ON LAYAWAY! Doctor Writes of Nitro-Glycerine Experiements and Killing Patients at Bellevue

Collectibles : Historical

 

ON LAYAWAY! For centuries, the mentally ill in America and around the world have been grossly neglected, horribly mistreated, often beaten and used in experiments. Things were no different at Bellevue Hospital in New York City, one of the oldest hospitals in the United States.

Founded on March 31, 1736, Bellevue Hospital was originally opened as the Public Works House and House of Corrections for institutionalizing inmates and mental patients. During its history, it was noted for many milestones, including opening the first paternity ward, starting the first ambulance service, developing a vaccine for polio and developing important AIDS cocktails.

In 1879, Bellevue opened a pavilion for the insane within hospital grounds—an approach considered revolutionary at the time. For decades, Bellevue Hospital was the place where the city's insane, usually the criminally insane, were hustled off to by the cops. Among its more famous contemporary patients were writer Norman Mailer, Andy Warhol muse Edie Sedgwick, and John Lennon's assassin, Mark David Chapman.

In the early part of the 20th century, Bellevue was the subject of a major grand jury investigation for the inhumane treatment of patients in the insane pavilion. Investigations revealed that patients had “great welts, bruises and sears (burns) on their bodies as a result of their treatment at the hands of the insane pavilion nurses,” according to one news story (included).

Bellevue was also the sight of fatal nitro-glycerine experiments done on mental patients as clearly evidenced by the letter offered here, which was written the same year the pavilion for the insane was established -- 1879.

Four pages, autograph letter signed by Dr. C.V. Chapin, a house physician at Bellevue, who writes to his friend Webster Knight, the son of the founder of the Fruit of the Loom label, Robert Knight of Providence, Rhode Island. Chapin was from Rhode Island.

Chapin writes, “If this letter should seem rather strange in any way or if I should go off in an explosive vein towards you, you must not be surprised for I have just taken a dose of nitro-glycerine. [Experiments with nitro-glycerine were done during this time to explore treating heart conditions.] I just tasted it on my finger and I…got more than I intended for. My heart throbs like the old scratch which is very disagreeable. I think that in the future I will reserve my experiments for the benefit of my patients. I have to work about as hard now as I did last winter though it is not as wearing for there is more variety. I have had to get up on an average once a night since I came on and I don’t like it.

“The hospital is great stuff however and I am fast becoming a reservoir of learning that all Providence will be abashed on my return. Even you I expect will lay aside your law…mood and treat me with great reserve and respect. On account of Dr. Williams’ death, I have his place until April and I…keep on as I should have if he had lived till October 1880 when I expect to return to Providence and take an occasional drive with you when a slack in my practice will permit me to let my own horses rest. I shall, however, be ready about Christmas when I shall have a short vacation to take a sleigh ride with you.

“I have killed 14 patients so far this month which I consider pretty well for a beginner. I just glanced at your letter and was surprised to see it was dated Oct. 5. If I had known it was so recent, I should not have replied for I am afraid my correspondence has got to be lessened this winter. I guess the best way to do it, however, is to cut off correspondence…Friday night, a doctor I know here gave me the swellest dinner I ever had at the Union League. All this does not make up for Hospital fare, however. Condensed milk and oatmeal, poor coffee, putty biscuit and stale eggs for breakfast, hash alternating with stew for lunch, repeated 365 times a year. I forgot to mention that there is an apt to be a slight sprinkling of cockroaches in everything…The nitro-glycerine makes me feel so mean that I won’t try another sheet.”

Excellent condition with original envelope.

Item ID: 00467