Evening star., 1904-04-29
CONTROVERSY STILL ON
DISTRICT PATIENTS FOB ST.
ELIzABETH's ASYLUM.
Charges Made by DR.. White Affecting
Local Police Department
The Details.

In communication received recently by
the District Commissioners DIR. VIM. A.
White, superintendent of the Government
Hospital for the Insane, continues to pro-
test against the manner in which the Dis
trict physicians make out their certificates
relative to the mental condition Of per-
sons committed to st Elizabeth's. During
the past few months DR.. White has written
several letters to the Commissi ners rela-
tive to this matter, and the subject ia
receiving considerable attention from the
District authorities.
In addition to protesting against the man
ner in which the medical certificates are
made out. DR.. White also utters critj-
cism against the police department in con-
nection with insane persons. The 'superin-
tendent OF st. Elizabeth's charges that the
authorities of the asylum have resolved pa
tients from the hands of the local au-
thorities with loaded revolvers on their
persons in their effects.
Asks for Specific Information.
In connection with this criticism Major
Sylvester has asked for specific informa ton
from DR.. White to patients being sent
to the asylum by the local police with
dangerous weapons on their persons and
Commissioner West has recommended that
DR.. White be furnished with a copy of the
majors request.
During the early part of the current
year DR.. White began his efforts to require
the District physicians 10 properly ill rut
the medical certificates accompanyl,:; liz
sane persons committed to ST. Eliza bnths
The matter was taken up by the Commits
sioners and the members of the board Of
police and fire surgeons were directed to
observe the rules on this subject and to
carry out the suggestions of the superin-
tendent of the asylum in the matter.
For brief period DIR. White says, there
was noted an Improvement in thu manner
In which the medical certificates were filled
out by the physicians, but later he had
occasion to again cali attention to the lack
of care in filling out the commitment
blanks He returned to the Commission
ers, through the Secretary of the Interior,
several certificates which had been for
warded to him in connection with the COM
mitment of patients
DIR. Whites Statement.
In connection with these certificates DR..
White said:
Il dislike to suggest that there Is any
intention upon the part of the examiners
to slight their work in these cases, but l
cannot help but think Of that as possible
explanation. as a much better medical GER
thcate than this could readily have been
made by a layman."
At the close OF his communication DIR.
White made the charge that patients with
loaded revolvers on their persons or In their
eftects had been received at the asylum
from the hands of the local authorities.
With regard to this criticism Maj. Sylvester
says:
Il would be greatly pleased If the officer
making the charge relative to patients with
loaced revolvers on their persons being
turned over to the asylum by the local au-
thorltes would furnish me with the names
OF such patients, If they were restrained
by this department. In fact l believe il is
the duty of the writer to inform the Com
ntssloners in order that a repetition may
be guarded against and that those persons
responsible for such neglect may be prop
erly disciplined
Statute Imperative.
1.-THE United States statute is imperative
sane or other persons incapable Of caring
for themselves shall be turned over to the
property clerk Of the police department,
and the police manual and orders on the
subject have been clear and make 1T manda-
tory that the statute shall be followed by
the members of the metropolitan police de-
rartment In the disposition of such cases;
therefore. ! feel that there must be some
mistake about persons having been taken
into custody by the police and sent to the
Government Hospital for the Insane bear
ing on their persons loaded pistols or hav-
ing them In their effects
II the recommendation of Maj. Sylvester
and Commissioner West is approved by
Commissioners Macfarland and Biddle DR..
White will be asked for specific informa-
ton on the matter and an investigation
NAV result.