Sunday Washington globe., 1902-04-20
Character

Scarcely had Dr. Richardson again re.
sumed the duties of superintendent when
an event occurred at St. Elizabeth's which
up TO present publicity has been success
fully repressed The night physician in
charge is reputed TO be a most excellent
and conscientious official who in the lam
guage of the employees, neither monkeys
with the female nurses nor hits the dis
pensary whisky" but who attends strictly
to his duties. Although comparatively a
young man he is grave without being
austere and a disciple of Galeu from his
head to his feet loving his chosen pro-
fession and giving the full benefit Of his
attainments and knowledge to the unfor-
tunate patients This physician has en-
deavored to enforce some discipline among
the night force of subOrdinates, including
the young internes or assistant physicians.
The GLOBE makes this charge on the in.
formation furnished il By employees Of the
institution wto will establish its truth be-
fore a Congressional investigating com
mittee.
But more serious and witha semi ludi.
crous incident recently occurred, as stated,
after the return of DR.. Richardson, which
assuredly calls for prompt aud immediate
investigation II is to this effect
It appears to have become somewhat of a
practice for many of the male employees,
including a few Of the youug internes, to
visit socially the rooms of some Of the
female nurses. The dispensary whisky
complained of by the night physician has
been consumed in these nocturnal re unions.
The incident occurred while a visit was be-
ing paid by one of the younger physicians
to the room Of one Of the female nurses.
The GLOBE has the names Of the couple but
withholds them at present pending any
action Congress or the superintendent
deems proper to take in the premises.
After enjoying each others society and, it
is presumed, but not charged, some of the
dispensary whisky and other good things,
the young physician prepared to depart
and go to his own room somewhere near
the midnight hour. Inserting his key in
the lock to let himself out, By some mis-
chance the key was broken while turning,
and before it had unlocked the door Here
was a dilemma. The windows, of course,
were barred and exit by that route cut off
The only manner of leaving the room open
to the dOcter was through the doorway. and
that was closed fast by the broken key. What
of course, to give himself and companion
away TO those who would come to the
rescue. Ordinarily any man would hesi-
tate under such circumstances for the sake
of the lady involved.
But in St. Elizabeth's more freedom exists
and is allowable, because of the afinities
existing professionally" speaking be-
tween employees, male and female, and
l r.tr ~ .-d
whose Joint duties compels them to oblite-
rate or waive those conventional lines of
demarkatiou observed between the sexes
in the ordinary pursuits Of life For in
stance female nurses must or do attend
operations in the presence of half dozen
young physicians, which cannot be named
in a new paper outside the patent medicine
advertisement department of the average
dailies These particular ailments for
which operations sometimes become neces-
sary, are confined to the male sex and the
intelligent, reader can easily surm1se their
nature without further particularizaeion
Recently in performing an operation of this
character the assisting young physicians
were seen to blush furiousy at the unex.
pected and unusual action Of the part being
operated on, bat the female nurses exhibited
only more intense interest and curiosity as
they gazed open mouthed and tip toed to
get a better view of the -- operation
But all this time we have been leaving
the doctor and nurse locked up in the room
Of the latter with broken key in the lock
And now for the rescue, or as the novelist
would say the DENOUEA1ENr
They were liberated gentle reader, that
is to say the doctor got out by the door way
and retired to his own quarters, while the
nurse retired to her virtuous couch and
placed a chair against the door after looking
under the bed for another man!
,lhe doctor pounded on the door or
touched an electric button, or in some other
way, It is presumed admouished his res
cuers of his predicament and the door was
finally opened. He has been the subject Of
the gossips around the asylum since the
occurrence, and with the result that the
affair has gotten into the GLOBE with
the hope that an investigation into this and
other happenings in the institution may be
had to the end that their truth or falsity or
exaggeration may be determined. It's pos
sible that the doctor was in the nurses room
professionally or in pursuance of his duty,
and that the breaking Of the KEY Ia the
lock can be satisfactorily and naturally ex.
planned, but the many stories reaching this
Office aud even the determination of some
of the employees to resign shortly, on
account of what they term as ''the dreadful
goings on" at the asylum among some Of
the men and women employees indicates
pretty clearly that DR.. Richardson Is repeat
ing his Massillon (Ohio) record at St.
Elzabeth's, and that the President cannot
any too soon appoint his successor TO save
the institution from Utter decentralization.