478 
CHARLES HENRY NICHOLS. 
tecture and contrivances essential to secure the best hygienic 
results in hospitals with the greatest comfort to their in¬ 
mates. 
His sympathy for this unfortunate class thoroughly 
aroused his inquiring mind to examine into the history of 
legislation for the care of the insane, as well as their treat¬ 
ment in the past by the profession, together with a thorough 
and conscientious inquiry into their present condition and 
real needs in the United States, so as to deduce therefrom 
the most enlightened methods for their control and treat¬ 
ment. The library at the Utica asylum and others within 
his reach enabled him to pursue an exhaustive research into 
the literature of the subject and to view the facts from a 
medical, scientific, legal, historical, humanitarian, and phil¬ 
anthropic standpoint. 
His earnestness and also his professional ability soon at¬ 
tracted the attention of co-workers in the field of this spe¬ 
cialty, as well as of trustees charged with the management 
of institutions for the insane. As a consequence and prob¬ 
ably growing out of a recognition of the soundness of his 
views on propositions for the improved management of hos¬ 
pitals equipped with better hygienic accommodations than 
then existed, he was, in 1849, invited to accept and was ap¬ 
pointed physician and the superior officer to the Blooming- 
dale asylum, in the city of New York. 
This was a prompt and complimentary recognition of the 
practical value of his studies and suggestions in his chosen 
field of work, while the conspicuousness of the position and 
the prominence of this hospital among those in the country 
placed a heavy responsibility upon the incumbent, from 
which he could not shrink. The vigor of a sound constitu¬ 
tion, the habits of close application, and sympathy with his 
work enabled him to discharge his duty with credit to the 
hospital and to the satisfaction of the board of governors. 
His zeal and energies were supported by a large and 
powerful frame. A well-disciplined mind regulated his 
hours and systematized his duties, enabling him then and 
