New York at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, St. Louis 1904: Report of the New York State CommissionEllis, DeLancey M.
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New York at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, St. Louis 1904: Report of the New York State Commission
Ellis, DeLancey M.
Louisiana Purchase Exposition (1904 : Saint Louis, Mo.) -- New York (State)
No State in the Union approaches the Empire State in its progressive
policy in the care of the insane, the destitute and delinquents, in the
solving of labor and excise problems, and had the exhibit in this
department been installed together, a most effective and striking lesson
would have been taught.
STATE COMMISSION IN LUNACY
The exhibit of the New York State Commission in Lunacy was the most
suggestive and comprehensive of any shown in the Department for the
Insane, and was designed primarily to show the difference between the
ancient and modern methods of treating these unfortunates. Two rooms
were shown, the first of which represented the primitive methods adopted
for treating insanity. The room was barren, dark and not over clean. At
the front was shown one of the old peep-doors taken from the Utica
Asylum. It was of massive construction and contained a small aperture
covered by a heavy wooden blind, through which the attendant could
observe the doings of the patient, or, more properly speaking, the
prisoner. Within stood one of the so-called Utica cribs built of heavy
wood, over which was a cover of wooden bars. In this crib the patient
was obliged to remain in a recumbent position, the cover closed and
locked. Near by stood a restraining chair, a whirling chair, a straight
jacket and shackles, all representing ancient methods of "quieting" the
victims of the dread disease.
Adjoining was an airy room, clean and inviting, made cheerful by growing
plants and attractive furniture, with every modern appliance for the
care of an invalid, resembling closely a room of the better class in a
general hospital. There was an entire absence of any kind of restraint.
A neat iron bedstead, rocking chairs, invalid table, wash stand, book
case with books, and in fact every comfort and convenience was at hand.
In this room were also shown the uniforms worn by the nurses and
attendants in the State hospitals for the insane, and a series of
reference books upon the subject of insanity, The exhibit was
supplemented by a series of handsome photographs completely illustrating
the various State hospitals for the insane, the daily life of the
inmates and the expert attention which they receive.
Glass cases contained a large amount of industrial work done by the
inmates. This chiefly consisted of sewing and embroidery. A feature of
the exhibit was an oak cabinet containing a series of specimens showing
cross sections of the brain prepared at the Pathological Institute in
New York city. It was of decided scientific value and interest. Near by
was a miniature tent hospital, a complete model of the hospital for the
care of insane patients afflicted with tuberculosis which is now in
operation at the Manhattan State Hospital, Ward's Island, N. Y.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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