me that he had laid the matter before the super- 
visors, and that they directed that plans and specifications for the ex- 
tension of the buildings be immediately prepared. 
Visited December 5, 1883. On the 1st of November, 1883, Dr. 
Rogers, superintendent of this asylum from its opening, was super- 
seded by Dr. Charles H. Clemment, of Hempstead, who is now in 
charge. A number of paying patients had been removed, so that the 
insane under care was reported to be 120, as against 131, upon the oc- 
casion of my last visit, September 5, 1883. Of these, 58 were men, 
and 62 women. One, a man about 60 years old, was a recent case, 
awaiting removal to the Hudson River State Hospital. My visit was 
in the evening, and during my stay the patients were all retired. I 
went over the halls with the superintendent, and there were a few 
noisy cases, though most of them were in quiet sleep. I learned that 
the supervisors had decided not to extend the buildings, as had been 
contemplated, and it seemed desirable, therefore, to remove a part of 
the insane to State care, as the asylum contains little or no spare room, 
and might be suddenly called upon, at any time, to meet pressing de- 
mands, in which view the superintendent fully concurred. To this 
end we selected twelve of the most disturbed and troublesome cases - 
six men and six women - and I addressed the board of superintend- 
ents, recommending their removal to the Binghamton State Asylum, 
viz. : Michael Meskall, William P. Crayton, Nelson R. Townsend, 
James McCarty, John Freshler, Mathias Knoup, Charity Jackson, 
Jennie G. Gaswell, Elizabeth Houser, Bridget Kane, Phebe Walters, 
and Henrietta Wright. 
In reply to my communication in regard to the removal of the in- 
sane referred to above, to the Binghamton State Asylum, Superin- 43 
tendent Losee, Secretary of the Board, addressed me as follows: "I 
assure you that the suggested removal of patients meets the views of 
the superintendents of the poor, and that their removal will be 
attended to at the earliest convenient date." 
The poor-house of this county, situated on Barnuip's Island, about 
ten miles from the asylum, was visited December 6,1883, accompanied 
by Dr. J. A. Hutchinson, attending physician, and L. D. Simons, late 
superintendent of the poor. Its inmates then numbered 108, of whom 
95 were males and 13 females. Of the males, 30 were young men 
under 35 years of age, and apparently in good health and of fair 
intellect. Only three of these had acquired settlement in the county, 
the others being tramps and vagrants. Of the females, seven were 
very aged, three were colored, two blind, and one was a young woman 
with a nursing infant. The hospital, a detached cottage, contained 
nine cases, all males. There were no insane. The buildings are quite 
comfortable, and throughout, were clean and in good order. 
Rensselaek County. 
The poor-house' of this county, situated near Troy, was visited De- 
cember 10, 1883. According to the statement of the keeper, the 
number of inmates was 250, nearly two-thirds of whom were males. 
The hospital departments contained 20 male and 23 female patients. 
The number classed as insane was 21, of whom 5 were men, and 1G 
women. The former are distributed through the building with other 
inmates, and the latter occupy a separate ward. All were quiet, harm- 
less, chronic cases, free from restraint, and there seemdd no necessity 
for any removals. 
Richmond County. 
The State Commissioner in Lunacy accompanied me in my visit 
to this poor-house, March 19, 1883. The whole number of inmates 
then was 105, of whom 14 were classed as insane. Of these, several 
were aged persons with senile dementia. There were no disturbed or 
violent cases, nor any in mechanical restraint. The county has 27 
insane at the Willard and three at the Binghamton Asylum. We 
found one feeble-minded young woman in the institution, Louisa 
Price, and united in recommending to the superintendents her re- 
moval to the Newark Custodial Asylum. 
Rockland County,. 
I visited the poor-house of this county March 14, 1883, accompanied 
by the State Commissioner in Lunacy. Its entire inmates then num- 
bered 65, of whom 4 were insane men, and 2, insane women. One of 
the men, also an epileptic, was regarded as dangerous, and with the 44 
concurrence of the Commissioner, I advised the superintendent to re- 
move him to the Binghamton State Asylum. The county has now 
3 insane at that institution and 11 at the Willard Asylum. We 
found 2 feeble-minded young women in the institution - Margaret 
Duffy, aged 26, .and Margaret Terry, aged 22-and recommended 
their removal to the Newark Asylum. 
St. Lawrence County. 
• I visited the poor-house of this county July 24, 1883, accompanied 
by Commissioner Foster and the State Commissioner in Lunacy. Its 
inmates then numbered 167, of whom 6 were insane men, and 26, in- 
sane women. These occupy rooms at the extremes of the building, 
which is a commodious, well-arranged brick structure, erected in 
1868. The county has 32 chronic insane at the Willard Asylum, and 
its poor-house accommodations are designed for quiet and harmless 
cases only. The attendants are, a man at $13 per month, and a wo- 
man at $2.50 per week. 
We did not regard it necessary to advise the removal of any of the 
insane men. I decided, however, to transfer Thomas McCormack, 
State pauper, to the Willard Asylum. He had been, generally, or- 
derly and well-behaved, and a good laborer; but of late had been 
twice temporarily excited, and exhibited symptoms of violence. There 
were a number of disturbed, filthy and violent women, and their ac- 
commodations were greatly crowded, some of them occupying base- 
ment cells or rooms. Among the women was Angeline Socia, 30 
years old, a recent case, whom we advised to be removed to the State 
Lunatic Asylum. We also recommended the removal of the follow- 
ing cases to the Willard Asylum, viz.: Johanna Sullivan, aged 40 
years, admitted August 17, 1880, from the State Lunatic Asylum ; at 
times very noisy, violent and destructive, and the source of great an- 
noyance. Eliza McGillis, admitted July 19, 1881, being then 42 
years old, had never been at any State asylum; is filthy and noisy, 
and at times extremely troublesome. Martha Washburn, 36 years old, 
transferred from the State Lunatic Asylum, June 28, 1877 ; is feeble 
and filthy, requiring constant watchfulness and care. Alice Burke, 
admitted from the State Lunatic Asylum, January 15, 1877, aged 40 
years ; is a noisy, destructive, filthy patient, and the cause of much 
trouble and anxiety. 
We united in recommending to the superintendent the discontinue 
ance of the basement cells, or rooms for the insane or other inmates' 
These are damp and unwholesome, and entirely unfit for occupancy. 
By promptly removing, from time to time, the excited and disturbed 
insane, the building otherwise will afford ample accommodations for 
its purposes. 45 
Visited October 17, 1883. The changes in the insane since my visit 
July 24, 1883, have been, one man died, and three women discharged. 
The number in charge was, men, 6; women, 22; total, 28. Of the cases 
whose removal was recommended at my last visit, the following have 
been disposed of, viz.:. Angeline Socia was taken away by her husband, 
and removed to Franklin county; Johanna Sullivan was removed by 
her brother, and is being cared for at his home ; and Eliza McGillis 
was sent to relatives in Canada, where she is now under care. Martha 
Washburn and Alice Burke remain in the institution, the former too 
feeble to be removed, and the latter still noisy and destructive. The 
use of the basement rooms has been discontinued, and a general im- 
provement of the condition of the insane was observable. There were 
no cases in restraint, nor seclusion, and I did not advise any removals 
other than Alice Burke, referred to in my last report. Thomas Mc- 
Cormack, State pauper, had become quiet and was engaged in and 
about the house, and I requested the opinion of Dr. P. H. Shea, the 
attending physician, as to the propriety of his continuing in the in- 
stitution. On the 18th of October, 1883, he wrote me: " I do not 
hesitate to pronounce Thomas McCormack safe and quiet, and not a 
dangerous character to be kept in this poor-house." I decided, there- 
fore, to allow him to remain, for the time being, in the institution. 
I visited the poor-house of this county, July 18, 1883, accompanied 
by the State Commissioner irf-Lunacy. The whole number of inmates 
then was 11G, of whom 12 men and 17 women were classed as insane. 
These occupy an extension of the right wing of the building, the men 
upon the first, and the women the second story. The attendant 
in charge of the former is a pauper. The female attendant receives 
$1 pei- week. Four of the men labor upon the farm, and seven 
of the women do more or less domestic work. Among the men were 
three cases that I recommended, in writing, to be removed to the Bing- 
hamton State Asylum, the State Commissioner in Lunacy concur- 
ring, viz.: 
Owen McMahon, insane epilaptic, 40 years old, and an inmate eight 
years; is violent, destructive and filthy, and had on no clothes except 
a shirt; is confined in his room at all times. Charles Monroe, age 45 
years, an inmate two years, having been transferred from the State 
Lunatic Asylum ; form of insanity, chronic mania ; has to be con- 
stantly confined because of inclination to escape ; is slovenly in his 
habits and person, and had on no clothes except a shirt and pants; 
does not go to the table, but is fed in his room. Walter Hamilton, 
age 27 years; form of insanity, chronic mania; has been an inmate 
Saratoga County. 46 
seven years and was never at any State asylum; will escape at 
every opportunity, and if allowed to go out into the yards, will scale 
the high fence; of late, has been confined most of the time in the 
building, and his meals served in his room. 
The women were generally quiet, orderly cases, and none of these 
were in any form of restraint. The county has 24 chronic insane at 
the Willard, and five at the Binghamton State Asylum. There were 
no feeble-minded girls or young women in the institution. Two of 
this class were recently removed to the Newark Custodial Asylum. 
Superintendent Armstrong informs me that the three insane men 
above referred to were brought to the Binghamton State Asylum, 
agreeable to our recommendation, August 2, 1883. 
Schenectady County. 
The poor-house of this county was visited December 8, 1883. It 
then contained 54 inmates, about two-thirds of whom were males. 
They were generally aged and most of them feeble and infirm. There 
were no insane. The buildings, outhouses, closets and grounds were 
clean and tidy, and the drainage in good order. The county has 
twenty-five insane at the Willard Asylum. 
The poor-house of this county was visited June 23, 1883, at which 
time it contained 34 inmates, 19 males and 15 females. Of these, only 
two, both aged men, were classed as insane, and they were said to 
cause no trouble. There were two men as inmates, each about 55 years 
old, who appeared to be in good health, the others being mainly aged, 
infirm and helpless. Among the number were three feeble-minded 
young women, as follows: Ann Cronie, 20 years old, an inmate about 
twelve years; is fully developed and healthy, and employed in the 
kitchen and wash-room ; Emeline Thompson, about 28 years of age, 
an inmate ten years, during which time she had given birth to three 
illegitimate children; is in good health, and employed in domestic 
work; Ellen Cane, aged 26 years, and an inmate five years ; is of good 
physical development and in complete health, but nearly blind. The 
institution affords no adequate protection to these cases, and I early 
communicated with the superintendent, urging him to take measures 
to procure their admission to the Custodial Asylum at Newark. The 
county has 32 chronic insane at the Willard Asylum. 
Schoharie County. 
Schuyler County. 
This county has no poor-house, its insane being / provided for in 
State institutions. There are two small town poor-houses in the 
county, but these make no provision for the insane. 47 
Seneca. County. 
In a visit to the poor-house of this county, May 4, 1883, I inquired 
and examined as to the insane. There were then two cases only, 
both men, quiet and harmless, and said to be good laborers. These 
are domiciled in common with the other inmates. The county has 
44 insane at the Willard Asylum, and it is the settled policy of the 
authorities to retain none of this class requiring special attention. 
I visited the poor-house of this county, November 3, 1883. It then 
sheltered 75 inmates, of whom 19 were males, and 56 females. They 
were all aged, infirm or sick persons, and several of them were help- 
less and confined in bed. One man and three women were classed as 
insane. These were quiet, harmless cases of long standing, and al- 
lowed full liberty. There was one feeble-minded young girl, 16 years 
of age, an inmate about ten months, with an illegitimate child, six 
months old. Application has been made for her admission to the 
Newark Custodial Asylum, and she was soon to be removed to that 
institution. My visit was at an early hour, and I saw the inmates at 
breakfast. This consisted* of fried salt pork, boiled potatoes, bread 
and butter and tea, and was in abundance. The buildings are in good 
condition and comfortable, and throughout were clean and well or- 
dered. The sexes can be separated at night, but during the day the 
association is promiscuous. There seemed no need for the removal 
of any of the insane. 
Steuben County. 
Suffolk County. 
Visited March 13, 1883. The number of insane in its care then was 
45, of whom 23 were men and 22 women. An examination of these 
showed a comparatively large ratio of excited, violent, filthy, 
noisy and dangerous patients. Upon full consideration, and 
with the concurrence of Dr. Baker, attending physician, I com- 
municated immediately with the superintendents, and recommended 
the removal of the following cases - four men and six women 
- to the Binghamton State Asylum, viz.: John Beebe, filthy and 
indecent; George Woodruff, regarded as dangerous and also filthy; 
Patrick Bruin, filthy and sloven, and inclined to escape, his ankles 
being shackled by iron fetters ; James Reynolds, violent, treach- 
erous and dangerous, assaulting attendants and others; Jerusha 
Ann Tuthill, violent and extremely noisy; Ellen McGarity, destruct- 
ive, and confined most of the time in her room; Catherine Sharon, 
violent and dangerous, frequently assaulting other inmates; Ann 
Eliza King, turbulent, filthy and highly indecent; Margaret 48 
Burk, extremely noisy, and confined in bed in her room ; and 
Sarah Dowd, violent, and looked upon as dangerous. The num- 
ber of attendants employed is six-three malesand three females. 
The county has four insane at the Willard, and six at the Bingham- 
ton Asylum. Under the date of March 16, 1883, the superintendents 
of the poor says in regard to the removal of the insane referred to : 
" The board of superintendents holds its monthly meeting in two 
weeks, and we will at that time take steps to carry out your wishes 
immediately." On the 10th of April, 1883, John S. Havens, superin- 
tendent of the poor, wrote mo as follows : "At a meeting of the 
superintendents of the poor at Yaphank a few days since, your letter 
recommending the removal of certain insane persons in our alms-house 
to the Binghamton Insane Asylum, was presented to the Board, and 
it was determined to remove them on Monday, the 11th inst." 
Visited May 12, 1883, with Commissioner Milhau and Dr. Baker, 
attending physician. Of the cases recommended to be transferred to 
the Binghamton Asylum March 13, 1883, the following have been 
removed, viz.: George Woodruff, Patrick Bruin, Ellen McGarity, 
Catharine Sharon, Ann Eliza King and Margaret Burk. Ann Tuthill 
was taken away by her relatives and is now in their care; John Beebe 
was retained at the urgent solicitation of his mother, and James Rey- 
nolds escaped and is now in the county jail, for setting fire to the woods. 
At the suggestion of Dr. Baker, Mary E. TuthiH, colored, was sent in 
the place of Sarah Dowd, as the more troublesome case, so that the 
number of removals was seven-two men and five women. In the course 
of our visit, we went through all the rooms for the insane, and saw all 
the patients. We were pleased with the condition of the apartments 
for the women, which were clean and orderly, and the patients free 
from restraint. There was one woman, Smith, a chronic 
imbecile, about thirty years old, found in one of the rooms, wholly 
destitute of clothing. The matron stated that she had recently become 
quite destructive, and had been entirely nude nearly three days. This 
woman, an inmate about three years, had previously, for a long time, 
been confined in a room at home, and allowed to sit crouched upon the 
floor, until her lower extremities became badly and permanently crip- 
pled. I addressed the superintendents, advising them, if they failed to 
devise means permanently to'clothe her, to remove her to the Bing- 
hamton State Asylum. The condition of the insane men was to us 
entirely unsatisfactory, they being generally sloven and untidy. John 
Beebe was very filthy in his person, his clothes and hands being smeared 
with the contents of the closets. The nominal male attendants are the 
farmer and the engineer. As they are most of the time necessarily 
engaged in-their respective duties, the insane men are practically 49 
without supervision. They go out and in at pleasure, have free access 
to the basement, and there is no restraint whatever upon their conduct 
and actions. With the concurrence of Commissioner Milhau, I 
addressed the superintendents, advising them to close the basement 
against the insane, and to set apart a day room for them in some other 
portion of the building, f also advised them to employ a male attend- 
ant to be constantly with the men during the day, to enforce cleanli- 
ness and order, and to carry out the instructions and directions of the 
attending physician. 
Visited September 3, 1883, at which J;ime there were 44 insane 
-17 men and 27 women. The wards for the women were clean 
and in good order, and some slight improvement had been effected 
in the condition of the men since my last visit. Eight of these 
were at work upon the farm; two were in their rooms on the upper 
hall, and the others were at liberty in the yard. The case before 
referred to-John Beebe - was in the same filthy condition as when 
last reported. No additional male attendants have as yet been em- 
ployed, but the time of the present attendants is said to be more 
strictly devoted to the insane than heretofore. It seemed that it might 
soon become necessary to remove two cases to the Binghamton State 
Asylum, viz., Elbert C. Ketchum, a deaf-mute, formerly a good laborer, 
but of late violent and excited, and most of the time confined in his 
room; and Catherine A. McNierny, a disturbed, noisy and turbulent 
woman, requiring constant supervision. I conferred with Dr. Baker, 
who accompanied me, in regard to these cases, and he assured me that 
he would watch their condition, and if their removal became advisable 
he would lay the matter before the superintendents. The woman 
referred to as nude, at my last visit, was clothed in strong canvas cloth, 
and confined in her room. There were no cases in any form of restraint. 
Visited December 5, 1883, accompanied by Dr. Baker, attending 
physician, the keeper being absent. Since my last visit, September 
3, 1883, the superintendent had removed Elbert Ketchum and Catha- 
rine A. McNierny, the two disturbed cases then referred to, who had be- 
come violent, and also Christopher Lake, to the Binghamton State 
Asylum, and two patients had been received, transferred from the 
State Homoeopathic Asylum. One of the latter, Edward Clancey, 
was considerably disturbed, and is said, at times, to be very violent 
and noisy, so that his removal will probably soon become necessary. 
The number of inmates under care was 43, as against 44 at my last 
visit. Of these, 17 were men and 26 were women. The men, except 
a few quiet laborers, have been removed from the basement, and occupy 
one of the corridors as a day room. I went through the entire build- 
ing, and saw all of the patients. There were no cases in any form of 50 
restraint or seclusion. The wards and rooms were in good order, and 
the women's department, especially, was very clean and tidy. 
Sullivan County. 
The poor-house of this county was visited March 16, 1883. The 
asylum department then contained 33 insane, of whom 11 were men 
and 22 women. The county has four insane at the Binghamton Asy- 
lum, removed about a year ago upon the recommendation of the 
Board. It has also ten patients at the State Homoeopathic Asylum, 
two of whom are soon to bft removed to the asylum at Binghamton. 
I made a careful examination of the insane in the county insti- 
tution, and found them all quiet, harmless cases, there being none in 
any form of restraint, and I therefore did not deem it advisable to 
recommend any removals. Plans have been adopted for the improve- 
ment of the poor-house and the building for the insane men, which it 
is said will be carried out early the coming summer. 
Tioga County. 
Visited June 9, 1883. The poor-house then had 51 inmates - 27 
males and 24 females. Of these, 13 - five men and eight women - 
were insane. Five of these were in the poor-house proper ; the others 
occupy a separate building. The only attendants are paupers. I 
made a careful examination of the insane, and advised the superin- 
tendents to remove the following cases to the Binghamton State 
Asylum, viz.: John Barrington, age 42 years, wholly incoherent, and 
at times quite noisy; Charles Marquart, 40 years old, incoherent, at 
times violent and noisy, and slovenly in his habits; Thomas Ryan, 
aged 50 years, has paroxysms of excitement, and is then noisy and vio- 
lent; Ann Westfall, a married woman, 45 years old, an inmate period- 
ically for the past ten years, is violent and noisy, and greatly disturbed 
at night; Mary Ward, 37 years of age, noisy and filthy in her person 
and habits; Martha Robinson, aged 34 years, filthy and demented ; 
Phebe Cole, 52 years old, excited and violent, and inclined to injure 
herself; and Mary Glovern, 50 years of age, demented and extremely 
filthy. 
Visited November 23, 1883. At the suggestion of Commissioner 
Miller, before going to the poor-house, I called at the rooms of the su- 
pervisors of the county, then in annual session, at Owego, and was 
accorded full opportunity to address them in regard to the condition 
of their chronic insane, and as to the necessity of their removal. Upon 
my request, the board appointed its chairman, Supervisor Ogden, and 
Supervisor Williams, a committee to visit the poor-house with me; 51 
and Superintendents Barnes and De Forest, who, with Superintendent 
Earll, were present, accompanied us. 
At my visit June 9, 1883, I recommended the superintendents to 
remove eight insane - three men and five women - to the Bingham- 
ton State Asylum, and a like recommendation had been made'by the 
State Commissioner in Lunacy, in a previous visit to the institution. 
Of these, only one, viz. : - Mary Westfall - had been thus removed. 
We carefully examined the others, and found no material change m 
their condition except in the cases of John Barrington and Phebe Cole, 
both of whom w'ere more quiet than when before reported, and who, in 
the opinion of keeper Johnson, could be properly provided for in the 
poor-house department. The other cases, viz.: Charles Marquart, 
Thomas Ryan, Mary Ward, Martha Robinson and Mary Glovern, were 
all more or less disturbed, and generally filthy in their persons and 
habits, and I renewed my recommendation for their removal to the 
Binghamton State Asylum. Upon our return to Owego, the commit- 
tee, at the afternoon session of the supervisors, reported in favor of the 
removal of these cases, which was thereupon unanimously approved 
by the Board. In a subsequent interview with the superintendents, 
they assured me that these removals would be made with the greatest 
possible dispatch. Under the advice of the supervisors, the old asylum 
building is to be immediately fitted up and adapted to poor-house pur- 
poses, and the high board fences at its rear are to be removed. The 
few insane remaining in the institution will be distributed among the 
other inmates. 
Since my last visit to this poor-house, a bountiful supply of pure 
and wholesome wrater has been procured. A part of this is by means 
of a pump, and a part comes by an iron pipe leading from springs. 
The tank is said to have capacity for about 120 barrels, and it is ele- 
vated so as to supply all parts of the buildings. A number of bath 
tubs have also been procured, and good facilities have been introduced 
for heating and distributing both hot and cold water. 
Under date of November 20, 1883, keeper Johnson addressed me 
the followingOn the 24th of this month we from our 
county poor-house, to the Binghamton State Asylum, the following 
insane : Charles Marquart, Thomas Ryan, Mary Ward, Martha Robin- 
son and Mary Glovern." 
Tompkins County. 
The poor-house of this county, visited June 6, 1883, contained 41 
inmates-22 males and 19 females. Nearly all were aged, sick, infirm 
and helpless persons. There were only two insane present, both quiet, 
harmless men, and said to be good laborers. The county has about 
50 chronic insane at the Willard Asylum. 52 
I visited the poor-house of this county February 7, 1883, with a 
committee of the board of supervisors, viz. • A. S. Denton of Gardiner, 
A. B. Dubois of Rosendale, and C. T. Contant of Esopus- to confer 
with them in regard to remodeling the buildings. The action had in 
this respect will hereafter be reported. 
In the course of my visit, I made a careful examination of the insti- 
tution, which then contained 82 inmates - 66 males and 16 females. 
They were mostly aged and infirm persons, and there were none 
classed as insane. The county has 79 chronic insane at the Willard 
and 12 at the Binghamton State Asylum. 
Among the inmates were three feeble-minded young women, viz.: 
Abigail White, aged 27 years, Lillian Wright, aged 24 years, and Eliza 
Stokes, aged 22 years. These all appeared to be suitable cases for the 
Custodial Asylum at Newark, and the superintendent, who was 
present, promised to take immediate measures to secure their removal 
to that institution. » 
Ulster County'. 
Warren County. 
Visited July 18, 1883, in company with the State Commissioner in 
Lunacy. The poor-house then contained 57 inmates, about equally 
divided as to sex. Of these, there were five insane, viz.: Ono man and 
four women. These were found under conditions as follows : 
William Archer, 24 years old, admitted August 22, 1881, having 
never been at any State asylum; is confined constantly in his room, 
being violent, filthy and noisy; he recently attacked an aged inmate, 
whose life was saved only by the interposition of the keeper. 
Helen Richardson, a married woman, 40 years old, admitted Sep- 
tember 14, 1880; is very filthy in her person and habits, violent and 
noisy, especially at night, and remains most of her time in her room ; 
has never been treated at any State asylum. 
Jane A. Raymore, aged 40 years, and married ; admitted in March, 
1883, previous to which she had been a long time insane and kept at 
home; is destructive and filthy, and was confined in the basement. 
Margaret'Liddle, 31 years old, admitted in 1879, and has never 
been at any State asylum ; is at times excited and noisy, and needs 
constant oversight. 
Mary Donahue, admitted in November, 1882, having never received 
treatment in any State asylum; is at times violent and noisy, and was 
wandering without restraint about the buildings and grounds. 
With the concurrence of the State Commissioner, and the approval 
of Commissioner Foster, who had a few days previously visited the 
institution, I soon after addressed A. T. Pasko, superintendent of the 53 
poor, advising the removal of these insane to the Binghamton State 
Asylum, and the removals not being made, I subsequently addressed 
him twice more upon the subject. On the 28th day of September 
1883, the superintendent wrote me as follows: "I have concluded to 
lay the matter before the supervisors, which meet on the 1st of No- 
vember. There is a great deal of opposition here to sending the in- 
sane to the State Asylum." In view of the communication of the 
superintendent, I would respectfully recommend that measures be 
taken to bring the subject to the notice of the supervisors, at their 
meeting in November, and that the State Commissioner in Lunacy be 
requested to co-operate in the matter. 
We also found in the poor-house, at this visit, two feeble-minded 
girls, whose removal was recommended to the Newark Custodial Asy- 
lum, viz.: Mary Moss, aged 19, and Lucy Hathaway, aged 21 years. 
Up to October 1, 1883, these removals had not been effected, nor have 
I been advised of any application being made for their admission to 
that institution. 
Visited November 1G, 1883. Previous to my visit, I attended the 
session of the supervisors of the county, at Caldwell, and was cour- 
teously given an opportunity to address them in regard to the insane 
and other inmates of their county poor-house. At my request, the 
Board appointed a committee consisting of Supervisors Dr. G. II. Al- 
drich and John Peart, to accompany me to the institution. We ac- 
cordingly visited the poor-house, and were there joined by Dr. How- 
ard, attending physician. The only change that had occurred in the 
insane since my visit with the State Commissioner in Lunacy, July 18, 
1883, was the removal, soon after, of Margaret Liddle by her friends, 
since which time she has been maintained in family care. We care- 
fully examined the other cases of insane, and found them in about the 
same condition as last reported. 
William Archer was confined in a room, lying upon a straw mat- 
tress on the floor, with no clothes, except a coarse, heavy shirt, and 
was sullen and morose. He was covered with blankets, his hair long 
and unkempt, and was filthy in his person. The keeper said that at 
times he was extremely violent and noisy, and that he regarded him as 
highly dangerous. He is taken out of his room occasionally by the 
keeper, while it is being cleaned, but is not allowed at large with the 
other inmates. 
Jane A. Raymore had been removed to a room in one corner of the 
basement kitchen. The partitions are wooden slats or bars, admitting 
warmth from the kitchen stove, but the room is imperfectly lighted. 
She is very filthy in her person and habits, and her face was swollen 
from erysipelatous disease. 54 
Helen Richardson was in bed, her clothing disordered, and ex- 
tremely filthy. The matron stated that she required to be bathed 
daily, and not infrequently three or four times a day, with entire 
change of clothing. She was quiet during our visit, but is said to be, 
at times, very violent and noisy. 
Mary Donahue fled from her room at our approach, and we were 
unable to find her. There is but little restraint exercised over her, 
she being allowed to wander about the buildings and grounds, and 
she is said, frequently, to be noisy and violent. 
The two feeble-minded young girls - Mary Moss and Lucy Hatha- 
way- were still in the institution, and no application had been made 
by the superintendent for their admission to the Newark Custodial 
Asylum. 
In the course of our visit, we wrent through all parts of the institu- 
tion. The rooms were clean and in good order, and we saw much 
to commend in the management of the keeper and his wife. The 
removal of the insane and other cases referred to would relieve them 
of much anxiety and care, and enable them to bestow greater atten- 
tion upon the other inmates, most of whom are aged, feeble-minded 
and infirm. 
From the proceedings of the supervisors of this county, subsequent 
to my visit, as published in the local "press, the following action in 
regard to the insane, etc., appears to have been taken: On the 17th of 
November, the committee upon the subject reported as follows : " We 
recommend the removal of Mary Moss and Lucy Hathaway, idiotic 
inmates, to a State institution ; we recommend a surgical operation 
to be performed on Helen Richardson, at the poor-house, and that 
Jane Raymore be kept at the county house and be attended by the 
county physicians." On the 22d of November the report was taken 
up by the Board and adopted. It will be observed that no action 
whatever was taken in respect to William Archer, the violent, danger- 
ous, insane young man, constantly confined. Regarding this man, Dr. 
Aldrich, one of the committee, is reported as saying, " that Archer was 
past help, mentally. His physical health, he thought, might be im- 
proved under the care of a keeper and the advantages of an asylum, 
but as himself and Mr. Peart, the other member of the committee, 
were not tax payers, they did not wish to burden the county with their 
inclinations." 
The wretched condition of the chronic insane in the poor-house of 
this county calls, in my opinion, for prompt and decided action on the 
part of the Board. As the Willard and Binghamton State Asylums 
have spare room, there seems to be no valid excuse for the retention 
of violent, dangerous, filthy and feeble insane, as those of this county 55 
are, in poor-houses. I therefore recommend, that an order be made by 
the Board, directing the superintendent of the pooF'to remove the 
chronic insane now in the poor-house of this county, to one of the 
State asylums for this class. 
Washington County. 
I visited the poor-house of this county November 17, 1883, in com- 
pany with Superintendent Reid, the keeper being absent. Its inmates 
then were said to number 57 males and 46 females; total, 103. Of 
these, 25 - 7 men and 18 women - were classed as insane. Among 
the number was a young man, a recently arrived immigrant, just ad- 
mitted, whose home was in Liverpool, England, where his parents 
reside. As he was quiet and harmless, and had sufficient money to 
defray the expense of his passage home, I advised that he be permitted 
to return in accordance with his desire, taking the precaution, how- 
ever, to see him aboard, and placed under the steamship surgeon's 
care. 
The other noticeable cases of insane were the following : Benjamin 
Tallman, 50 years old, an inmate about eight years, and formerly at 
the State Lunatic Asylum, and the Asylum at Brattleboro, Vermont. 
He was quiet during my visit, but at times, it was said, is extremely 
violent and dangerous. I advised his removal to the Binghamton 
State Asylum. 
Mary Loomis, a widow, 68 years old, an inmate about five years, 
having never been at any State asylum. She is generally quiet, but, the 
matron said, is subject to periods of great depression, continuing often 
for two or three weeks, and, although never as yet attempting self- 
destruction, she has strong suicidal tendencies. For this reason I also 
advised her removal to the State asylum at Binghamton. 
Mary Jane Walker, a single woman, 26 years old, congenitally feeble- 
minded. She was an inmate when a child, was placed out in a family, 
and returned June 5, 1877, as insane ; discharged July 24,1877; re-ad- 
mitted May 11, 1881, and again discharged March 14, 1882. On 
October 28, 1883, she was again returned, and at the time of my visit 
was laboring under considerable excitement. I advised the superin- 
tendents that she be carefully examined by Dr. McNeil, the attending 
physician, and that they be guided by his opinion as to her removal. 
During the year this poor-house has been improved by the removal 
of several partitions, thus enlarging the rooms, and the floors in many 
parts of the building have been renewed. The basement of the old 
asylum building has been fitted up and set apart for feeble-minded and 
filthy males. The rooms throughout were clean and in good order, 
and the beds and bedding tidy and comfortable. A separation of the 56 
sexes is said to be effected at night, but the association during the day 
is almost wholly unrestricted. 
Wayne County 
Upon my visit to this county, March 2, 1883, the buildings set 
apart for the insane contained G1 patients, of whom 28 were men and 
33 women. There were also a few cases classed as insane that were in 
the poor-house proper. The insane are under the charge of Dr. C. N. 
Dorset, resident physician, who also acts as an attendant to the men. 
There are two female attendants having the care, of the women. 
There was only one patient in any form of restraint. This was a tur- 
bulent, noisy woman, strapped in a chair, and she was said to be con- 
tinuously disturbed. I recommended her removal to the Willard 
Asylum. The county has now 13 chronic insane at that institution, 
and its authorities will probably endeavor soon to remove some of 
these. The removal should be restricted to mild and harmless cases 
only, and I so advised the authorities. 
Visited April 2G, 1883, accompanied by Commissioner Milhau and 
the State Commissioner in Lunacy. The asylum department then con- 
tained G8 insane, of whom 31 were men and 37 women. The turbulent, 
noisy woman, referred to in my last visit, Carrie Gay, has 'since then 
been transferred to the Willard Asylum, and eight patients, all quiet 
and harmless cases, have been returned from that institution to the 
county. Wo found the insane free from restraint and their apart- 
ments throughout clean and in good order. Th5 buildings will 
properly accommodate 100 patients, fifty of each sex. The paid force 
in charge of the insane are : The resident physician, acting also as 
attendant, at 8400 per year; one male attendant at 820 per month ; 
one female attendant at 8250 per year ; and one at 82 per week. It is 
probable that two or three more patients will soon be removed from 
the Willard Asylum. 
Visited July 26, 1883. Since last visited-April 2G, 1883-four ad- 
ditional patients - three men and one woman - have been brought 
from the Willard Asylum, and two men and two women, admitted di- 
rect from their homes. Of the latter, one man, aged 37 years, 
had been insane a long time in family care, and the other, 19 years old, 
was a case of chronic dementia. The women had both been at the 
State Lunatic Asylum, discharged as improved, and for some time past 
provided for at their homes. One was a disturbed chronic demented 
case, and the other quiet, and apparently inproving. No discharges or 
deaths had taken place sine last reported, thus giving 3G men and 40 
women, or a total of 7G under care. 
My visit was made in the absence of the keeper and the resident 57 
physician, though the latter returned before my leaving. One man 
was considerably excited, and his hands were restrained by straps. 
The excitement was said to be only temporary, the man being usually 
a good laborer. One woman, an inmate about three years, was ex- 
tremely noisy, and I advised her removal, if this condition continued. 
There were no other-patients in restraint, nor apparently any other 
troublesome cases, and the wards and rooms throughout were clean and 
in good order. Theforceof attendants continues the same as when last 
reported. 
Visited October 20,1883. Since my visit July 26, 1883, there have 
been two admissions to the asylum of this county, - one man and one 
woman, - and one woman has been taken away by her relatives, said to 
be improved. It has also lost two men by death, one 52, and the other 
56 years old. The number under care was, men, 35; women, 40; total, 
75, as against 76, when last reported. My visit extended to all the 
wards, halls and rooms, and to the kitchen, laundry and dining apart- 
ments. There was one woman disposed to tear her clothing, strapped in 
a chair, butnoothers were in any manner restrained, and all were quiet 
and orderly. The walls have recently been cleaned and whitened, and 
the buildings throughout were in good condition. It did not seem 
that any removals were necessary. The resident physician, Dr. Dor- 
set, was recently discharged, and the medical services were being per- 
formed by the attending physician, Dr. J. W. Putnam, who, it was said, 
makes daily visits to the institution. The keeper informed me that 
negotiations were in progress for the immediate employment of a resi- 
dent physician. 
Westchester County. 
My visit to the poor-house of this county was made March 10, 1883. 
It then sheltered 202 inmates - mostly aged, sick and infirm persons 
- of whom 136 were males, and 66 females.. There were no insane ex- 
cept one woman, a recent case, awaiting removal to the Hudson 
River State Hospital. The county has 119 chronic insane in the Wil- 
lard and 62 at the Binghamton State Asylum. I found an imbecile 
alien pauper in the institution-Joseph Andrews, a German, 26 
years old, sent to this country by his brother, in November, 1882 - 
and I provided for his return to his home. I also found three feeble- 
minded young women in the institution, viz.: Josephine McClenan, 
aged 18; Catherine Pierce, aged 22; and Phebc Jane Bennett, aged 
21. The superintendents were advised to take measures for the re- 
moval of these cases to the Custodial Asylum at Newark, and they 
have since been transferred to that institution. 58 
Wyoming County. 
The insane department of the poor-house of this county, May 26, 
1883, the date of my visit, had 17 inmates, of whom 7 were men and 
10 women. Of the men, 4 were in the building, and 3 at work upon 
the farm. Several of the women were engaged in sewing. The wards 
and rooms were clean and in good order. A matron has charge of the 
women, and the keeper looks after the men. There were two cases 
which I advised the superintendents to remove to the Willard Asylum, 
viz.: James E. Lathrop and Rose Warner. The former seeks every 
opportunity to escape, and was shackled at the ankles with a chain. 
He was brought from the Utica State Lunatic Asylum, about three 
years ago, and recently has become very noisy, especially at night. 
The latter, an inmate about four years, has never been at any State 
asylum. She is a congenital, feeble-minded woman, very noisy both 
day and night, and sloven and filthy in her person and habits. In the 
poor-house proper there was a feeble-minded child, Mina Fox, seven 
years old, and I recommended that application be made for her admis- 
sion to the State Idiot Asylum. 
In company with the State Commissioner in Lunacy, visited August 
3, 1883. Since my last visit, May 26, 1883, Jerome Lathrop had been 
taken away by his relatives and removed to the Willard Asylum July 
30; and Chauncey Hayden had been admitted, transferred from the 
Genesee county poor-house. Application had been made for the 
admission of Rose Warner to the Willard Asylum, but she had not 
been removed. The number of insane was the same as last reported, 
viz.: Men, 7; women, 10; total, 17. The feeble-minded girl, Mina 
Fox, had been accepted as a pupil at the State Idiot Asylum, and was 
to enter the asylum at the opening of its school in October. I com- 
municated with the superintendents, advising the removal of Chauncey 
Hayden, but did not regard it necessary to recommend further re- 
movals, other than those referred to in my last report. We found the 
insane generally, clean and orderly, and their rooms, beds, bedding, 
etc., in good condition. 
In a visit to the Willard Asylum, September 14, 1883, I learned 
that Rose Warner was removed to that institution August G, and 
Chauncey Hayden, August 16, 1883. 
The removal to the Willard Asylum, of the cases referred to in my 
last report, left only 14 insane in the care of this county upon the oc- 
casion of my visit, October 26, 1883, viz.: 5 men and 9 women. These 
were all orderly, quiet patients, entirely free from restraint, and upon 
my arrival were at dinner. The meal consisted of fried salt pork, 
boiled potatoes, stewed carrots and beets mixed, and bread, milk and 
tea. The poor-house inmates were also being served with a similar 59 
meal, and in abundant quantities. The institution in all its parts was 
clean, and in good order, and there seemed no necessity of advising, 
for the present at least, any further removals of insane. The feeble- 
minded little girl, Mina Fox, had been transferred to the State Idiot 
Asylum at Syracuse. 
Yates County. 
The poor-house of this county was visited June 4, 1883. It then 
sheltered 29 inmates, of whom two were insane women. One of these, 
Phebe Newson, a widow, had been an inmate about five months, being 
sent to her relatives in this county from Illinois, where she had prob- 
ably been insane for some time. She was very heat and clean in her 
person and habits, but being at times quite disturbed, I advised her re- 
moval to the Willard Asylum, in which the county has now about 30 
patients. The other woman was a quiet, harmless case, and said to be 
a good laborer. Among the inmates, who were mostly very aged and 
infirm, there was one feeble-minded woman, 27 years old, who had 
been in the house about six months. She is badly scarred upon the 
chest, from a burn by hot water, when a child, and lacks physical 
vigor. During the past winter, an attempt was made by a tramp, 
lodging over night in the house, to outrage her person, but it is said 
without success. In view of her helpless condition, I advised the su- 
perintendent to endeavor to secure her early admission to the Newark 
Asylum. 
Results of the Visitations During the Year. 
It may be well, before closing this report, briefly to sum up the re- 
sults of these visitations during the year : 
1. The number of insane removed to the Willard and Binghamton 
State Asylums during the year, as recommended, has been as follows : 
From the asylums of the exempted counties, 46 ; from the asylums 
and poor-houses of the other counties, 51; total, 97. In addition to 
these, considerable numbers have also, voluntarily, been thus removed 
by the superintendents. These have all been extremely disturbed and 
violent insane, and several of them suicidal and homicidal cases. A 
much greater number of removals would have been recommended, if 
the State provision had been adequate to them. 
2. These removals have greatly improved the condition of the asy- 
lums of the exempted counties, by relieving them of their most trou- 
blesome insane, and enabled a much better and more economic care of 
those remaining in them The amount of restraint has been largely 
reduced, and it may be kept thus, by continuing these removals, as 
disturbed and violent cases, from time to time arise. In three of these 60 
counties, the high board fences, inclosing the asylum grounds, have 
been removed, and a much greater freedom of the insane, than here- 
tofore, exists in these asylums. The results in these counties have 
proved so largely beneficial and salutary, that their example in this 
respect is likely soon to be followed by other counties. 
3. These removals of the insane from the poor-houses and asylum 
departments of the other counties have improved the condition of 
those institutions also, and rendered their management more-easy and 
economic. In two of these counties, viz. : Genesee and Tioga, all of 
their insane, requiring special oversight, have been removed to the 
care of the State, and the buildings heretofore occupied by them have 
been devoted to poor-house purposes. It is believed that this course 
would soon be pursued by several other counties, were the accommoda- 
tions of the State adequate for all of their insane. 
4. These visitations and examinations during the year have clearly 
demonstrated that it is unwise and impolitic to retain violent and 
excited insane in the county institutions. In the best regulated of 
the exempted county asylums they are the source of continued annoy- 
ance, and greatly disturb the more quiet and harmless patients; 
while in the poor-houses, and asylum buildings or wards of the other 
counties, they require persistent watchfulness and care, and are the 
cause of constant fear and distress to the other inmates. The ex- 
perienced officers of these institutions generally admit these facts, but 
owing to local influences, and the frequent changes of administration, 
these classes of insane arc liable, from time to time, to accumulate. 
In no way, it is believed, can the county asylums and poor-houses 
be kept clear of violent and disturbed insane, except by frequent visi- 
tations of these institutions, and recommendations for their removal. 
5. The removals of feeble-minded girls and young women from the 
poor-houses, to the Custodial Branch Asylum at Newark during the 
year, have filled all the spare room of that institution, and no further 
action in this direction is practicable, until the State shall extend its 
accommodations for this class. 
Respectfully submitted, 
CHARLES S. HOYT, 
Secretary. 
Dated Albany, N. ¥., January 10, 1884.