The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-05-15
COURT VS.. PHYSICIAN.
Judge Lichtenberg and DIR.
Waughop Disagree.
ABOUT INSANE WOMAN'S CASE.
The Superintendent OF the Insane Asy-
dum 1sesents the Judges Advice
as to Her Treatment.

The case OF Mrs. Mary Pitner, who threw her
| baby into the tide fats on May 8, and on hear
| ing before Judge Lich.enberg was committed to
1 the insane asylum at Steiiscoom. has brought
about a heated correspondence between the
Judge and DIR. J. W. Waughop, superlnten-
A dent OF the asylum. Upon the hearing Mrs. Pit
ner herself testified that she was given no med
icine at all when she was at the asylum on
previous occasion. Dr. William Hilton and DR..
q 7. N. Young. the examining physicians, both
stated as their opinion that the woman could De
cured If subjected to proper medical treatment
Acting on this evidence and the advice OF the
physicians, Judge Lichtenberg, on the day OF
commitment, May q, dictated TO Dr.. Waughop
the following letter:
Dear Sir: Mrs. Mary Pitner, OF this place, was
Oh yesterday again committed to your care.
The physicians agree ia the opinion that with
proper medical treatment this lady can be en-
tirely cured. Her trouble can be ascertained by
reference TO their certificate accompanying the
commitment she becomes very violent and il
understood TO have attempted TO commit horni-
cide On Mt least two different occasions. She
appears TO need TO be controlled where she can
GO no nafm ana receive regular course OF
medical treatment, which cannot be procured
by her husband, who is q poor man with no
means Whatever for accomplishing such IL re-
SUI. Hoping that Mrs. r. may be returned per.
mGaentiy relieved from disease of body and
nind, remain, respectfully yours,
- /. :. LIcHrESBERG, Judge.
Two DAYS later the letter was returned with
clippings from the Seattle paper rel atng to the
case and the following letter from Dr. Waughop:
Dear SIR: am just III receipt OF you. letter in
rc9stu 10 MIS- fltner IS treatment | beg to re-
tntL IL To you; also the proceedings III the case
as clipped from the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS and
1s'egsoph do not feel disposed to De directed
By you, or homeopathic physician and reg
uiar who seems TO be allied with him, as TO
what is the proper treatment Of al insane per-
son committed 10 this hospital Your duty
with the cOnnn1i nd min hoo
thrust that after twelve years experience may
be pardoued Tor claiming to know how TO treat
81 Insane person intelligentiy. Yours truly,
JOHN W. WAUGHoP NJ. d.,
superintendent
Yesterday Judge Lichtenberg sent 70 Dr. waug-
hop the following letter:
STR: am in receipt of yours OF the 9Th inst
inclosing proceedings in the case clipped
from he FoSr TELLiGENCER and IelegrGph,'
also returning my letter addressed to you.
The press is powerful educator. AS a rule
readers OF newspapers. II not by nature gentle
men, become so by reason of being such read
ers. There are, however, exceptions to this as
eyery other rule. know not the result of your
btwelve years experience in treatment OF insane
PERSONS" but the unfortunate insane COM
United to your are 10 be pitied if their
treatment can be judged by your conduct in
tL.s matter.
As to my duty, 1 pass by your gratuitous die
0tion with the remark that SO long /
entrusted By the people with the power relat-
ing 10 insane persons residing in King county
] shall not hesitate to perform that duty as l
understand &c, even To the extent OF courteously
informing the superintendent of the asylum
for the insane, when a case requires ii, OF such
facts as may be necessary. either by reason OF
his alleged previous conduct OF the particular
patient or for any other reason which ], as su-
pcrior judge, shall determine.
Ordinarily servant of the people, as you and
! are, gladly accepts such Information for
guidance, h 'nce better enabling us to perform
and discharge ones duties know OF no Class
OF Pervants who should more promptly and
s,Sd!y accept such information than those who
Lave The care, especially the superintendent, OF
sState hosp tai OF the insane One who desires
TO do his duty namely, proper care aud, if pos
l.ble, tho recovery of reason OF the patient,
ought to be thankful for such assistance by
son OF the fact that patients, being adjudged in
zane under the law, cannot act for themselves.
= Your ignoring the examining PHYSICIANS state
Ments. ss expressed n my official letter, would
warrant one IN doubling whether you "know
how - treat an insane person intelligcntly."
1t seems TO me, with non-medicai education
or experience. that the more data from examin-
lug physicians gathered from the witnesses, the
more "intellisenty can the patient be treated"
IA this case the two physicians summoned,
Dr.. Yong and DR.. Hilton, are experienced,
reputable. M OF good standing in their profess
siog. Ny official connection with each of them
has demonstrated that their experience has
lot lessensd their pertinent as gentlemen
There Ia nothing in thu record in this case in
which the medical schools of these physicians
is stated or can be inferred, nor does tae law
ccgaiza any such distinction hence, why the
reference TO IA homeopathic physician aud
regulsr who seems Ia be allied with him?" One
would at least think that a faithful. sincere
superintendent would only be too glad to have
the desired information from reputable ply
,sieians acting in an official capacity, rs you and
and they a;e acting, irrespective of schools.
II tie question ot schools or wings OF the medi-
cal fraternity is 10 have any weight with you in
your care of the insane, the sooner YOU so an
: nounce IL the better, so that the legislature
taks proper steps to remedy the evil aud provide
for the humane treatment of the helpless
insane st the hospital maintained by the states
generosity. The patients welfare is the first
ton ltt.at Ii.Nsy nf hA
tnleudent must be subordinsted 70 this consid-
Grafton. II the question of The homeopathic or
regular school OF medicine, OF the physician
that the Judges of this STATE summon is 10 have
any consideration by the superintendent of the
hospital for the insane. then 10 Is time that the
attention cs the board of trustees OF the hospital
is called 10 the TACT, so that they may take such
steps a viii secure the employment OF super
iateudcnt more in accord with the spirit OF the
age-inore in sympathy with the objects Of the
Institution. At the tirst meeting OF the b0ari
ri trustees, in the interest OF the poor. Cnfor-
tunate insane from this county, | shall en-
deayor g ascertain in whose interest The West
ern Washington hospital for the insane IS main
tanned and conducted Such action may not
come within the line OF my official duty a. con-
strued by the "super'ntrndent,' but ii GER
tanly does construed by myself
The correspondence in the case Of Mrs P.tner
A>yl bs published, because, rs stated 81 the out
set, tle press Is powerful educator. Yours
truly. l. J. IAcHrgSBER6.
Judge OF the Superior Court OF King County.
IL addition 10 the correspondence between
the two gentlemen. DR.. Waughcp has sent the
following open letter tn the Posr-ISTgLLIGEN-
GER:
FORT SrElLAcooM. Mey 10, 1902
10 THE EDITOR: During the trial OF a case
% insanity recently IN Seattle there
seems to have been considerable IA sparacemont
@; this hospital as shown ny the following
newspaper reports. The osr-INrELLIGENCE n
a. May SAYS: BLANKS and italics mine
"0n the hearing of Mrs. ---, her husband,
----. testified that she had been subject
To insane srrls fer several wears Eighteen
months ago she WAS sent ~ St,ilacoom, but was
discharged after few weeks and declared
cured. The woman herself, who was perfectly
rational In the courtroom, went on the stand
anS testified that she had no recollection OF
having tired TO Kill her child. She thought her
Aasf that the BEST thing that could be do3e With
Fer was 20 send her 10 the asylum II she could
gsi p-ope: treatment there.
ain issuing order II commitment Judge
iscatsp berg, OF being informed that no fnCdl-
cine Is gwen ~ the asylurn Instructed his CLERK
- wriie letter 20 the authorities o! the iusti-
S;atlsn asking hst Mrs, --- have suitable tccai-
@-gi The examining PHI >ir!Sns thought she
co'..a he cured l. this was done.
he Telegraph - the sane cate saws Blanks
+ mus isgHiEl. An interesting feature OF the
bearing the testimony OF the Physicians
snG Mrs - hcrsst IS a. whether permanent
eeie OF hes aiinsHt cou.c he Erected. The
ksystciH IS stated urQug!laediy that she could
b cured permanently under proper treatment.
h:. - s1i1 ne 100 poor 20 pay tor physi-
claus aci nurses. Mrs. stated that When
abe WAS IN the <tellHc0om aSy IUm before the
authorities hero instead of giving her accurate
ueatmeut 7ected her 20 visit upon some other
N-sa'ents. Ihsy gave acr no medicine whatever.
ssdEc l4vh.en 3eTg directed the C.erA t. write