LAWS 
RELATING TO 
of fi *11' t ic if 
3 .it™ mmw m i fe 1 raw 
'^D' a (S<v (5^ l» X./ \ JU. *• 
J J J J 
AND 
RULES AND REGULATIONS 
OF SAID ASYLUM 
ADOPTED JULY 1, 1869. 
SENECA FALLS, N. Y. : 
PRESS OF HENRY STOWELL, REVEILLE OFFICE. 
1869. of Ansi&i, 
Hon. JOHN E. SEELEY, Ovid. 
GENET CONGER, M. D., Geneva. 
Hon. STERLING G. HADLEY, Waterloo. 
Hon. FRANCIS O. MASON, Geneva. 
SAMUEL R. WELLES, M. D., Waterloo. 
Gen. GEORGE J. MAGEE, Watkins. 
Hon. DARIUS A. OGDEN, Penn Yan. 
WILLIAM A. SWABY, M. D. Seneca Falls. 
President of the Board.-Hon. John E. Seeley, Ovid. 
Secretary.-Dr. S. R. Welles, Waterloo. of Isolum. 
Trustees Classified: 
First Class. 
1869 to 1877. 
STEELING G. HADLEY, 
GEO. J. MAGEE. 
Second Class. 
1869 to 1875. 
W. A. SWABY, 
JOHN E. SEELEY. 
Third Class. 
1869 to 1873. 
D. A. OGDEN, 
GENET CONGEE, 
Fourth Class. 
1869 to 1871. 
S. E. WELLES, 
F. O. MASON. 
Treasurer.-JAMES B. THOMAS, Ovid. 
J J 
John B. Chapin-Superintendent and Physician. 
First Assistant Physician. 
Chas. L. Wells-Second Assistant Physician. 
Abeam C. Slaght-Steward. 
Sabah H. Bell-Matron. Standing (' ominittcd. 
Executive Committee. 
The President of the Board of Trustees ex-officio. 
The Secretary of the Board of Trustees ex-officio. 
The Superintendent of the Asylum ex-officio. 
Visiting Committee. 
For the months of January, May and September.-Messrs* 
Ogden and Seeley. 
For February, June and October.-Messrs. Hadley and 
Mason. 
For March, July and November-Messrs. Conger and Magee. 
For April, August and December-Messrs. Swaby and 
Welles. 
Committee on Supplies and Expenditures. 
S. G. Hadley, W. A. Swaby, D. A. Ogden. 
Committee on Farm and Buildings. 
Geo. J. Magee, D. A. Ogden, J. E. Seeley. 
Auditing Committee. 
G. Conger, F. O. Mason, S. R. Welles. ^illard ^solum fon |nw. 
JJ J J J J 
By an act of the New York Legislature, passed on the 30th 
day of April, 1864, the Secretary of the State Medical Society 
was authorized to investigate the condition of the insane poor 
in the various poor-houses, alms-houses, insane asylums, and 
other institutions where the insane poor are kept, not includ- 
ing, however, such institutions as are now required by law to 
report to the Legislature of the State. The law directed the 
Secretary to arrange a series of questions, such as in his judg- 
ment would be likely to elicit the greatest amount of inform- 
ation on the subject, procure them printed, and transmit them 
to each County Judge in the State. It directed the County 
Judge, on the reception thereof, to appoint a competent phy- 
sician, a resident of the county, to visit the county poor-house, 
or institution where the insane poor are kept, and to examine 
into the condition and treatment of the insane inmates and to 
transmit the result of the investigation to the Secretary, who 
was thereupon directed to condense the information so re- 
ceived and report the same to the Legislature. Dr. Wil- 
lard, the Secretary of the State Medical Society, entered, at 
once, upon the service assigned him, and the following Janu- 
ary his report was presented to the Legislature. This docu- 
ment bears ample testimony to the earnestness, fidelity and 
zeal with which the author executed the duties of his com- 
mission, and although he died, prematurely, and lamented, 
before the passage of a law creating a new institution for the 
insane, a grateful Commonwealth has perpetuated his memory 
and name in the Willard Asylum for the Insane. fares Relating to ^illard fon the j nsam;. 
CtlAPTER 342. 
An act to authorize the establishment of a State Asylum 
for the chronic insane, and for the better care of the insane 
poor, to be known as " The Willard Asylum for the Insane." 
Passed April 8, I860 ; three-fifths being present. 
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and 
Assembly, do enact as follows: 
Section 1. The Governor is hereby authorized to appoint 
three commissioners for the purpose of selecting, contracting 
for and purchasing a suitable site for the erection of an asylum 
for the chronic insane who are paupers, and in making such 
selection they shall first seek for and select any property own- 
ed by the State, or upon which it has a lien, and if that may 
be done, then such other property as shall be suitable for their 
purpose. 
§ 2. When a title can be secured to the people of this State 
for any property mentioned in the first section hereof, the 
treasurer shall pay on the warrant of the comptroller, to the 
grantor or grantors thereof, such sum or sums of money as 
may be required to pay for the same agreeably to the contract 
of said commissioners, if any sum is required. 
§ 3. As soon after such site shall be obtained as shall be 
practicable the said commissioners shall devise and adopt a 
suitable plan for the construction of the asylum buildings, if 
any construction is necessary, or the modification of buildings 
already erected and not occupied for other state purposes, 
with the specifications which shall be approved by the gov- 
ernor, after which said commissioners shall contract for the 
erection or modification of said asylum buildings in pursuance 
of said jdan and specifications, and the said commissioners 
shall select one of their number to superintend the building 
or modification of said asylum. 
§ 4. The said commissioners, before entering on the duties 
of their office, shall give their bonds, with two or more suffi- 
cient sureties, to be approved by the comptroller, jointly and 
severally, to the people of this State, in the penal sum of ten 
thousand dollars, conditioned for the faithful performance of 8 
LAWS RELATING TO 
the duties required of them by this act, and in such form and 
terms as shall be prescribed by the attorney-general. 
§ 5. The said commissioners shall have no interest, direct 
or indirect, in the furnishing of any building materials or in 
any contracts for the same or in any contracts for labor in the 
erection or modification of such asylum. 
§ 6. The treasurer shall pay to the said commissioners, on 
the warrant of the comptroller, out of any moneys in the 
treasury not otherwise appropriated, such sum or sums of 
money as they may require for the modification or building of 
such asylum, at such time as such money may be wanted 
therefor, in sums not exceeding five thousand dollars at 
any one time, and the expenditure thereof to be duly and fully 
accounted for to the comptroller, with the vouchers, before 
any other sum shall be advanced. 
§ 7. It shall be the duty of the said commissioners to make 
a detailed report of all the moneys received by them by virtue 
of this act, and of the progress which shall have been made 
in the erection or modification of said buildings, and of the 
probable cost to complete the same, to the comptroller as often 
and in such manner as the comptroller shall or may from time 
to time require. 
§ 8. Each of said commissioners, excepting the one men- 
tioned in section nine of this act, to be appointed to select, 
contract for and superintend the building or modification of 
such asylum, shall be allowed for his services and expenses, 
while actually employed in the duties of his office, the sum of 
five dollars per day, and the expenses necessarily incurred in 
the performance of the duties required by virtue of this act; 
and the treasurer shall pay such allowance to each of the 
commissioners on the warrant of the comptroller, the vouchers 
for the same to be duly presented to the comptroller. 
§ 9. The Governor is hereby authorized, by and with the 
consent of the senate, to appoint six trustees, who shall be 
divided into three classes ; the first class to hold their office 
two years; the second class four years, and the third class 
six years ; and their successors to be appointed as above pro- 
vided, shall hold their office respectively six years, and until 
their successors are appointed. Said trustees shall have all 
the rights and powers, and be subject to the same duties, in 
said asylum, as are now possessed by and imposed upon the 
board of managers of the State Lunatic Asylum at Utica, and 
shall be subject to removal at any time by the senate upon 
recommendation of the Governor. Said trustees shall also fix 
the rate per week, not exceeding two dollars, for the board of 
patients. It shall further be the duty of said trustees, as 
soon as portions of said asylum are completed and ready for 
the reception of the insane, to designate, in a just and equita- WILLARD ASYLUM FOR THE INSANE. 
9 
ble manner, and with the approval of the Governor, the conn- 
ties from which the chronic pauper insane shall be sent to 
said asylum, as parts of the room shall be ready, from time to 
time, for the reception of patients. And the commissioners 
who shall be appointed, as provided in section three of this 
act, to superintend the building thereof, shall, in lieu of all 
other compensation therefor, till the completion of said asy- 
lum, receive a salary of one hundred and twenty-five dollars 
per month, in addition to the actual expenses connected there- 
with ; the same to be paid by the treasurer upon vouchers 
duly presented to the comptroller. 
§ 10. The chronic pauper insane from the poor houses of the 
counties that shall be designated, as provided in section nine 
hereof, shall be sent to the said asylum by the county super- 
intendents of the poor, and all chronic insane pauper patients 
who may be discharged not recovered from the State Lunatic 
Asylum, and who continue a public charge, shall be sent to 
the asylum for the insane hereby created, and all such patients 
shall be a charge upon the respective counties from which 
they are sent. 
§ 11. The county judges and superintendents of the poor in 
every county of the State, except those counties having asy- 
lums for the insane, to which they are now authorized to send 
such insane patients by special legislative enactments, are 
hereby required to send all indigent or pauper insane coming 
under their jurisdiction, who shall have been insane less than 
one year, to the State Lunatic Asylum. 
§ 12. Seventy-five thousand dollars is hereby appropriated 
for the purpose of carrying into execution the provisions of 
this act, to be paid by the treasurer on the warrant of the 
comptroller, in sums heretofore named, from any money in the 
treasury not otherwise appropriated. 
§ 13. The asylum hereby created shall be known as the 
Willard Asylum for the Insane. 
§ 14. This act shall take effect immediately. 10 
LAWS RELATING TO 
tfawa ^tilling to toe State fanatic 
CHAPTER 135. 
An act to organize the State Lunatic Asylum, and more 
effectually to provide for the care, maintenance and recovery 
of the insane. 
Passed April 7, 1842. 
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and 
Assembly, do enact as follows: 
§ 1. Nicholas Devereaux, Jacob Sutherland, Charles A. 
Mann, Alfred Munson, Charles B. Coventry, Abraham V. Wil- 
liams, Thomas H. Hubbard, T. Romeyn Beck and David Buel, 
are hereby appointed managers of the State Lunatic Asylum ; 
and shall hold their offices as follows: The said Nicholas 
Devereaux, Jacob Sutherland, and Charles Mann, shall hold 
their offices for one year ; the said Alfred Munson, Charles B. 
Coventry, and Abraham V. Williams, shall hold their offices 
for two years; and the said Thomas H. Hubbard, T. Romeyn 
Beck and David Buel, shall hold their offices for three years; 
and they shall hold their offices until others are appointed in 
their stead, subject to being removed at any time by the 
Senate, upon the recommendation of the Governor. Their 
successors shall be appointed by the Senate, upon the nom- 
ination of the Governor, and shall hold their offices for three 
years, and until others are appointed in their stead, and sub- 
ject to be removed in the manner aforesaid. The government 
of the State Lunatic Asylum shall be vested in the said board 
of managers, and a majority thereof shall reside within live 
miles of said asylum. 
§ 2. Said board shall have the general direction and control 
of all the property and concerns of the institution not other- 
wise provided for by law, and shall take charge of its general 
interests, and see that its great design be carried into effect, 
and every thing done faithfully according to the requirements 
of the Legislature, and the by-laws, rules and regulations of 
the asylum. 
§ 3. The managers shall appoint a superintendent, who shall THE STATE LUNATIC ASYLUM. 
11 
be a well educated physician, and a treasurer, who shall reside 
in the city of Utica, and give bonds for the faithful perform- 
ance of his trust, in such sum and with such sureties as the 
Comptroller of the State shall approve. They shall also ap- 
point, upon the nomination of the superintendent, a steward, 
an assistant physician and a matron, all of whom, and the 
superintendent himself, shall constantly reside in the asylum, 
and shall be designated the resident officers thereof. 
§ 4. The managers shall from time to time determine the 
annual salaries and allowances of the treasurer and resident 
officers of the asylum, subject to the approval of the Govern- 
or of the State, Secretary of State, Comptroller and Attorney- 
General, and such salaries shall not exceed, in the aggregate, 
five thousand five hundred dollars for any one year. 
§ 5. The salaries of the treasurer and resident officers of 
the asylum shall be paid quarterly, on the first days of Janu- 
ary, April, July and October, in each year, by the Treasurer 
of the State, on the warrant of the Comptroller, out of any 
moneys in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, to the 
treasurer of the asylum, on his presenting a bill of particulars 
signed by the steward and certified by the superintendent. 
§ 6. The managers may take and hold, in trust for the State, 
any grant or devise of land or any donation or bequest of 
money or other personal property, to be applied to the main- 
tenance of insane persons and the general use of the State 
Lunatic Asylum. 
§ 7. The treasurer and resident officers of the asylum, before 
entering upon their respective duties, shall severally take the 
oath prescribed in the first section of the sixth article of the 
constitution of the State and such oath shall be filed with the 
clerk of the county of Oneida. 
§ 8. The managers are hereby directed and empowered to 
establish such by-laws as they may deem necessary and expe- 
dient for regulating the appointment and duties of officers, 
attendants and assistants, for fixing the conditions of admis- 
sion, support and discharge of patients, and for conducting in 
a proper manner the business of the institution ; also, to or- 
dain and enforce a suitable system of rules and regulations 
for the internal government, discipline and management of 
the asylum. 
§ 9. The superintendent shall be the chief executive officer 
of the asylum. He shall have the general superintendence of 
the buildings, grounds and farm, together with their furniture, 
fixtures and stock; and the direction and control of all per- 
sons therein, subject to the laws and regulations established 
by the managers. He shall daily ascertain the condition of 
all the patients and prescribe their treatment in the manner 
directed in the by-laws. He shall have the nomination of his 12 
LAWS RELATING TO 
co resident officers, with power to assign them their respective 
duties, subject to the by-laws; also to appoint with the man- 
agers' approval, such and so many other officers, asssistants 
and attendants, as he may think proper and necessary for the 
economical and efficient performance of the business of the 
asylum, and to prescribe their several duties and places, 
and to fix, with the managers' approval, their compensa- 
tion, and to discharge any of them at his sole direction; 
but in every case of discharge he shall forthwith record 
the same with the reasons, under an appropriate head, in one 
of the books of the asylum. He shall also have power to sus- 
pend, until the next monthly meeting of the managers, for 
good and sufficient cause, a resident officer; but in such case 
he shall forthwith give written notice of the fact, with its 
causes and circumstances, to one of the managers, whose duty 
thereupon shall be to call a special meeting of the board to 
provide for the exigency. He shall also, from time to time, 
give such orders and instructions as he may judge best calcu- 
lated to ensure good conduct, fidelity and economy in every 
department of labor and Expense; and he is authorized and 
enjoined to maintain salutary discipline among all who are 
employed by the institution, and to enforce strict compliance 
with such instructions, and uniform obedience to all the rules 
and regulations of the asylum. He shall further cause full 
and fair accounts and records of all his doings, and of the 
entire business and operations of the institution, to be kept 
regularly, from day to day, in books provided for that purpose, 
in the manner and to the extent prescribed in the by-laws ; 
and he shall see that all such accounts and records are fully 
made up to the last day of November in each year, and that 
the principal facts and results, with his report thereon, be pre- 
sented to the managers within thirty days thereafter. The 
assistant physician shall perform the duties, and be subject to 
the responsibilities of the superintendent in his sickness or 
absence. 
§ 10. The resident officers of the State Lunatic Asylum, and 
all attendants and assistants actually employed therein, dur- 
ing the time of such employment shall be exempt from serv- 
ing on juries, from all assessments for labor on the highways, 
and in time of peace, from all service in the militia; and the 
certificate of the superintendent shall be evidence of the fact 
of such employment. 
§ 11. The managers shall keep, in a bound book to be pro- 
vided for that purpose, a fair and full record of all their do- 
ings, which shall be open at all times to the inspection of the 
Governor of the State, and of all persons whom he, or either 
House of the Legislature may appoint to examine the same. 
§ 12. The managers shall maintain an effective inspection 13 
of the asylum ; for which purpose, one of them shall visit it 
every week, two once every mouth, a majority once every 
quarter, ami the whole board once a year, at the times and 
in the manner prescribed in the by-laws. In a book kept by 
the managers for this purpose, the visiting manager or mana- 
gers shall note the date of each visit, the condition of the 
house, patients, etc., with remarks of commendation or cen- 
sure, and all the managers present shall sign the same. The 
general results of these inspections, with suitable hints, shall 
be inserted in the annual report, detailing the past year's 
operations and actual state of the asylum, which the managers 
shall make to the Legislature in the month of January in each 
year, accompanied with the annual reports of the superin- 
tendent and treasurer. 
§ 13. It shall be the duty of the resident officers to admit 
any of the managers into every part of the asylum, and to 
exhibit to him or them, on demand, all the books, papers, ac- 
counts, and writings belonging to the institution, or pertaining 
to its business, management, discipline, or government; also, 
to furnish copies, abstracts, and reports, whenever required 
by the managers. 
§ 14. The treasurer shall have the custody of all moneys, 
bonds, notes, mortgages, and other securities and obligations 
belonging to the asylum. He shall open, with one of the 
banks in Utica, to be selected with the approbation of the 
Comptroller of the State, an account in his own name, as 
treasurer of the asylum ; and he shall deposit all moneys im- 
mediately upon receiving them in said bank, and shall draw 
for the same only for the uses of the asylum, and in the man- 
ner prescribed in the by-laws, upon the written order of the 
steward, specifying the object of the payment. He shall keep 
full and accurate, accounts of receipts and payments, in the 
manner directed in the by-laws, and such other accounts as 
the managers shall prescribe. He shall balance all the ac- 
counts on his books annually, on the last day of November, 
and make a statement of the balances thereon, and an ab- 
stract of the receipts and payments of the past year; which 
he shall, within three days, deliver to the auditing committee 
of the managers, who shall compare the same with his books 
and vouchers, and verify the results by a further comparison 
with the books of the steward, and certify the correctness 
thereof, within the next five days, to the managers. He shall 
further render a quarterly statement of his receipts and pay- 
ments, on the first days of March, June, and September in 
each year, to the auditing committee, who shall compare and 
verify the same as aforesaid, and report the results, duly cer- 
tified, to the managers, who shall cause the same to be record- 
ed in one of the books of the asylum. He shall further ren- 
4 
THE STATE LUNATIC ASYLUM. 14 
LAWS RELATING TO 
der an account of the state of his books, and of the funds and 
other property in his custody, whenever required so to do by 
the managers. 
§ 15. The treasurer of the State Lunatic Asylum shall be 
vested with the same powers, rights, and authority which are 
now by law given, either to superintendents of the poor or to 
overseers of the poor, in any county or town of the State, so 
far as may be necessary for the indemnity and benefit of the 
asylum, and for the purpose of compelling a relative or com- 
mittee to defray the expenses of a lunatic's support in the 
asylum, and reimburse actual disbursements for his necessary 
clothing and travelling expenses, according to the by-laws of 
the institution; also for the purpose of coercing the payment 
of similar charges when due, according to said by-laws, from 
any town or city or county that is liable for the support of 
any lunatic in said asylum. 
§ 16. Said treasurer is also authorized to recover, for the use 
of the asylum, any and all sums which may be due upon any 
note or bond in his hands belonging to the asylum ; also any 
and all sums which may be charged and due, according to the 
by-laws of the asylum, for the support of any patient therein, 
or for actual disbursements made in his behalf, for necessary 
clothing and travelling expenses, in an action to be brought 
in said treasurer's name, as treasurer of the State Lunatic 
Asylum, and which shall not abate by his death or removal, 
against the individual, town, city, or county legally liable for 
the maintenance of said patient, and having neglected to pay 
the same when demanded by the treasurer; in which action, 
the declaration may be in a general indebitatus assumsit; 
and judgment shall be rendered for such sum as shall be found 
due, with interest from the time of the demand made as 
aforesaid. Said treasurer may also, upon the receipt of the 
mon^y due upon any mortgage in his hands, belonging to the 
asylum, execute a release, and acknowledge full satisfaction 
thereof, so that the same may be discharged of record. 
§ 17. The steward, under the direction of the superintend- 
ent, shall make all purchases for the asylum, and preserve the 
original bills and receipts thereof, and keep full and accurate 
accounts of the same, and copies of all orders drawn by him- 
self upon the treasurer; he shall also, under like direction, 
make contracts in the superintendent's name, with the attend- 
ants and assistants, and keep and settle their accounts; he 
shall also keep the accounts for the support of patients, and 
expenses incurred in their behalf, and furnish the treasurer 
every month with copies of such as fall due; he shall make 
quarterly abstracts of all his accounts to the last day of every 
February, May, August, and November, for the treasurer and 
managers ; he shall also be accountable for the careful keep- THE STATE LUNATIC ASYLUM. 
15 
ing and economical use of all furniture, stores, and other arti- 
cles provided for the asylum ; and shall annually, during the 
third week in November, make out and file with the managers 
a true and perfect inventory, verified by oath, of all the per- 
sonal property belonging to the asylum, in and about the pre- 
mises, with an appraisal thereof, made under oath, by himself 
and some discreet householder of the city of Utica, whom the 
managers shall appoint for that purpose. 
§ 18. As soon as the asylum shall be ready for the admis- 
sion of patients, the managers shall cause notice thereof to be 
published for two weeks in the State paper, and sent to the 
clerk of every county, who shall transmit copies thereof, to 
the superintendents of the poor of said county, by mail. A 
circular from the superintendent shall accompany said notice 
to each county clerk, and to the superintendents of the poor, 
designating different days for the counties severally to send 
to the asylum their respective quotas of patients, and giving 
all necessary directions respecting admission and support, ac- 
cording to the by-laws. 
§ 19. No patient shall be admitted into the asylum, except 
upon an order of some court, justice, judge, or supreme court 
commissioner, without lodging with the superintendent, first, 
a request, under the hand of the person by whose direction 
he is sent, stating his age and place of nativity, if known, his 
Christian and surname, place of residence, occupation, and 
degree of relationship, or other circumstance of connection 
between him and the person requesting his admission; and 
second, a certificate, dated within two months, under oath, 
signed by two respectable physicians, of the fact of his being 
insane; each person signing such request or certificate, shall 
annex to his name his profession or occupation, and the town, 
county, and State of his residence, unless these facts appear 
upon the face of the document. 
§ 20. In every case of lunacy hereafter occurring and pro- 
vided for by Title three, Chapter twenty, Part first, of the 
Eevised Statues, the lunatic shall be sent within ten days to 
the State Lunatic Asylum, or "to such public or private asy- 
lum as may be approved by a standing order or resolution of 
the supervisors of the county;" and the provisions of said 
Title three, allowing other places of confinement beyond ten 
days, are hereby repealed. The superintendents and over- 
seers of the poor named in the several sections of said Title 
three, are severally enjoined to see that this provision be car- 
ried into effect in the most humane and speedy manner; as 
well in case the lunatic or his relatives are of sufficient ability 
to defray the expenses, as in case of a pauper. 
§ 21. If any lunatic confined under the statute, Title three, 
last aforesaid, or any friend in his behalf, be dissatisfied with 16 
LAWS RELATING TO 
any final decision or order of the justices, or of any overseer 
or superintendent of the poor, under such statute, lie may, 
within three days after such order or decision, appeal to one 
of the judges of the county, making complaint on oath, and 
such judge shall thereupon stay his being sent out of the 
county, and forthwith call a jury to decide upon the fact of 
lunacy ; after a full and fair investigation, aided by the testi- 
mony of two respectable physicians, if such jury find him 
sane, the judge shall forthwith discharge him, otherwise he 
shall confirm the order for his being immediately sent to an 
asylum. In case the justices refuse to make an order for con- 
finement, they shall state their reasons for such refusal in 
writing, so that any person aggrieved thereby may appeal, as 
above, to a county judge, who shall hear and determine the 
matter in a summary way, or call a jury, as he may think 
most fit and proper. In every case of appeal the judge shall 
have the same power to take testimony and compel the at- 
tendance of witnesses and jurors, as a justice has in civil 
cases. 
§ 22. In every case of a confinement " under the statute, 
Title three, last aforesaid, whether of a pauper or not, after 
the passage of this act, neither justices, superintendents, or 
overseers of the poor, shall order or " approve " of such con- 
finement, without having the evidence of two reputable phy- 
sicians, under oath, as to the alleged fact of insanity; and 
such testimony shall be reduced to writing and filed, with a 
brief report of all the other proofs, facts and proceedings in 
the case, in the office of the county clerk; and said clerk 
shall file said papers and register with date, the names and 
residence of the lunatic and officers severally, in tabular form, 
in the book of miscellaneous records, kept in said office ; and. 
the certificate of said clerk, and seal of the court, verifying- 
such facts, shall warrant such lunatic's admission into the 
asylum. 
§ 23. All lunatics whose confinement under the said statute, 
Title three, is in a jail, or has commenced since the last day 
of December, eighteen hundred and forty, (except those 
whose mental derangement is upon the testimony under oath 
of two respectable physicians, manifestly incurable, or whose 
bodily infirmities indicate the approach of speedy dissolution,) 
and who are not already under special resolution of the super- 
visors as aforesaid, in some other approved asylum, shall be 
sent to the State Lunatic Asylum, within such time and under 
such regulations as shall be prescribed by the by-laws, after 
the asylum shall be open for the reception of patients. Super- 
intendents of the poor, and all persons having the care of 
such lunatics, shall see to carry this into effect. 
§ 24. The superintendent shall make, in a book kept for the THE STATE LUNATIC ASYLUM. 
17 
purpose, at the time of reception, a minute with date of the 
name, residence, office and occupation of the person by whom, 
and by whose authority, each insane person is brought to the 
asylum, and have all the orders, warrants, requests, certifi- 
cates and other papers accompanying him, forthwith copied 
into the same. 
§ 25. Each county may at all times have one indigent insane 
patient in the asylum, whose disease at the time of admission 
was a first attack, and did not exceed six months; and such 
further number of either old or recent cases as the asylum 
can accommodate, in proportion to the insane population of 
the county. The patients shall be designated by the superin- 
tendents of the poor, or, if the county has no such superinten- 
dents, by the first judge. 
§ 26. When a person in indigent circumstances, not a pau- 
per, becomes insane, application may be made in his behalf 
to the first judge of the county where he resides; and said 
judge shall call two respectable physicians and other credible 
witnesses, and fully investigate the facts of the case, and 
either with or without the verdict of a jury, at his discretion, 
as to the question of insanity, shall decide the case as to his 
indigence. And if the judge certifies that satisfactory proof 
has been adduced showing him insane, and his estate is insuf- 
ficient to support him and his family, (or if he has no family, 
himself,) under the visitation of insanity, on his certificate, 
authenticated by the county clerk and seal of the county 
courts, he shall be admitted into the asylum and supported 
there at the expense of said county, until he shall be restored 
to soundness of mind, if effected in two years. The judge, in 
such case, shall have requisite power to compel the attendance 
of witnesses and jurors, and shall file the certificate of the 
physicians, taken under oath, and other papers, with a report 
of his proceedings and decision, with the clerk of the county, 
and report the facts to the supervisors, whose duty it shall be, 
at their next annual meeting to raise the money requisite to 
meet the expenses of support accordingly. 
§ 27. When an insane person in indigent circumstances shall 
have been sent to the asylum by his friends, who have paid 
his bills therein for six months, if the superintendent Shall 
certify that he is a fit patient and likely to be benefitted by 
remaining in the institution, the supervisors of the county of 
his residence are authorized and required, upon an applica- 
tion under oath in his behalf, to raise a sum of money suffi- 
cient to defray the expenses of his remaining another year, 
and pay the same to the treasurer of the asylum. And they 
shall repeat the same for two succeeding years, upon like ap- 
plication and the production of a new certificate each year, of 
like import from the superintendent. 18 
LAWS RELATING- TO 
§ 28. No patient shall be admitted into the asylum for a 
shorter period than six months, except in special cases as spe- 
cified in the by-laws. 
§ 29. Whenever there are vacancies in the asylum, the man- 
agers may authorize the superintendent to admit, under spe- 
cial agreements, such recent cases, as may seek admission 
under peculiarly afflictive circumstances, or which, in his 
opinion promise speedy recovery. 
§ 30. All town and county officers sending a patient to the 
asylum, shall, before sending him, see that he is in a state of 
perfect bodily cleanliness and is comfortably clothed, and pro- 
vided with suitable changes of raiment, as prescribed in the 
by-laws. 
§ 31. When a person shall have escaped indictments or shall 
have been acquitted of a criminal charge upon trial, on the 
ground of insanity, the court being certified by the jury or 
otherwise, of the fact, shall carefully inquire and ascertain 
whether his insanity in any degree continues, and if it does, 
shall order him in safe custody, and to be sent to the asylum. 
If such person be sent to the asylum, the county from which 
he is sent shall defray all his expenses while there, and of 
sending him back if returned; but the county may recover 
the amount so paid, from his own estate if he have any, or 
from any relative, town, city or county that would have been 
bound to provide for and maintain him elsewhere. 
§ 32. If any person in confinement, under indictment or un- 
der sentence of imprisonment, or under a criminal charge, or 
for want of bail for good behavior, or for keeping the peace, 
or for appearing as a witness, or in consequence of any sum- 
mary conviction, or by order of any justice, or under any other 
than civil process, shall appear to be insane, the first judge of 
the county where he is confined, or if the first judge be absent 
from the county, any county judge of the degree of counsellor 
of the supreme court, shall institute a careful investigation, 
call two respectable physicians and other credible witnesses, 
invite the district attorney to aid in the examination, and if 
he deem it necessary, call a jury, and for that purpose is fully 
empowered to compel the attendance of witnesses and jurors; 
and if it be satisfactorily proved that he is insane, said judge 
may discharge him from imprisonment and order his safe cus- 
tody and removal to the asylum, where he shall remain until 
restored to his right mind; and then, if the said judge shall 
have so directed, the superintendent shall inform the said 
judge and the county clerk and district attorney thereof, so 
that the person so confined may within sixty days thereafter, 
be remanded to prison, and criminal proceedings be resumed, 
or otherwise discharged; or if the period of his imprisonment 
shall have expired he shall be discharged. The provisions of THE STATE LUNATIC ASYLUM. 
19 
the last preceding section requiring the county to defray the 
expenses of a patient sent to the asylum, shall be equally ap- 
plicable to similar expenses arising under this section and the 
one next following. 
§ 33. If a person imprisoned on attachment, or any civil 
process, or for the non-payment of a militia fine, becomes in- 
sane, one of the judges mentioned in the last preceding section 
of this act, shall institute like proceedings in his case as are 
required in the case provided for in said section; but notice 
shall in such case be given by mail or otherwise, to the plain- 
tiff or his attorney, if in the State; and if it shall be proved 
to the satisfaction of said judge that the prisoner is insane, 
he may discharge him from imprisonment and order him into 
safe custody and to be sent to the asylum; nevertheless, the 
creditor may renew his process, and arrest again his debtor 
when of sound mind. 
§ 34. Persons charged with misdemeanors and acquitted on 
the ground of insanity, may be kept in custody and sent to 
the asylum, in the same way as persons charged with crime. 
§ 35. The price to be paid for keeping the poor, or any per- 
sons, in indigent circumstances, in the asylum, until the first 
day of April, eighteen hundred and forty-three, shall be two 
dollars and fifty cents per week; thereafter it shall be annu- 
ally fixed by the managers and shall not exceed the actual 
cost of support and attendance, exclusive of officers' salaries. 
But the managers may reduce the price, if they think proper, 
in behalf of one indigent patient from each county, if admit- 
ted within six mouths of the first attack of the disease, for 
one year, unless sooner cured. The managers may, at their 
discretion, require payments after the first of December next, 
to be made quarterly or semi-annually, in advance. 
§ 36. Every insane person supported in the asylum shall be 
personally liable for his maintenance therein, and for all ne- 
cessary expenses incurred by the institution in his behalf. 
And the committee, relative, town, city, or county that would 
have been bound by law to provide for and support him if he 
had not been sent to the asylum, shall be liable to pay the ex- 
penses of his clothing and maintenance in the asylum, and 
actual necessary expenses to and from the same. 
§ 37. The expenses of clothing and maintaining, in the asy- 
lum, a patient who has been received upon the order of any 
court, or officer, shall be paid by the county from which he 
was sent to the asylum. . The treasurer of said county is au- 
thorized and directed to pay to the treasurer of the asylum, 
the bills for such clothing and maintenance, as they shall be- 
come due and payable, according to the by-laws of the asylum, 
upon the order of the steward; and the supervisors of said 
county shall annually levy and raise the amount of such bills, 20 
LAWS RELATING TO 
and such further sum as will probably cover all similar bills 
for one year in advance. Said county, however, shall have 
the right to require any individual, town, city, or county that 
is legally liable for the support of such patient, to reimburse 
the amount of said bills, with interest from the day of paying 
the same. 
§ 38. Whenever the managers shall order a patient removed 
from the asylum to the poor house of the county whence he 
came, the superintendents of the poor of said county shall 
audit and pay the actual and reasonable expenses of such 
removal as part of the contingent expenses of said poor house. 
But if any town or person be legally liable for the support of 
such patient, the amount of such expenses may be recovered 
for the use of the county, by such superintendents. If such 
superintendents of the poor neglect or refuse to pay such ex- 
penses, on demand, the treasurer of the asylum may pay the 
same and charge the amount to the said county; and the 
treasurer of the said county is authorized to pay the same, 
with interest after thirty days; and the supervisors of the 
said county shall levy and raise the amount as other county 
charges. 
§ 39. Every town or county paying for the support of a lu- 
natic in the asylum, or for his expenses in going to or from 
the same, shall have the like rights and remedies to recover 
the amount of such payments, with interest from the time of 
paying each bill, as if such expenses had been incurred for the 
support of the same, at other places, under existing laws. 
§ 40. None of the provisions of this act shall restrain or 
abridge the power and authority of the Chancellor of the 
State, over the persons and property of the insane. 
§ 41. The managers upon the superintendent's certificate of 
complete recovery, may discharge any patient, except one un- 
der a criminal charge, or liable to be remanded to prison ; and 
they may send back, to the poor house of the county whence 
they came, any patient admitted as " dangerous," who has been 
one year in the asylum, upon the superintendent's certificate, 
that he is harmless and will probably continue so, and not 
likely to be improved by further treatment in the asylum, or 
when the asylum is full, upon a like certificate that he is mani- 
festly incurable, and can probably be rendered comfortable at 
the poor house ; they may also discharge and deliver any pa- 
tient, except one under criminal charge as aforesaid, to his 
relatives or friends, who will undertake with good and ap- 
proved sureties, for his peaceable behavior, safe custody and 
comfortable maintenance, without further public charge. 
§ 42. A patient of the criminal class may be discharged by 
order of one of the justices of the supreme court, or a circuit 
judge, if upon due investigation it shall appear safe, legal and 
right to make such order. THE STATE LUNATIC ASYLUM. 
21 
§ 43. No patient shall be discharged without suitable cloth- 
ing; and if it can not be otherwise obtained, the steward 
shall, upon the order of two managers, furnish it, also money 
not exceeding twenty dollars, to defray his necessary expenses 
until he reaches his friends, or can find a chance to earn his 
subsistence. 
§ 44. It shall be the duty of the assessors in each town and 
ward in the State, every year, to make diligent enquiry, and 
ascertain with accuracy the number and names of all insane 
persons in said town or ward, and to make a list of the same 
with the best account they can get, in each case of the pa- 
tient's age, general health, habits and occupation, kind, degree 
and duration of insanity, and pecuniary ability of self and 
relatives liable for his support. They shall send this list, with 
all the facts brought down to the latest period, to the clerk of 
the county, by the first day of August; who shall carefully 
condense the facts exhibited, and mail the same to the treas- 
urer of the asylum at Utica, without delay. No county clerk 
shall receive any compensation for any services performed un- 
der this act. 
§ 45. The Treasurer of the State is hereby directed to pay 
to the treasurer of the State Lunatic Asylum, upon the war- 
rant of the comptroller, out of any moneys in the treasury not 
otherwise appropriated, such sum or sums of money, as may 
be required by the certificates of the superintendent of said 
asylum, to provide furniture, stock, books and fixtures for the 
said asylum, not exceeding in the whole sixteen thousand dol- 
lars ; and such further sum or sums as may be required by 
like certificates, not exceeding in the whole eight thousand 
dollars, to purchase food, fuel and medicines, and to defray 
the contingent expenses of said asylum; also such further 
sum or sums not exceeding two thousand dollars, upon like 
certificates, to enclose and improve the grounds of said asy- 
lum. 
§ 46. The terms "lunacy," "lunatic" end "insane" as used 
in this act, include every species of insanity, and extend to 
every deranged person, and to all of unsound mind other than 
idiots ; the word " oath " includes " affirmation;" the words 
"justice" and "justices" mean "justice of the peace," "justi- 
ces of the peace;" the word "overseer" means overseer of 
the poor," and " county superintendent " means " superintend- 
ent of the poor;" the word " asylum " and " institution " 
means " State Lunatic Asylum;" a word denoting the singu- 
lar number is to include one or many ; and every word im- 
porting the masculine gender oidy may extend to, and include 
females. 
§ 47. The managers of the State Lunatic Asylum shall re- 
ceive no compensation for their services, but shall receive their 22 
LAWS RELATING TOf 
actual and reasonable travelling and other expenses, to be 
paid on the warrant of the comptroller, on the rendering of 
their accounts. 
§ 48. All purchases for the use of the asylum shall be made 
for cash, and not on credit, or time; every voucher shall be 
taken duly filled up at the time it is taken, with every abstract 
of vouchers for money paid shall be proof on oath that the 
voucher was filled up and the money paid therefor at the time 
the voucher was taken; and the managers shall make all 
needful rules and regulations to enforce the provisions of this 
section. 
§ 49. If the managers shall find that the funds at their com- 
mand will prove insufficient to carry on the asylum, they may 
apply to the Governor, Secretary of State, Comptroller, and 
Attorney-General, specifying the purchases to be made, and if 
the Governor, Secretary of State, Comptroller and Attorney- 
General shall be of opinion that the purchases are necessary, 
they may make an order that a sum not exceeding five thou- 
sand dollars in any one year be advanced to the managers by 
the Comptroller out of any money in the treasury not other- 
wise appropriated. 
§ 50. So much of the fourth section of the act to authorize 
the establishment of the New York State Lunatic asylum, 
passed March 30, 1836, as provides for the appointment of 
three commissioners, is hereby abolished; all the powers con- 
ferred upon said commissioners by said act, or any subsequent 
act of the Legislature, are hereby conferred upon the mana- 
gers appointed by this bill. 
§ 51. This act shall take effect immediately, except its re- 
quirements for sending the insane to the asylum, which shall 
take effect as soon as the managers' notice of the asylum being 
ready as aforesaid, shall have been published for two weeks in 
the State paper. 
chapter 98. 
Section four of an act in relation to the State Lunatic Asy- 
lum. 
Passed April 22, 1846. 
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and 
Assembly^ do enact as follows : 
The managers of said asylum shall have the power, on the 
nomination ot the superintendent of said asylum, to appoint 
a second assistant physician to said asylum, whose salary 
shall be fixed aud paid in the same manner now provided by 
law in relation to the other resident officers of said asylum. THE STATE LUNATIC ASYLUM. 
23 
CHAPTER 282. 
An act in relation to the State Lunatic Asylum. 
Passed April 10, 1850; three-fifths being present. 
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and 
Assembly, do enact as follows: 
§ 1. The managers of the State Lunatic Asylum are author- 
ized in their discretion to appoint on the nomination of the 
superintendent of said asylum, a third assistant physician, 
whose salary shall be fixed and paid in the same manner as 
those of the other resident officers of said asylum. 
§ 2. No person in indigent circumstances not a pauper, shall 
be admitted into the asylum on the certificate of a county 
judge, made under and pursuant to the provisions of the 
twenty-sixth section of the act to organize the State Lunatic 
Asylum, and more effectually to provide for the care, mainte- 
nance, and recovery of the insane, passed April 7,1842, unless 
such person has become insane within one year next prior to 
the granting of such certificate by the county judge, and it 
shall be the duty of said judge when an application is made 
to him pursuant to said twenty-sixth section of said act, to 
cause such reasonable notice thereof and of the time and 
place of hearing the same to be given to one of the superin- 
tendents of the poor of the county chargeable with the ex- 
pense of supporting such person in the asylum if admitted, or 
if such expense is chargeable to a town, or city, then to an 
overseer of the poor of such town or city as he may judge 
reasonable under the circumstances, and he shall then proceed 
to enquire as to the time when such person became insane, 
and shall, in addition to the requirements of said twenty-sixth 
section, state in his certificate that satisfactory proof has been 
adduced before him, that such person became insane within a 
year next prior to the date of his certificate. On granting 
such certificate the judge may in his discretion, require the 
friends of the patient to give security to the superintendent 
of the poor of the county to remove the patient from the asy- 
lum at the end of two years, in case he does not sooner re- 
cover. When a patient who is admitted into the asylum on 
the certificate of a county judge, given pursuant to the twen- 
ty-sixth section of the aforesaid act, has remained in the asy- 
lum two years, and has not recovered, the superintendent of 
the asylum shall send notice by mail to the overseer of the 
poor of the town where the patient resided at the time of his 
admission into the asylum, or to the county judge of the 
county from which he was sent, that such patient has remain- 
ed two years in the asylum and has not recovered, and that 24 
LAWS RELATING TO 
lie should be removed from the asylum, and that in case he is 
not removed the expense of his support will be chargeable to 
the county until he is so removed, and then such expense shall 
be chargeable to the county accordingly; but in every case 
where a patient admitted into the asylum pursuant to the 
provisions of the twenty-sixth section of said act, shall have 
remained there two years, and has not recovered, the mana- 
gers of the asylum may, in their discretion, cause such patient 
to be returned to the county from which he came, and charge 
the expense of such removal to the county. 
CHAPTER 446. 
An act to amend the act entitled, " An act to organize the 
State Lunatic Asylum, and more effectually to provide for the 
care, maintenance and recovery of the insane," passed April 
7th, one thousand eight hundred and forty-two. 
Passed July 9, 1851. 
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and 
Assembly, do enact as follows : 
§ 1. The County Judge of each of the comities of this 
State, is hereby authorized to send all such indigent lunatics, 
belonging to each county, as may be brought before him, 
either to the county poor house or to the State Lunatic Asy- 
lum, as in his judgment may be for the best interests of all 
concerned. 
CHAPTER 450. 
An act to amend an act entitled, " An act to organize the 
State Lunatic Asylum, and more effectually to provide for the 
care, maintenance and recoverjT of the insane," passed April 
seventh, eighteen hundred and forty-two. 
Passed April 16th, 1860; three-fifths being present. 
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and 
Assembly, do enact as follows: 
§ 1. Section four of the act entitled, " An act to organize 
the State Lunatic Asylum, and more effectually to provide for 
the care, maintenance and recovery of the insane," passed 
April seventh, eighteen hundred and forty-two, is hereby 
amended so as to read as follows, viz: 
The managers shall, from time to time, determine the 
annual salaries and allowances of the treasurer and resident 
officers of the asylum, who have been or may hereafter be ap- 
pointed, subject to the approval of the Governor of the State, 25 
THE STATE LUNATIC ASYLUM. 
Secretary of State, and the Comptroller; provided, that such 
salaries shall not exceed, in the aggregate, eight thousand 
dollars for any one year. 
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately. 
CHAPTER 353. 
An act to amend the acts in relation to the State Lunatic 
Asylum. 
Passed April 10, 1865; three-fifths being present. 
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and 
Assembly, do enact as follo ws; 
Part of Section 3. The Board of Managers of the State 
Lunatic Asylum at Utica are hereby authorized to appoint 
two or more of the attendants and employes of said asylum 
as policemen, whose duty it shall be, under the orders of the 
superintendent, to arrest and return to the asylum insane per- 
sons who may escape therefrom. 
CHAPTER 595. 
An act to amend an act entitled, " An act to amend an act 
entitled 4 An act to organize the State Lunatic Asylum, and 
more effectually to provide for the care, maintenance and re- 
covery of the Insane,' passed April seventh, eighteen hundred 
and forty-two," passed April sixteenth, eighteen hundred and 
sixty, chapter four hundred and fifty. 
Passed April 23, 1867 ; three-fifths being present. 
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and 
Assembly, do enact as follows: 
§ 1. Section one of the act entitled " An act to amend an 
act entitled 4 An act to organize the State Lunatic Asylum, 
and more effectually to provide for the care, maintenance and 
recovery of the Insane,' passed April seventh, eighteen hun- 
dred and forty-two passed April sixteenth, eighteen hundred 
and sixty, is hereby amended so as to read as follows : 
The managers shall, from time to time, determine the annu- 
al salaries and allowances of the Treasurer and resident offi- 
cers of the asylum, who have been or may hereafter be 
appointed, subject to the approval of the Governor, Secretary 
of State and the Comptroller, provided that such salaries 
shall not exceed, in the aggregate, ten thousand dollars for 
one year. 
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately. 26 
LAWS RELATING TO THE STATE LUNATIC ASYLUM. 
CHAPTER 822. 
An act making appropriations for certain expenses of Gov- 
ernment, and for supplying deficiencies in former appropria- 
tion. 
Passed May 10, 1869; three-fifths being present. 
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and 
Assembly, do enact as follows : 
The commission appointed pursuant to chapter three hun- 
dred and forty-two, laws of eighteen hundred and sixty-five, 
is hereby discontinued, and the powers and duties of said 
commissioners are vested in the trustees hereby appointed. 
The trustees shall consist of John E. Seeley, Genet Conger, 
Sterling G. Hadley, Francis O. Mason, Samuel K. Welles, Geo. 
J. Magee, Darius A. Ogden, William A. Swaby. The said 
trustees shall be divided by lots, to be drawn by themselves, 
at their first meeting after the passage of this act, into four 
classes, the first to hold their office two years, the second four 
years, the third six years, and the fourth eight years. Their 
successors shall be appointed by the Governor, by and with 
the consent of the Senate ; and the trustees hereby appointed 
and their successors shall have and exercise all the powers 
and duties conferred upon the commissioners and trustees 
named in said chapter three hundred and forty-two, laws of 
eighteen hundred and sixty-five, as the same are specified in 
said chapter. rfornmnanonp and 
Appointed under the Act authorizing the establishment of 
the " Willard Asylum for the Insane," passed April 8,1865. 
*JOHN P. GEAY. 
JULIEN T. WILLIAMS. 
JOHN B. CHAPIN. 
* Resigned, and Lyman Congdon appointed in his stead, May, 1866. 
JOHN E. SEELEY. 
GENET CONGEE. 
*W. V. V. EOSA. 
COENELIUS L. ALLEN. 
JAMES FEEGUSON. 
STEELING G. HADLEY. 
* Declined, and Jas. A. Bell appointed in his stead. 
In pursuance of the above act, the Commissioners, at a 
meeting held July 29, 1865, " selected and designated " the 
State Agricultural College Farm at Ovid, Seneca County, as 
the site for the Asylum contemplated in the act. Appropriations Badr bn ihq |tjislatut]e 
s! J j 
FOR THE WILLARD ASYLUM. 
Foe Eeection of Buildings. 
Chapter 342 Laws of 1865, $ 75,000 
Supply Bill 1866, 50,000 
" " 1867, 100,000 
" " 1868, 75,000 
" " 1869, 45,000 
Foe Salaeies of Officees, Supplies, Maintenance and 
Stocking the Faem. 
Supply Bill 1869, $52,000 
Re-appropriation, 14,000 BY-LAWS 
AND 
Rules and Regulations 
FOR THE GOVERNMENT 
OF THE 
Willard Asylum For The Insane, 
OVID, N. V. 
ADOPTED JULY 1, 1869. 1 J-f 
Board of Trustees. 
The annual meeting of the Board of Trustees shall be held 
on the second Tuesday of December in each year. Quarterly 
meetings shall be held on the first Tuesday of March, June, 
and September. Special meetings may be called by the 
President, or any two Trustees. It shall be the duty of the 
Secretary to cause a reasonable notice of all meetings of the 
Trustees to be delivered to the members at their places of 
residence or business, or, to be sent to them by mail. All 
meetings, unless otherwise ordered, shall be held at the 
Asylum. 
At the annual meeting, the Trustees shall elect from their 
number a President and a Secretary, each of whom shall con- 
tinue- in office one year, or until a successor be chosen. 
There shall be appointed by the President, at said annual 
meeting, the following standing committees, to wit: 
An Auditing Committee, 
A Committee on Supplies and Expenditures, 
A Committee on Farm and Buildings, 
to consist of three members each, besides the Superintendent, 
who shall be, ex-officio, a member of each committee. 
It shall be the duty of the u Auditing Committee " to meet 
once in every month, or oftener, if required, to examine and 
audit the bills contracted during the preceding month before 
payment is made. They shall also carefully examine and 
compare the books and vouchers of the Treasurer with the 
books and duplicates of the Steward, and report the result to 
the Board at each quarterly meeting, in writing. 
To the Committee on " Supplies and Expenditures " shall 
be referred all matters of outlay and expense brought before 32 
BY-LAWS OF THE 
the Board. They shall be an advisory body in all financial 
transactions, and it shall be their duty to see that the affairs 
of the institution are managed in a prudent and economical 
manner. 
The Committee on "Farm and Buildings" shall have gen- 
eral charge and direction in the management of the farm, and 
to them shall be referred all questions relating to the location 
and erection of new buildings, or extension, alteration or re- 
pairs in those already built. 
The management of the Institution, in matters not else- 
where designated or provided for, shall devolve, during the 
intervals between the regular meetings of the Board of Trus- 
tees, in an " Executive Committee" to consist of the President 
and Secretary of the Board of Trustees, and the Superintend- 
ent of the Asylum. They may authorize the Treasurer to 
make his draft upon the Comptroller for monies necessary to 
carry on the institution, and may transact such other business 
as may be deemed advisable and needed for the welfare of 
the institution in such intervals between the meetings of the 
Board; but all business transacted by said committee, of 
whatever kind, in the interest of the Asylum, must be fully 
reported in writing at the first meeting of the Board subse- 
quent to the transaction of such business. 
The Asylum shall be visited by the whole Board at the an- 
nual meeting, and by a majority at the quarterly meetings. 
To maintain a more effective inspection of the Asylum, it 
shall be visited weekly by at least one member of the Board, 
and for the equal distribution of this duty, the Board shall 
divide themselves at the annual meeting into classes of two 
each, of which the first class shall serve during the months of 
January, May and September; the second class during the 
months of February, June and October; the third class dur- 
ing the months of March, July and November, and the fourth 
class during the months of April, August and December. 
A book shall be kept at the Asylum in which the visiting 
Trustees shall note the date of each visit, the condition of the 
house, etc., with any comments or suggestions which may 
occur. The visiting committee shall be an advisory body with 
w'hom the Superintendent of the Asylum may at any time confer. WILLARD ASYLUM FOR THE INSANE. 
33 
At regular meetings of the Board the order of business 
shall be: 
1. Reading of the minutes of the preceding meeting. 
2. The consideration of unfinished business. 
3. The consideration of the minutes of the Visiting Com- 
mittee. 
4. Presentation and consideration of the report of the Au- 
diting Committee. 
5. Reports of Standing and Special Committees. 
6. The consideration of communications from the Medical 
Superintendent. 
7. General business. 
The yeas and nays may be taken on any question whenever 
so required by any member of the Board, and when so taken 
shall be entered on the minutes. 
Trhilsurer. 
The Treasurer shall hold his office during the pleasure of 
the Board. 
He shall receive, hold, and disburse, all the moneys which 
may be granted by the Legislature, or be obtained from other 
sources for the use of the Asylum, subject to the restrictions 
which the Board may from time to time impose. 
The funds shall be used and disbursed only for the use of 
the institution, upon the written order of the Steward, speci- 
fying the object of payment in items in the form of a bill, 
countersigned, "approved" by the Superintendent, and after the 
bill has been approved by the Auditing Committee. 
The Treasurer may from time to time advance to the Stew- 
ard on his order, and the indorsement of the Superintendent, 
specifying that it is to pay current expenses, a sum not ex- 
ceeding two hundred dollars. The Steward shall keep an ac- 
curate account in detail, in a book provided for the purpose, 
of all such expenses paid out of the sums so advanced by the 
Treasurer. The account shall be examined and approved by 
the Superintendent and audited by the Auditing Committee 
before it is settled by the Treasurer, or before any further 
sums are advanced, and be accompanied by vouchers for all 
sums exceeding one dollar. 34 
BY-LAWS. 
He shall keep clear and methodical accounts of all moneys 
received, and of all bills paid, under proper heads of expendi- 
tures, which shall be exhibited to the Trustees, or Auditing 
Commi ttee, quarterly, or oftener if required. 
The fiscal year of the Asylum shall be deemed to close with 
the last day of November, at which time all the accounts on 
the books of the Treasurer shall be balanced, and an abstract 
of receipts and payments in the nature of an annual report 
shall be prepared for the ensuing meeting of the Trustees, and 
presented to the Board by the Auditing Committee. and 
Resident Officers. 
The Superintendent, Assistant Physicians, Steward and 
Matron shall comprise the Resident Officers of the Asylum. 
They shall not be directly or indirectly interested in any con- 
tract for the supply of any article for the use of the Asylum; 
nor shall they be permitted to receive any present or gratuity 
from any person dealing with the Asylum; or from any pa- 
tient or visitor; or from the friends of any patient. No Resi- 
dent Officer shall engage in any business in addition to the 
duties of his office, or in the practice of medicine outside of 
the Asylum for fee or compensation. 
No resident Officer shall direct or authorize any alterations, 
additions or repairs involving any expense for labor or mate- 
rial without first submitting in writing an estimate and plan 
for the same and procuring the assent of the Committee on 
Farm and Buildings. 
Superintendent. 
The Superintendent being by law the chief executive officer 
of the Asylum is regarded the head of the establishment. 
He shall be the medium of communication between the house- 
hold and the Trustees. He shall have the general superin- 
tendence of the buildings, grounds and farm, together with 
the furniture, fixtures and stock; and the direction and con- 
trol of all persons therein, subject to the approval of the 
Board of Trustees, and to such regulations as they may from 
time to time prescribe. It shall be his duty to determine, 
under the direction of the Board, the number of attendants 
and assistants necessary to be employed and to prescribe their 
respective places and duties, and shall be held responsible for 36 
RULES AND REGULATIONS OF 
the direction of all means at his command in a manner that will 
best subserve the objects and ends of the Asylum. He shall 
exert himself to maintain order and salutary discipline in all 
departments by causing the rules and regulations to be strict- 
ly observed, and taking care that all employes about the 
premises perform faithfully and punctually their respective 
duties. 
The charge of the patients is committed to the Superintend- 
ent, who shall direct such medical, moral and physical treat- 
ment as in his judgment will best promote their restoration or 
proper care. He shall visit the patients daily, or ascertain 
their condition, and as frequently as may be necessary, to di- 
rect proper measures for their relief. 
For the purpose of preserving a proper record each patient 
admitted, as well as to promote scientific examination and in- 
quiry and the interests of humanity, the Superintendent shall 
cause to be kept in a suitable book, the name, sex, age, place 
of nativity and residence, civil state and profession of each 
person so received; also, as far as practicable, the history of 
the case before admission, the date of reception, the form of 
disease, the treatment pursued, if any, the changes from one 
hall to another, the result when discharged, together with 
such facts as are usefid and usual in the records of such an 
institution. 
At each visit of the Committee or meeting of the Trustees 
he shall exhibit all the records of the Asylum and inform 
them of its affairs. At each annual meeting of the Board he 
shall present a report of the operations of the institution for 
the year preceding, showing its management and condition, 
with such observations as the experience of the year will war- 
rant. 
Regarded as the head of the institution, the Trustees im- 
pose upon him the duty of enforcing these rules and regula- 
tions, and to report promptly to the Board or to the Visiting 
Committee any delinquency of a Resident officer which in his 
judgment may require such action. 
All correspondence of the Asylum shall be conducted in 
the name of the Superintendent or by his authority and direc- 
tion, and copied in a letter book. WILLARD ASYLUM FOR THE INSANE. 
37 
All moneys received or collected in the name of the Asylum 
by the Superintendent shall be immediately paid over to the 
Treasurer of the Asylum. 
Assistant Physicians. 
The Assistant Physicians shall act as the immediate medi- 
cal attendants in the departments assigned them by the Super- 
intendent, and see that all his directions and suggestions in 
relation to the management of patients are faithfully executed, 
and report all instances of misconduct, neglect and abuse. 
They shall accompany the Superintendent in his visits when 
requested. All prescriptions shall be recorded, as well as all 
changes in the condition of patients, accidents, injuries, es- 
capes, and the use of mechanical restraint. 
They shall make a regular morning visit to all patients under 
their charge. They shall see that they have proper food, ex- 
ercise, clothing and bedding. An efficient daily inspection of 
every portion of their respective departments shall be made, 
observing particularly the temperature and ventilation, and 
report any deficiency in this respect, as well as any damages 
or repairs requiring immediate attention to the Steward, in 
writing, at the close of the visit. 
They shall observe the deportment of attendants and their 
bearing toward patients, and endeavor to influence and in- 
struct them in the discharge of their duties. 
They shall attend to visitors when necessary, and be always 
ready to perform any service in connection with the adminis- 
tration of the medical department that maybe required of them 
by the Superintendent, and under his direction assist in the 
correspondence of the institution. When not otherwise en- 
gaged, they are expected to remain in the office within call of 
their department in case of emergency, and that the office 
may not be left unattended. 
Steward. 
The Steward is the Superintendent's assistant in the 
entire economical administration of the institution. He 
shall execute a bond, with two sufficient sureties, to the 
Trustees of the Willard Asylum for the Insane, and to be ap- 38 
RULES AND REGULATIONS OF 
proved by them in the penalty of five thousand dollars condi- 
tioned that he will faithfully discharge the duties of the office 
of Steward, and pay over and account for all money and 
property that shall come into his hands belonging to the 
Willard Asylum for the Insane. 
Under the direction of the Superintendent, subject to the 
approval of the Committee on Expenditures, he shall purchase 
furniture, food, medicine, fuel, and all other necessary articles, 
and shall be held accountable for the safe keeping, proper dis- 
posal and economical use of all property of the Asylum. 
In all cases of purchase by the Steward he shall require 
duplicate bills, on one of which he shall indorse an order 
upon the Treasurer to pay the bill, and on the other take a 
receipt for the order given by him on the Treasurer. 
No order of the Steward shall be paid by the Treasurer un- 
less it is accompanied with the bill of items for payment of 
which the order is given; nor unless the order is indorsed, 
"Approved " by the Superintendent, and duly audited and 
allowed by the Auditing Committee. 
The Steward shall preserve and file one of the duplicate bills 
with the copy of the order upon the Treasurer, and make the 
proper entry under the appropriate head of expenditure in 
his books, which shall be kept in a clear and methodical man- 
ner. All the books of the Steward, with vouchers, shall be 
balanced on the last day of the month preceding the quarter- 
ly meeting of the Board, and shall be open to the inspection 
of the Trustees, Treasurer and Superintendent. He shall fur- 
nish to the Treasurer, at his request, copies of all accounts 
which become due. 
In the name of the Superintendent, by his direction in each 
case, and not otherwise, the Steward shall hire attendants 
and agree with them for their wages; and by like direction 
he shall dismiss them when unfaithful, negligent or incompe- 
tent. He shall keep and settle their accounts, keep a register 
of all employes, when employed, with date of leaving the ser- 
vice of the Asylum, and the cause, and perform such other 
duties relating to the internal and external management of 
the Asylum as the Superintendent shall require. WILLARD ASYLUM FOR THE INSANE. 
39 
He shall make frequent inspections of the farm, farm uten- 
sils, garden, fences, stock, workshops, barns, bakery, kitchen, 
apartments for male patients, store-rooms, and exercise a sur- 
veillance over all employes in these departments; see that 
the stock and horses are carefully attended, that all necessary 
repairs are promptly made, and that the property of the Asy- 
lum is not wasted or injured. He shall have the custody of 
and keep an account of the avails of the farm and the dispo- 
sition made of them. 
In all his directions to subordinate agents in enforcing the 
rules, the Steward shall be considered as carrying the author- 
ity of the Superintendent. 
All requisitions for tools, household utensils, clothing, 
crockery, etc., shall be made upon the Steward, and state 
whether they are to supply articles worn-out, destroyed, or a 
deficiency. All articles served out will be charged against 
the person receiving them in a pass-book, and must be ac- 
counted for in the damage-book, if worn out or destroyed. 
Matron. 
It shall be the duty of the Matron to look carefully to the 
female patients, and spend as much time with them as her 
other duties will allow. She shall see that they are kindly 
treated; that the food is properly served and distributed; 
that they are properly clothed; that their clothing and bed- 
ding are always clean; that the clothes-rooms are in good 
order; that the clothing belonging to each patient is marked, 
entered in a book, and kept separate from the apparel of 
other patients. 
She shall receive all garments and bedding requiring mend- 
ing and cause the same to be repaired and returned to the 
proper hall again. She shall receive from the Steward requi- 
sitions for clothing or bedding, and shall keep a careful ac- 
count of the same. 
She shall see that the public reception-rooms are kept in 
order; that the cooking, washing and ironing are properly 
done and these departments are neat in appearance and well 
ordered. 40 
RULES AND REGULATIONS OF 
It shall be her especial duty to visit the sick and observe 
whether they have the requisite attention, and report to the 
Superintendent all delinquencies. 
It shall be her duty to have the custody of material for 
bedding, and to cause it to be prepared for use; to cause all 
clothing to be made in the house for the use of patients that 
is practicable, and infuse throughout the department a dispo- 
sition to discharge all duties pleasantly and cheerfully. 
Apothecary. 
The Apothecary, under the direction of the Superintendent 
and Assistant Physicians, shall prepare and dispense the 
medicine prescribed. He shall not send out or permit to be 
taken from the office any medicine or medical stores unless 
upon an order or prescription in writing, which he shall care- 
fully file and preserve. He is expected to remain in his office, 
or within call. He shall keep the office in order, wait upon 
visitors, mark the trunks of patients and copy letters. 
Necessarily coming in contact with visitors and patients, he 
is to be respectful and courteous, and carefully abstain from 
speaking to strangers, in the presence of patients, of their 
peculiarities or delusions. 
There shall be employed an assistant to the Steward, to be 
known as the Steward's Clerk, who shall be familiar with 
book-keeping, and shall render such service in the. Steward's 
department as may be from time to time directed. 
There shall be a clerk or extra attendant in the department 
for men and women, whose duty it shall be to assist at the 
reception of a patient, receive all clothing of the patients, 
mark and enter a correct list of it in a book provided for the 
purpose, together with any money, jewelry, or other articles 
of value which shall be deposited, properly labeled, in the 
Steward's office. When a patient is about, to be discharged, 
reasonable notice, if practicable, shall be given to the clerk, 
who shall cause the patient to be prepared properly, the cloth- 
ing neatly packed, and any articles of value brought with the 
patient to be returned. They shall, as often as once a week, 
Clerks. WILLARD ASYLUM FOR THE INSANE. 
41 
make an inspection of the patients' wardrobes and clothes- 
rooms, and prepare a list of new clothing required by any 
patient, which, when approved by the Superintendent, shall 
be sent to the Steward. When not otherwise engaged, they 
Shall remain within call and perform the duties of attendants. 
Farmer, Gardner, Engineer, &c. 
There shall be employed with qualifications suited to each 
occupation, a Farmer, Gardner, Herdsman, Engineer, Over- 
seers of Shops, Kitchen and Laundry. As occupation, indus- 
try and frugality in all these departments will conduce very 
much to the economical administration of the Asylum, they 
are enjoined to exercise the same diligence and fidelity in the 
discharge of their duties as if the interests involved were their 
own. They will keep an exact account of all tools and uten- 
sils in their departments in a pass-book, and held accountable 
for the safe keeping and proper use of the same. Requisitions 
for new articles will be made upon the Steward, and, if to re- 
place worn-out or broken articles the fact must be stated with 
particulars. 
They will direct the labor of attendants and patients sent 
to them for employment, or take from the halls such patients 
as they may be directed to take by the physicians, in which 
case they will be held responsible for their safe return at noon 
and night. They shall see that all tools are safely used and 
not secreted, in which case immediate search shall be made 
and continued till the missing article is found. 
They shall exercise their judgment carefully and humanely 
in the employment of patients, who are never to work when 
observed to be feeble, or when exposed to inclement weather; 
never to be scolded, roughly handled, found fault with; but 
every effort is to be made to interest patients in occupation as a 
means of diversion. In all relations with patients, patience, 
forbearance and kindness should be exercised. All employes 
of the Asylum, when in charge of patients, will be governed 
by the rules laid down for the government of attendants. 
They will not permit strangers, idle persons, boys or attend- 
ants to frequent the farm, shops, boiler-house, kitchen or 42 
RULES AND REGULATIONS OF 
laundry unless accompanied by an officer of the institution or 
in possession of a permit. They will devote their whole time 
to the institution. 
The Farmer and Gardner will frequently consult with the 
Superintendent on matters pertaining to their departments. 
They will be held responsible for the prompt commencement 
of the day's labor and the continuous employment during the 
day of all under their charge. They will keep a careful record 
of the products of the farm and garden. 
The Engineer will have the care and oversight of the en- 
gines, boilers, machinery, warming and ventilation, sewers, 
steam cooking apparatus, dumb waiters, pipe-fitting, water 
supply and water closets, as well as be responsible for those 
associated with him as assistants. No patient will enter the 
engine or boiler room unless attended, or by permission. 
The Engineer will carefully regulate the consumption of 
fuel, report all waste of steam, maintain a uniform tempera- 
ture of 70 c in the halls, and visit the Steward's office daily, 
at 12 m., to receive any special orders he may have to give. 
He will give his constant attention to the apparatus for ex- 
tinguishing fire. For this purpose he will keep the fire-pump, 
fire-hydrants and hose ready for use at a moment's warning. 
The Carpenter will permit no patient to enter the shop with- 
out permission, or tools to be removed, nor in making repairs 
permit tools to be left within reach of patients. Before enter- 
ing a hall with tools for repairs he will count them, and do so 
before leaving it. He will call at the Steward's office to re- 
ceive orders for repairs daily at 12 m. 
The Overseers of the Kitchen, the Baker, and Overseer of 
the Laundry will attend upon the Steward at the times and 
places appointed by him to receive supplies, which shall be 
always served by weight and measure, and for the safe keep- 
ing and economical use of which they will be held responsible. 
They shall see that their departments and store-rooms are kept 
scrupulously clean and neat; that no peddlers or idle company 
are suffered to visit the kitchen or bakery ; nor the attendants, 
assistants or patients, without permission or direction. The 
persons in charge of the kitchen and bakery must expect fre- 
quent visits from the Superintendent, Steward and Matron; WILLARD ASYLUM FOR THE INSANE. 
43 
and that any neglect, oversight or want of interest in their 
work will be noticed, and that any suggestions or correction 
of errors will be kindly received. 
The overseer of the kitchen shall see that food is well cooked 
and properly distributed to the dining-rooms; that nothing 
under his charge is wasted; that no extra or unusual articles 
are cooked for those in the kitchens nor sent into the wings 
unless on the written order of one of the physicians, and that 
there is no loud or rude conversation carried on. 
The Overseer of the Laundry shall collect the clothing and 
other articles to be washed, as directed by the Steward and 
Matron, and see that they are properly and carefully washed, 
dried, and carried to the ironing-room. Especial care must be 
taken that none are lost, and for this purpose he must see that 
he receives all the articles on the lists given him, that they 
fire marked, and that the lists are sent to the ironing-rooms. 
The person in charge of the ironing-room will see that cloth- 
ing and other articles are properly ironed, mended, and cor- 
rectly distributed. 
No attendants or patients are to visit the Laundry unless 
directed. 
Departments. 
The several halls of the first, second and third stories of 
the North and South wings, respectively, will constitute the 
1st, 2d and 3d Departments. 
Duties of Attendants. 
There shall be designated in each department a Supervisor 
or first attendant, whose duty it shall be, in addition to the 
other duties of an attendant, to have a general charge of the 
department. They shall call at the Apothecary shop at hours 
designated by the physicians .for medicines which they are 
expected to administer. Medicine must never be forcibly ad- 
ministered-unless specially directed-but returned to the 
Apothecary when refused by a patient. They shall attend 
particularly to the sick, see that they are cared for with kind- 
ness and the directions of the physicians are carried out. It 
shall be their duty to instruct new attendants and see that 44 
RULES AND REGULATIONS OF 
they are efficient and kind, and report all delinquencies to the 
physicians. They shall assist in the arrangements for the 
burial of the dead, and be ready at any time to attend to any 
extraordinary service when required. 
They shall be the medium of communication between the 
balls and the center building. They shall see that the halls 
are supplied with furniture, and make a requisition for all 
articles required for use upon the Steward, properly indorsed. 
All changes in the condition of patients, or other informa- 
tion that may be deemed important, shall be promptly report- 
ed to the office through the Supervisor. 
In all their intercourse w ith patients the attendants are to 
treat them with respect and civility, address them mildly and 
avoid rudeness and violence of every kind. All civil ques- 
tions are to be properly answered. They are to avoid any ex- 
hibition of temper, and never scold, threaten or command 
authoritatively; but whenever they desire any thing done by a 
patient, are to make the request in a respectful manner. 
Force has sometimes to be used in every institution for the 
insane, but attendants are particularly enjoined never to resort 
to it unless for the purpose of self-defense, to prevent violence 
or destruction of property, and unless with ample assistance. 
If the circumstances permit, force must never be used unless 
directed by the Physicians, or by the Steward or Matron in 
the absence of the Physicians. 
Force must never be used to place a patient in a bath-tub 
unless directed. 
Under no circumstances will an attendant be excused for 
striking a blow or laying violent hands upon a patient unless 
in the clearest case of self-defense. 
The opposition of patients and much of their violence often 
arises from delusions which lead to apprehensions and fears 
of injury, and every attempt to put them in a room, to give 
food, baths, medicine with violence, angry looks, cross words, 
tends to confirm their false ideas and make their resistance 
more obstinate. Hence attendants, while they discharge their 
duties firmly and without fear, at the same time must do so 
with mildness and kindness. They must take every opportu- WILLARD ASYLUM FOR THE Jj^SANE. 
45 
nity to inspire the patients with confidence and respect for the 
officers^ and convince them of the true character of the insti- 
tution. 
They are promptly to interfere when patients are disposed 
to quarrel, and by kind words diverting their attention with 
other objects, prevent difficulty. A kind word fitly spoken 
will prevent many a scene of excitement. 
They are carefully to avoid talking to patients on the sub- 
ject of their delusions, or about them in the presence of 
others. They must never allow patients to be laughed at, 
ridiculed, or harshly spoken to on account of their delusions 
or the peculiarities of their behavior. 
Deception is to be avoided and care is to be exercised that 
no promises are made that cannot be fulfilled. 
Each attendant is responsible for every patient under his 
or her care, and one attendant, at least, must always be pres- 
ent with the patients in the hall. Suicidal patients are to be 
kept upon the hall under observations, and not permitted to 
retire to their rooms and close their doors. 
Attendants are to consider themselves engaged for at least 
one year's service, and in doing so it must be understood the 
Asylum contracts for their whole time and for such service as 
the Superintendent may deem most desirable for the interests 
of the institution. It must be understood that they willingly 
and in good faith engage to perform their duties according to 
the letter and spirit of these rules and in a cheerful and re- 
spectful manner. 
Attendants must expect an unceasing observation of the 
manner of performing their duties and must receive kindly 
any suggestions from the officers for their improvement. They 
should cultivate a respect for the officers, for their fellow at- 
tendants, and each other. When the morning work is per- 
formed, they should avoid wearing their hats in the house, 
going in shirt-sleeves, loud talking or laughing. Profanity, 
obscene language and drunkenness will subject the offender 
to dismissal. Good conduct and fidelity will merit and receive 
the favorable notice of the Trustees and officers. 
The attendants must rise promptly at the ringing of the 
bell. They will open the patient's room doors, greet their pa- 46 
RULl^ AND REGULATIONS OF 
tients kindly, see that they are properly dressed, well washed, 
and have their hair and clothing brushed, before breakfast. 
The chamber utensils are to be immediately removed, the 
bedding thrown down for airing and drying the bedding when 
necessary, the room well ventilated, and all sources of foul 
air removed. Soiled beds are to be immediately removed. If 
only wet, the straw is to be removed, otherwise the bed-sack 
is to be taken to the wash-house. 
As soon as practicable after breakfast, the halls and rooms 
are to be put in order for inspection at the physician's visit. 
All patients must rise promptly unless sick or disabled by 
debility. 
Cleanliness and Ventilation. 
Every part of the house is to be kept scrupulously clean 
and well ventilated at all times. The cause of all bad air 
must be removed immediately, day or night. If the hall or a 
room is soiled it must be immediately cleaned. Halls and 
rooms are to be swept at least once daily and scrubbed once 
a week, and as much oftener as may be required. 
No part is clean enough if it can be made cleaner. 
Physicians' Visits. 
The regular visits of the Physicians will be made between 
9 and 12 A. m., at which hour the halls must be in readiness 
for inspection. Whenever a physician enters the hall the 
senior attendant present will rise and approach the door and 
accompany him through the hall, prepared to answer all ques- 
tions regarding the patients in his charge. He will daily re- 
port all who are not taking their food or medicine, all violence, 
marks, or blows, and the names of the sick. 
The attendants will see that all food is served properly, 
neatly and warm; that all patients, who are able, go to the 
dining-room ; and that no patient is ever deprived of food at 
the usual hour for meals. Such patients as do not go to the 
dining-room by reason of sickness, debility, or violence of 
manner, are to be served with food in their rooms. 
Meals, and Administration of Food and Medicine. 47 
WILLARD ASYLUM FOR THE INSANE. 
Attendants are to take their meals with the patients in 
their respective halls. The attendant in charge of the dining- 
room is to keep a list of knives, forks, etc., in his dining-room, 
and after each meal and before patients rise to leave the room, 
he is to take up all knives, forks and spoons. If any article 
is missing, search is to be immediately made and continued 
till it is found. 
Patients are never to be forced to take food or medicine un- 
less in the presence of one of the resident officers or Super- 
visor and by the direction of one of the physicians. 
The carving and bread knives are always to be kept locked 
iip when not in actual use. In serving food out of the dining- 
room knives and forks are not to be used. 
Shaving. 
Patients are to be shaved twice, weekly, or oftener if re- 
quired. Great care is to be used in shaving in the use of 
razors. Two attendants are to be present during the opera- 
tion, and the razors are to be carefully locked up. 
Walking Out and Working with Patients. 
It is desirable that all patients shall go out for exercise or 
work when the weather permits; but no one is to be taken 
out for the first time without permission. While out walking 
or working patients are to be kept together, must not be ex- 
posed to the rain, or urged to work when noticed to be weak 
or feeble. All attendants are expected to go out with patients 
when so directed, but are not expected to superintend, solely, 
but to set an example of industry. It will generally be more 
prudent for two attendants to be present with any walking or 
working party. Patients are not to walk out after tea. 
Retiring at Night. 
Patients are not to retire before 8 p. m. in summer or 7 P. m. 
in winter, unless sick or fatigued. In the convalescent halls 
patients may remain up till 9 p. M., and the house is to be 
closed at half-past nine. Gas will not be permitted to be used 
in the attendants' rooms before 7 or 8 p. M., according to the 48 
RULES AND REGULATIONS OF 
season. When the patients have retired in any hall, the gas 
is to be turned off, except one light, which may be kept burn- 
ing low to be used in emergency. 
The clothing of all patients is to be removed from patients* 
rooms and placed in the hall before retiring. When patients 
lodge in a different hall from that in which they pass the day, 
the attendant in charge during the day shall place the patient 
in bed, and the attendant in charge of the lodging room shall 
dress the patient and return the patient to the hall whence he 
came. 
All patients' rooms are to be carefully and securely locked 
at night. If from any cause it becomes necessary to enter 
the room of a patient during the night, it is advisable to have 
a second attendant in company. 
Seclusion of Patients. 
A patient as a rule is not to occupy a bed-room or be seclud- 
ed unless it becomes necessary by reason of the noise or vio- 
lence of the patient. It should, in this case, be done temper- 
ately, with ample assistance and the reason for the action 
stated to the patient. A report should at once be made to 
the office. Particular care is to be used in the seclusion of 
patients disposed to suicide. 
Mechanical Restraint. 
Restraining apparatus is not to be applied in any case with- 
out the direction of the Physicians. 
Escapes. 
No patient must be allowed to escape through neglect, and 
where this has obviously occurred the expense of the return 
of the patient will be charged to the attendant. Escapes and 
suicides occur most frequently when patients pass from one 
part of the building to another-at evening and meal times, 
apd when near assemblages. At such times and places par- 
ticular watchfulness should be exercised. WILLARD ASYLUM FOR THE INSANE. 
49 
Dangerous Weapons. 
All danger in the care of the insane may be avoided by the 
exercise of vigilance in preventing dangerous weapons from 
being brought into the house or manufactured. When the 
existence of dangerous weapons is suspected search must be 
made, and the clothing and beds of suspected persons fre- 
quently examined. No patient is to have in his possession a 
razor, knife, rope, or article that in his hands or the hands of 
others might be used as a dangerous weapon. 
Admission of Patients, Clothing, Etc. 
The clothing and person of all patients are to be searched 
immediately after admission, and knives, weapons, money, 
and all articles of value promptly given to the clerk for safe 
keeping. New patients are to be bathed the first night of 
admission, if practicable, and any unusual appearances, or 
skin disease, are to be promptly reported. 
Clothing is to be marked and entered upon the clerk's book 
before taken to a ward or sent to the wash-house. 
Clothing is to be changed once weekly, at least, and oftener 
when required. 
Soiled clothing is not to be left in a patient's room. When 
patients soil their clothing it is to be immediately changed, 
and the operation repeated if it occur every hour. 
In the arrangement of patients' clothing neatness is to be 
encouraged, boots and shoes to be clean and tied, stockings to 
be gartered, buttons to be sewed on when removed, and re- 
pairs promptly made. 
Boots and shoes are to be removed on entering the hall and 
slippers worn in the house. 
Leave of Absence. 
The care of the insane is well understood to be monotonous 
and relaxation occasionally required. To those who faithfully 
discharge their duties a leave of absence will be granted, as 
the service and interests of the patients will permit. Leave of 
absence is granted only by the Physician, and is to be under- 
stood to be for a day, and that the expiration of it occurs at 50 
RULES AND REGULATIONS OF 
the hour for tea. Without special permission, no employe 
is to leave the premises at any time, or for any purpose, unless 
in walking with patients. 
Permission will be sent to the ward before an attendant 
will be permittted to see a visitor or friend ; and no person is 
to be introduced into a ward without permission. 
On Sunday leave of absence is understood to be for the 
purpose of attending church, and the attendant is expected 
to return at dinner time. 
On leaving the premises attendants will deposit their keys 
in the office, and likewise call for them in person on their re- 
turn. The keys of an attendant are never to be surrendered 
to another person. 
When attendants are absent from their duties on their pri- 
vate business or for pleasure, for any length of time, they will 
be liable to have the time deducted in the settlement of their 
accounts. 
Classification of Patients. 
The classification of patients is an important element in 
their treatment, and patients must not be changed from one 
hall to another without direction. 
Assembly of Patients. 
Patients will be assembled on Sunday for religious exer- 
cises, and at other times for amusement and diversion. At 
such times it is required that attendants will be present with 
such of their patients as can properly attend for the purpose 
of preserving order and preventing escapes in going to and 
from the Assembly Room. 
Sunday is to be observed as a day of rest and quiet. The 
buildings and grounds are not to be visited, and all business 
and work suspended, except that which may be absolutely 
necessary. 
Hours for Meals. 
The morning call shall be rung two or three minutes at 
half-past four A. M., in May, June, July and August; at five 
in March, April, September and October, and at half-past five WILLARD ASYLUM EOR THE INSANE. 
51 
in November, December, January and February. It is requir- 
ed that all persons having duty to perform rise promptly at 
the ringing of the bell. 
Breakfast is to be placed upon the table two hours after the 
ringing of the bell. Dinner will be served at half-past twelve 
m., and tea at six p. m., throughout the year. 
Night Watch. 
The night watch will visit the Physician's office at nine p. 
M., at which hour his duty begins, and will continue until 
twelve the ensuing day. 
He shall attend to all directions issued by the physicians 
for the care of the sick; be attentive to any unusual noise, 
exercise care that patients do not escape or injure themselves; 
avoid loud conversation; and report any violation of the rules 
of the Asylum to the Superintendent. He will ring the bell 
at nine o'clock and in the morning. 
The night watch is required to be especially careful to guard 
against danger from fire, the least suspicion of which must 
attract immediate attention. The night watch will frequently 
enter and pass through the different halls, see that all fires 
are safe, and frequently pass to the front and rear of the build- 
ings for the purpose of observation. 
Fire. 
By reason of the isolation of the Asylum buildings and the 
danger to human life likely to result from fire, great caution 
is to be used to guard against it. The attics are always to be 
kept locked, and, as a rule, never entered at night. Matches 
are never to be used in unfrequented portions of the building, 
or kept w here patients can have access to them. Smoking in 
the wings, kitchen, basements, or about the out-buildings, is 
prohibited. The Supervisors of each department will see that 
the hose in his division is in readiness for use at a monent's 
warning. 
On the occurrence of a fire in the night all patients are to 
be immediately aroused, brought into the hall, and all the 
bed-rooms locked. Should a fire occur during the day, all pa- 
tients are to be collected in the halls, under observation, and 52 
RULES AND REGULATIONS OF 
the bed-room doors immediately locked. The removal from 
the halls will depend upon the necessities of the case, but in 
no case should patients be left unattended. 
Visitors. 
1. For the purpose of enabling the public to obtain a correct 
knowledge of the arrangements and management of any Asy- 
lum for the Insane, and of doing so without interference with 
the regular duties of the officers and the transaction of neces- 
sary business, visitors may be admitted to such portions of 
the house as may be occupied by quiet patients, between the 
hours of two and five in the afternoon of every day of the 
week, excepting Sunday, Saturday, and the holidays. 
II. Exceptions to this rule may be made in favor of public 
officers, persons connected with public institutions, and rela- 
tives of patients. 
III. Visitors will not be permitted to enter the wards, pass 
to the rear of the building, or approach the windows from the 
outside for conversation, unless accompanied by a Resident 
Officer. 
IV. The person appointed to conduct visitors through the 
wards will not be permitted to converse about patients by 
name, or to point them out, and visitors are requested to ob- 
serve an appropriate discretion in this resi>ect. 
V. Persons wishing to see patients, or learn their condition, 
will make inquiry of the Superintendent or Assistant Physi- 
cian, at the medical office. As a rule, information concerning 
patients will not be furnished, unless to relatives and public 
officers, and only by the medical officers. 
order of Board of Trustees.