Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-12-30
considered, as TO their effect on the hygi
enc and welfare of all.

considered, as TO their effect on the hygi
enc and welfare of all.
UNFAy0RABLE TESTIMONY
DR.. BoUGHToE recites hat tbs only IN
favorable testimony came from "a few
discharged persons and a few dissppoint-
Ell employees in the male wards-not more
than half & az I'm in all, and none OF them
comparing il character aud standing with
the large number whose testimony was
iaVorsble 10 be highest degree"
SUMMING UP.
\ closing word as to nay personal in.
iere5t il tn results OF This llvesIigs-
ton: am entirely willing 10 abide the
consequences OF my actions, when proper
ly Understood. To be properly under
stood they should be judged IN the light
OF all attendant circumstances. Ii is a
significant fact that the Hospital was not
complete as q building nor thoroughly
systematic in its workings, when | as
sumet the charge OF il, nor ever had been.
The Superintendent had, CT one time,
when the population was small, been
steward, clerk sad Dook-keeper, all ia one
vision of labor and accounts. Tue sys-
tenn OF accounts vas IL effect merely a
memorandum Of bills.
The work assigned to the supervision
OF the Board Of Trustees had also prac-
tlcally devolved upon the Superintendent
This state OF thing, tending inevitably TO
greater or less confusion, had become the
fixed rut in which everything travelled. |
took the thing as 1t was, aud in every
thing that pertained to the stewards
office, and the methods of transacting
business and Keeping accounts, follow.
ed what had become time Gus
toms. However justly open to criticism
they had not been criticised, ana all that
ISL now criticised is the direct out growth
and result OF these established methods
| did not originate them | merely fol
lowed IN the well worn groove. But in
those matters which pertalned TO the SAN
itsry condition OF The buildings and the
personal welfare Of the patients, | TOOK
different course. | mad been advised 10
look wei TO the outside improvements-Io
see that they were well and promptly
made. | wss told that the danger of fail
ure lay in neglectng these things and re
naming too much inside the Hospital
This counsel exactly conceded with my
own convictions of what was right snu
necessary; convictions formed an5
strengthened by personal experience al
ready given, 80 | took the advice and
acted upon it. In dong this, the Board
soon recognized in me what they were
pleased to cali good business tact Im
provemenis were planned and executed 10
| their entire satisfaction. They praised
me for it.
Now mark the consequences: Where I
followed establ shed Precedent and accus-
toned methods in the management OF the
stewards department, am held sccoun
table tor all lis defects ard erroIs-I ought
t. have done otherwise
On the other hand, where | followed
the advice OF superiors and the course
pointed out by my own experience
in regard TO sanitary improvements
and the hygiene surroundings of
tne patients, securing for them the essen
tial condition OF health and restoration to
heslth-pure air, pure water and whole.
some food, l am charged with having
made great mistake, l should have tot
lowed the other course,
l ind myself In this regard in the con.
dlton OF the traveller, who, upon inquiry
OF countryman which OF the two roads
leading to the next town he had better
take, was answered: at don't make any
ditference-whlchever one You take, you
| VIII wish you had taken the other"
These differences OF opinion are largely
due to the way men look at the subject,
as influenced by their peculiar business
training.
One set of men could be sele cted from
the Senate who would lay the greatest
stress on well-conceived and Uell-devel
oped accessories, and would be in favor
OF trusting mucn to the assistant physi-
clans In the immediate care of the pa
tients. This is the usual policy of our
State hospitals. The Superintendent is
the governing spirit. He plans and exc
cutes important Improvements. He coun-
sells and advises as to the general policy
Of medical treatment, leaving the details
| to the assistant physicians, who have
nothing else to DO. Many boards of trus
| tees insist on this policy.
Another committee might be go con
| stituted as to favor the Superintend .nt's
| giving little attention TO provements,
| and giving his personal attention TO the
| patients, requiring little from b g medical
assistants.
Now, conceding that this is r,ere
matter OF opinion, it is nevertheless a
tact that the course | have pursued is the
one followed In nearly all our State hos
pitfalls. With me it ia not matter
of opinion merely, but one OF great Drsc
| iical Importance. And there is this in
favor of the course l have pursued: You
| can not dlvest the head of an institution
like this of the multiplied responsibilities
| that OF necessity attach to his office He
| must be more or less distracted by the
very diversity of the interests involved,
and can never do more than lay down a
general policy snd give general direction
| and advice, holding himself in readiness
to decide finally any question referred to
MIN.
The assistant physicians, on the other
HAND, can give their whole time and at
| tention to the care OF the patients. They
have nothing else to do or be RESPONSE bic
for, and for this reason can do their work
| in the best possible manner. They need
head 10 refer to and advise with and 10
| decide doubtful questions, but as for gen
eral treatment, can do better than the So.
perintendent. A good assistant should
be just So competent TO prescribe for ana
manage q given case, as his chief is, and
| has the advantage of having nothing else