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Astounding Disclosures! Three Years In A Mad House

Creator: Isaac H. Hunt (author)
Date: 1851
Publisher: Isaac H. Hunt
Source: Patricia Deegan Collection
Figures From This Artifact: Figure 2  Figure 3

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Some time in August, 1848, Stewart died in the lodge. Do not know circumstances. Died at night. I was sick at the time. Was told Stewart was dead. Went out and helped bring him in. I left him at 5 P.M., as usual, with care of himself. Well, except insanity. Died next night after admitted. Do not know cause of death or disease. Patients sometimes put in bed straps. -- Never knew a person to die strapped down. I have been in hospital five years. Libby was partially under my care. I did not know that he was injured. He could not have been injured seriously without my knowing it. He did not complain to my knowledge.

73  

Boardman has been thrown down more or less for three years. I have thrown him down and put on wristers. This in self defence. Never knew it except in such cases. John Rogers there two years ago. Tasks not imposed on patients in doors or out. I have said a great many things I do not see fit to say here. I did not use water from a lead cistern. Patients did. For the five years I knew of no unjustifiable violence used. I have generally had assistants with me. I have worst class male patients. This day Weeks and I measured the old lodge. Two furnaces situated in basement of lodge. One furnace heated two rooms. Hard coal used. Three and half feet from fire to floor above. Floor from five to eight inches thick. Fire under partition wall. A man's head would not come nearer than two feet from the wall where the fire was. I have been vexed and out of humor, and complained, but under oath I would not say any thing was not right.

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JOHN C. PERLEY called and sworn. I was in the Hospital fourteen months. I left a week or two after Dr. Bates came, in 1845. I have faint recollection of Mr. Hunt. I was in the lower gallery -- Mr. Hunt in upper gallery. Do not know about Hunt's medicine, or his being forced to take medicine. I live in Vassalboro'. Did not tell Percival that Hunt was abused. Never said I would not stay to see patients abused. Never knew any patients abused by attendants.

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JAMES P. WEEKS called and sworn. I have been in hospital nearly seven years. I was acquainted with Hunt. Never was told, except by him, that deleterious medicine was given him. Hunt complained while there. Do not know of having been showered as a punishment. In course of a year he improved. -- Was considered an insane man when he left. I considered him so. Do now on his treatment at hospital, and other things. Dr. Bates did not change medicine to my knowledge. Hunt said he did. Do not know of his friends being refused the privilege of seeing him. Hunt worked on his bench when he chose to. Food prepared by the matron. Same for all the patients. Patients never showered for punishment. Forced to take medicine when so ordered by Dr. Never knew patients to die strapped down. Don't know of Eastman being hurt. No blisters.

76  

LEWIS KNOX called and sworn. I reside in Augusta, half a mile from the hospital. Have seen patients occasionally. I had occasion to milk my cows near the hospital milking place one season, within two rods. Keeper ordered patient to milk. He did not instantly obey. Keeper went to patient and struck and patient fell to the ground. After he was on the ground he kicked a number of times. Ordered him to got up. Patient very much frightened and his cries might be heard a long distance. Keeper helped him up. -- Patient fell in consequence of the blow. This might have been three years ago. At another time Parsons, a keeper, slapped a patient by the name of Umberhind on the head several times as he sat on a milking stool.

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JAMES LIBBEY called and sworn. I was a patient in the Hospital ten weeks in 1847, July and August. The night after I went there, I was jammed and choked, and my hands confined. Bartlett afterwards found my hand out of the straps, and after securing it again, choked me. The first night I was there, he put his knee on my sides, and injured my side so much that I have suffered from it ever since: cannot mow, or do such kinds of work. Dr. Bates saw my side and sent Liniment. At one time, some patients, myself with them, were walking out, and we had gone as far as we were to go. Bartlett said "let us go back" -- a patient refused. Bartlett seized him, pulled him and kicked him --, took him by the handkerchief, and twitched him down, and choked him. Bartlett said "get up !" -- patient answered "I can't;" Bartlett jammed him with his knees.

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MRS. MELVINA TOBEY called and sworn. I live on the arsenal lot in Augusta, near Hospital. About a year ago, as I was passing from the Hospital to the arsenal; passed patients at work raking oats. Attendant was Gay. A patient was sitting down and appeared to be tying his shoe. Attendant told him to rake; he commenced raking, and Attendant told him to rake faster. Attendant kicked him so that he fell down -- kicked him after be was down -- choked him -- struck him a number of times, and kicked him, and raised him up by his hair, and thrashed him down several times. I was within four or five feet of them at the time.

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