Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-27
NEW SUPERINTENDENT
DR.. w. A. White to Take
Charge at st. Elizabeth.
NATIONAL REPUTATION
HAS HAD BRILLIANT CAREER
IN HIS PROFESSION.
Appointment Recommended by Senator
Platt-Indorsed by Many Promi-
nent Men Of Country.
NATIONAL REPUTATION

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
BINGHAMTON, N. Y, August FIT Is
announced here today that DR.. William A.
White, first assistant at the Binghamton
State Hospital, will accept the position OF
superintendent of the Government Hospital
for the Insane at Washington.
DR.. White has won national distinction by
his study Of hypnotism, as applied to the
treatment of the insane, and has demon
strated that cases may be cured by men
tai suggestion on the part of the physicians.
Recommended by Plat.
The appointment of Dr. White was rec
commended by Senator Platt and Colonel
Dunn. He was also Endorsed by Assembly
man Rogers, Superintendent Wagner of the
Binghamton Hospital; DIR. Frederick
Peterson, president Of the state commission
in lunacy; DR.. Carlos F. Macdonald Of New
York, former president of the state COM
mission In lunacy; Jacob Gould Schurman,
president of Cornell University; Prof. s. H.
Gage and Prof. T. F. Crane of Cornell;
Chief Willis L. Moore of the United States
weather bureau; DIR. Smith Ely Jelliffe OF
New York, editor of the Medical News and
Journal Of Nervous and Medical Diseases.
and by others who know of his admirable
atta1nmentS as an alienist.
Has Had Brilliant Career.
DR.. Whites career in his profession has
been brilliant one. He was born in
Brooklyn. After attending the schools
there he obtained in 1885 a scholarship in
Cornell. where he pursued the study OF
medicine, later entering the Long Island
College Hospital, from which he was grad
uated in 1891.
He spent a year as inferno in the Eastern
District hospital, Brooklyn, the aims and
workhouse hospital, on Blackwell's Island
and the Long Island College hospital.
At the end of that time he came to the
Binghamton State Hospital as fourth as
s1stant physician, the appointment being
obtained as the result Of a competitive ex-
animation.
Advancement Was Rapid.
He was advanced successfully through the
grades Of third and second assistant physi-
clan, reaching that Of first assistant in
July. 1900. DR.. White is widely known as
writer on insanity and nervous diseases
He 1s an author of the articles on "Alco-
holic and Drug Intoxication and Habitua-
ton in the Reference Hand Book Of
Medical Sciences"
Only fifteen of the leading alienists of
America are contributors to this work. In
connection with two other New York men
he has published a book on certain func-
tonal mental disturbances. He Is a regular
contributor to New York medical Journals
anu HAS Written d large NUMBER OF articles
which have been eagerly read by members
of his profession.
Geographical Distribution Of Insanity.
One Of the topics especially studied by
himself has been geographical distribution
of insanity, subject on which he recently
lectured before the National Geographical
Society at Washington.
With his many other activities he has
found time IN dn
work and has been frequently called into
consultation.
DR.. Whites wide attachments in his pro-
fession make his appointment to the highly
important post especially fitting While his
Binghamton friends will be greatly pleas
ed at the honor he has received they will
regret that 1t takes him from this city,
where he has been exceedingly popular.
Secretary Hitchcock received dispatch
this morning from DR.. White, accepting
the position of superintendent of the Gov
eminent Hospital for the Insane. to sue
coed DR.. Alonzo B. Richardson, who died
suddenly about two months ago. The ap-
pointment Of DR.. White has been considered
by the board of regents OF the hospital for
some time, and he was recommended to
Secretary Hitchcock. 1t is also understood
that President Roosevelt is personally ac-
Quainted with DR.. White. and that he also
recommended his appointment to the In
terror Department.
The position was rendered DR.. White, on
these recommendations. some time ago and
he requested permission to consider the
matter. After some delay, the pressing
need of some person to take charge of the
hospital forced Secretary Hitchcock to
telegraph DR.. White requesting that he
reach a decision as soon as possible In re-
Spouse to this telegram came that received
this morning announcing acceptance of the
position.
DR.. White is well known in this city and
is regarded one of the most capable
lively young, but has had long experience
in the treatment of mental diseases He
will report for duty within the course of the