The attendant placed upon Scott the Asylum harness and hurled him out of the room; after a time he returned with Scott wet and nearly fainting, then strapping him to the bed for the night. In this transaction Scott learned a lesson by sad experience, that I learned by observation.
ALFRED'S REIGN CONTINUED THOUGH UNDER ISABEL MAGDALENE.
It must be remembered that in Alfred's reign the hall on the second floor, occupied by females, was accessible to the hall above, occupied by male patients, as the stairs were not at the time cased up.
One day as I stood looking from the head of the stairs, I saw down at the foot, a female lunatic bound in a straight jacket in a squabble with Isabel the Magdalene attendant, then quickly passed by Alfred, and down to the ward-hall, severely laying hold of the almost helpless lunatic, crushing her to the floor upon her back, then jumping upon her bowels, with both his knees and with all his heft pounced upon her, like a ferocious animal upon his prey. It was a bloody battle, pray, judge ye, how I felt seeing the blood standing in pools on the floor. Yea, reader, drop a sympathizing tear for the unfortunate sufferers who are locked in lunatic asylums with such brutal outcasts for attendants. Union is strength, this the serpent-like know as well as the righteous. And He who knows all hearts hath said, "Though the wicked go hand in hand, they shall not go unpunished."
ALFRED'S REIGN CONTINUED.
In reviewing and comparing the former transaction with this transaction, committed in the large room on the third floor, used as a lock-up for many patients during the day-time, Alfred being the key-master. In this room we done what we could not help doing, and upon my honor it was not one of the finest perfumed rooms.
Among the many was a German man, much deformed and an object of pity (his name I cannot recall), he would walk about the room, though wearing a part of the asylum harness, discontented, uneasy and to all appearance deluded and insane, acting upon first thought like many, regardless of consequences.
One warm day as he was promenading about the room he drew his foot and kicked the chamber-pail from the corner of the room to the center, dumping its contents amongst the crew. In came Alfred and Isabel, the male and female attendants, down with the poor deluded man, and whilst Alfred was placing upon him the remainder of the accursed harness, Isabel stood heavily upon his ankles with both feet, holding him in her grasp.
And now for the bath-room, down stairs they went with their victim. After a time he was returned to the room wet and weak, placed in a chair with not strength to hold up his head, he soon fell prostrate to the floor with his hands bound; soon after he died and was stretched upon the dead board and carried out.