Evening star., 1899-04-11
Demands Upon Colored Ward Of
Washington Asylum Hospital
ACTION BY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Discussion Of Right to Refuse Ad-
mission to Patients.
COM ENT BY OFFICIALS

The attention of District Commissioner
Ross was recently called by DIR. D. Percy
Hickling, visiting physician of the Wash
ington Asylum Hospital to the crowded
condition of the colored male ward of the
hospital, forty patients being assigned to
the ward, while 1t has accommodations for
but twenty-five. After fully considering tie
matter, the Commissioners today approved
suggestion of Capt. Beach, tha Engineer
Commissioner, that if possible additional
patients. of temporary character, should
be sent to private hospitals receiving i.ov
ernment aid when the accommoda tons at
the asylum hospital are inadequate.
DR.. Hickling stated that the crowded con-
dition to which he referred has existed sew
eral times in the other wards of the asylum
hospital during the last few months, such
condition producing dissa atisfaction TO the
attendants well as to the patients He
recommended that authority be given first
10 re1use to admit any patient who may be
brought to the hospital when it is found
upon examination by the resident ply
Sician, that such patient cannot be treated
without detriment to the other patients
placed In his care, and second, the right to
refuse admission to any patient brought to
the hospital when the ward to which the
patient should be assigned Is full, it being
expressly -unders TODD that these rules shall
The right to refuse admission under such
conditions, explained DR.. Hicklng is ex-
ercised by all other local hospitals DR..
Hicklng stated that his Recommendation
of the rules mentioned does not emanate
from desire to limit the usefulness of the
asylum hospital. for, he said, 1t Is his desire
10 ADMIT and treat any person in the Dis
trlct who is sick, destitute and a proper
charge upon the District Yet he seid he
felt that this should not be required until
proper means are provided for their care
Commissioner Ross Action.
Commissioner Ross, who has immediate
charge of the asylum hospital referred the
matter to Sanitary Officer J. A. Frank. who
reported that in the absence Of some other
institution to care for the aged sick afflict-
ed with chronic or incurable diseases who
cannot gain admittance to any other hos
pttal save the Washington Asylum Hos
pital, he does not feel justified in concur
ring In the recommendations of Dr. Hick-
ling.
Many sick and aged persons" he stated
appeal to this department for hospital
treatment, who are frequently refused ad-
mittance to all the other hospitals except
the Washington Asylum Hospital, and if
they should be refused admittance there 1t
seems to me it would be a hardship upon
this most unfortunate class"
Mr Ross next referred the subject to the
superintendent of charities, Mr.. Herbert w
Lewis, who expressed himself as follows:
Public provision for the protection of
the helpless and dependent should every
where stand back of and supplement pri-
vate provision. Where private resources
fall there should public resources be ap-
piled The Washington Asylum Hospital
now occupies its proper position and per-
forms its proper duty in furnishing relief
for patients denied admission elsewhere
The fact that it does its work at great in
convenience, and that Its efficiency is some
What impaired by want of room and facili-
ties, cannot justify refusal to receive pa
tients for whom no other provision is avail
able"
The papers were then indorsed by Mr.
Ross, approving the reports, respectively
of the sanitary officer and the superintend-
ent of charities.
Views of President Wight
When the matter reached Commissioner
Wight he expressed himself in the following
statement: Regarding the suggestion Of
DR.. Hickling. am of the opinion that it is
quite as bad to crowd together people in a
hospital as it is to refuse admittance when
the hospital accommodations are full. So
long as the Washington Asylum takes
everybody who applies to it for admission,
the other hospitals will probably refuse
admittance to such patients as they do not
want. 1 believe it would be better to set
limit to the Washington Asylum admissions
and refuse admittance when that limit is
reached, and in that way compel other hos
pitals which are receiving governmental
aid to receive patients who need treat
ment."
The papers in the case next received the
attention of Capt Beach, the Engineer
Commissioner, and he indorsed them as
follows his recommendations being con-
Cured in by Mr.. Ross: 1T seems to me
that it is not incumbent upon private hos
pitfalls, receiving government aid, to receive
chronic cases These should be sent to the
Washington. Asylum. Temporary cases
should. If possible. be sent to the other hos
pitfalls when the accommodations at the
VI. ~k,sr 1n1 Z 10 hos
pitfalls to which they are then sent refuse
to receive them they should be sent to the
Washington Asylum, and report made of
tary officer"