On Escapes, Liberty, Happiness, and “Unlocked Doors,” as they affect Patients in Asylums

Abstract

During the year ending 1883, I had rather an unusual number of escapes, and as two ended fatally from exposure, I thought it only fitting to glance over the escape-book and see the results of previous years. I may here mention that the two patients who died were dements, that one had been 17 years in Garland's Asylum, the other 15, that neither had shown a disposition to escape previously, that one died after two days' exposure, he having been found alive, and that the body of the other was found seven days after his escape; also that all means likely to be of avail in retaking these patients were made use of.