New-York tribune., 1901-01-15
pELLEVUE RULES JUGGLED
COMMISSIONER KELLER SAYS CHANGES
FAVORED INSANE PAVILION HOUSE
PHYsICIAN-CULPRIT NOT KNOWN.

II was learned yesterday that many of the rules
sopted for Bellevue Hospital by the Board of
1sarities in Mayor strong's administration were
~nqed by some without authority The rules
re printed in pamphlet form and the discovery
.har the rules were changed made by COM
orfng the minutes OF the meeting at which the
is were adopted and ordered printed with the
,snted pamphlet OF rules. The person who made
70 changes is not known, and his identity will
,bably never be learned, the rules were altered
..veral years ago, unless a searching inquiry is
rade.
ubic Yesterday by John w. Keller, Commissioner
s.cbarities Complaints made some time ago
rainst Dr. Allen Fitch and his colleagues in regard
90 their examination of insane patients In the
asvilion at Bellevue. 1t alleged that the ex-
s,,ners in lunacy.Shad charged $50 in one case
-rior 10 March. 1899. The rule regarding the fees
- be maid in such was to the effect that the
.,sniners at liberty to charge s25 in each
cose where the patient TO be sent to a priva te
snet,ution John p. Faure, who was one of the
commissioners Of Charities in Mayor Strong's ad-
,,,stration said that he drew up that rule and
that he meant that the examiners in lunacy could
charge s25 each when the person to go to a
,,ivate institution. The rule so interpreted
sv Drs Wildman and Fitch. and they also had a
.ark with Mr. Faure about it, Mr. Keller said
yesterday that Mr. Faure's declaration the sub
soct disposed of the complaints against the two
soctors He added that they had not committed
any infraction OF the rule, they had charged
.ioner Faure.
suas c. Croft and General James R. O'Beirne
z,ho were members of the Board of Charities under
MAYOR Strong have said however. that the rule
meant that SOS to be the limit of the fee in
examining persons to be sent to private institu-
,ions The efforts learn just what the in
tent Of those who made this rule about the fee.
which was in effect up March, 1899, resulted in
having the alterations in of the rules drawn
up by the Board of Charities under Mayor Strong
made public
One of the rules that was changed read, according
20 the minutes of of the meetings of the Board
as follows: He shall report 10 the superintendent
any defect in the nursing supplies drugs. condition
of the building. etc
As il appears in the pamphlet containing the
rules adopted by the Board 1t reads:
He shall have charge of the management OF the
pavilion and shall report the superintendent any
defect in the nursing supplies. drugs. condition of
This rule passed TO set forth some of the
duties OF the resident physician in charge of the
Another rule that was altered read when adopted
upon six days of each week"
II changed to read:
6sTs or eacb Week n Eis, !he pavilion upon six
In speaking about the matter yesterday Commits
soner Keller said: The discrepancies between the
rules as adopted and printed We're mostly in
yion" ~
Commissioner Keller announced that he had jus.
completed arrangements with DR.. A. E. Macdonald
the head OF the Manhattan State Hospital on
Wards Island: whereby that institution was TO
take charge of all patients in the insane pavilion
at Bellevue who are non-residents or aliens in the
observation period thus taking some of the press
ure on that institution. As result of this agree
ment, eight of the inmates of the insane pavilion
will be removed to-day to the Manhattan State
Hospital, where they will be examined s to their
sanity. DR.. Macdonald has agreed to have a ply
sician of the State Hospital make a record of the
physical condition of the patients conjointly with
the physician connected with Bellevue before
they are removed from Bellevue. This. the Com
missioner explained, would be instrumental in cor
,rectly placing any responsibility in charges
>of Ill treatment should be made.
Commissioner Keller said that he had not re-
ceved any report from the Medical Board on the
case Of DR.. Moore. The charges against DR.. Fitch
he said, were also undetermined.