The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-07-01
NO REFoRM AT MEDICAL LAKE.


Medical Lake. has been by turn an
editor, preacher. real estate agent and
physician. and always politician. His
professional standing was 30 low. and
his methods so irregular, that he was
expelled from the Spokane Medical So
eiety. His experience with insane pa
tients il limited 10 the brief period dur
ing which he has acted as assistant at
Medical Lake: and yet 4 majority OF
the board Of audit and control has SO
little regard for the welfare OF the poor
patients and so great contempt for pub
lie feeling. that they have unbiushing-
ly done a most indecent and indefensi-
bic thing in elevating him to be the head
Of that institution. Political service.
and not professional fitness. has been
the test applied by the board for the
responsible position Of superintendent.
and the subordinates on the asylum
staff have been selected for the same
reasons. The result is that the entire
Medical Lake asylum organization is
honeycombed with politics. and been
made TO bear the weight Of inexperi-
ence. incompetence and Indifference on
the part of numerous attendants. who
felt themselves independent OF the SUI
perintendent and responsible only to
the governors Populisf clique. 1t comes
rs o great shock to the public to know
that the care of these unfortunate and
helpless beings has been left to I'M
trained, unskillful. inattentive and even
cruel guardians. What Is the result OF
methods OF this kind? The legislative
committee. which made investigation
at Medical Lake. has told us in its re-
port. saying among many other things:
At various and divers times during the
year 1898 patients were removed off from.
the wards before breakfast. beds were not
made or wards swept. or chambers or
closets cleaned til after supper to the neg
iect and injury CT The patients.
The beds of filthy patients were not
changed. the smell was very bad. some pa
tents sick In bed developed bed sores from
lack Of attention during the period before
mentioned.
Since the inauguration OF the present
management, patients have been treated
cruelty at times; ON one Occasien u fe-
male patient was dragged mp stairs
to her ROOM between 2 and 3 o'clock
I'm the afternoon. She died 1T 2s5O
.. N. Of the following day, pcs, NOR
tenn examination disclosed the fact that
she should have received unremltting at
tention and tender care: the attendan, was
sfterward discharged
On November 90 1897. the temperature
N one OF the wards was Is degrees From
November 9. 1927. TO November 80, con-
secu,ively. the temperature OF ward No.
was from &6 TO 90 degrees, and patients
complained OF cold
Comment would be superfiuous. The
facts are abundant illustration OF the
system at the asylum. IL these things
were disclosed by n brief examination
of strange committee, the public may
be left 10 surnIse how much brutality
and negligence have never been brought
10 light.
long report. the legislative committee
did not positively criticise the super!n-
tendent. but lodged the whole respon-
sihi!ity for this mournful condition up
on the political machine that tied his
hands and corrupted all discipline and
systematic and intelligent attention 10
the needs Of the patients. saying:
In conclusion, your committee after
carefully examining all the evidence and
facts as they appear To US. and bearing in
mind the treatment which the unfortunate
insane ~ cur state should receive. do con-
ctade and therefore recommend that the
best fnterests of the state and the
welfare of the unfertunstea an said
Institution can he best .ab.crved
by the ahoit.hment OF the state
substitution therefor OF a local hoard OF
trustees. as formerly, Of which only ma
tortsy should be of the dominant party. In
order that the employees az said institution
may be employed and continued in service
On the ground 80 fitness fer the various
rcsistcss ana free from preferment on no.
ltical grounds. and that said institu-
ton may not he used as = place for
the payment of political debts and
obligations, and made the football
Of party leaders.
The selection al Doe" Mclean. there.
fore. is pghlle notice by the board that
there Is 10 be ne reform At Medical