The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-10
DR, ], 4. PRYOR IS DISGUISED,
nrsJGyS As SUPERINTENDENT
0F TUBERCULOSIS HOSPITAL'
r,r.d of the "VicIons Capitalization o'
Power" In Fiscal supervisor 'enhrr
and of Reins Associated with ""aro
NJ Trust rrS Who Arc Only FiSnrrhrauS'

e,e,y,c LAKE. N. Y, July q In speak
inc Of M. resignation as resident physician
tho state Hospital for tuberculosis
pr John II Pryor said
Il resigned last March, but no acuon
eA-,cyrr was taken on my reSiSna''o''
o,j ! have now asked to be relieved inme-
W,,elv shall leave this institution on
,bc lo,n Of this month and take up m|
-csi3crra and the practise OF medlc'he IN
e,,..,,, Lake. My reasons for reslgning
49,, that am tired Of the shackles involved
work rs it is at present
-,s@.l on in New York There is infinitely
~, much red tape, which has grown in the
curse of wears and has been supplied
,,r,slv bv clerks ! am tired OF the vicious
Capitalization If power in the hands OF
va man. such power as is possessed by
~, fiscal siycrvsor. n. II. Bender. 1
49,, +i-sd If being associated with board
-, .r,,s,aes Of a State institution who no
,.oas, legislate but merely meet and act
s,,,raheaas. only Dickens could prop
a,,,. ornrecia,e the humor presented by
tho sltlidtloh
,o-,is when say disguised with the re-
suits of the civil service as administered In
this State. The Civil Service Commission,
nv rather us clerks seems able to furnish me
with everything do not want and nothing
do want in the way of assistants. super
n,enden' is held responsible for the entire
ransrenent Of his institution. but all his
EMPLOYEES have to Do is to pass an exami-
ra.,on which. 50 far as it can show their
fines, for the positions they hold, is a COM
n,ete farce. do not hesitate in saying that
the time is past when superintendent OF
State institution in New York state can feel
tlat the direction of the institution is in
reality in his hands and the time is APP
preaching rapidly when no physician OF any
professional standing will accept position
in a state institution.
1T mist be assumed that l was selected
to I'll the position have held in this institu-
ton on account of my knowledge Of tuber-
crlosis aud its treatment, hut my work
here has been work that required peculiar
executive ability rather than medical knowl-
edge The building, the State sanitarium
here. is really a barrsck, according to the
confession of the men who designed 1t.
It is a botch architecturally and has been
criticized severely by qualified judges who
have visited il from similar institutions
from all the States OF the Union. Yet it
is admitted by all authorities on the matter
that this sanitarilm leads, when its age is
taken into consideration-tirst. in the num-
Der of durable cases treated, and secondly,
in the results obtained.
After a short rest it is my intention to
write series OF articles on the methods
used in conducting State sanltarium
| will give actual facts, and they are GER
tainly such az to astonish the outside public
These facts must be known. They should
have been exposed by the State Board OF
Charities. but that honorable body in,
duges principally in garrulity and in liberal
promises that it will do something some
day Att
There should be 100 patients in this
sanitarium, but with the present approprla-
provide for more than 100 patients Is by
actually reducing the food supply of each
inmate When l have been required to
take more patients than maintenance was
provided for l was advised to, as 1t was
expressed, put the matter up to MIR. Bender
and he would be obliged to allow necessary
expenses, even if they would create a deficit
In his department. But H. H. Bender had
refused to allow 81 900 that was absolutely
required for maintenance, and 1t became
plain that fourteen patients who had not
vet recovered would have to be discharged.
economy boasted of by Mr.. Bender. At the
present time IFS patients could be accom-
modated here with ample room, and the
only added expense would be the additional
food required and the services OF few
more Mattresses.
The sanitarium has cost $3.50 900 and 1t is
given up to 100 patients. 1t should be
remembered that the cities and counties
from which the patients are sent pay two
thirds of the cost Of their maintenance In
the institution, so that the added direct
cost to the State for the seventy-five adj
small, and this trihing increase is not al
lowed because, apparently, the present
misery boarding OF needed money re-
fleets credit on one man, who Is strivlngto
obtain a reputation for economy regard
less Of everything. The present manage
mnistered at Albany and not at Ray Brook,
Is aughahle exhibition. 1t is only fair to
saw, and have pleasure in spea king OF it,
that politics have been connected in no
way with the institution. No politician
has endeavored to inject them here, either
house or in any other way. Gov. Higgins
has done his utmost to forward my work.
and my relations with him have been most
pleasant"
After leaving DR.. Pryor tour of inspec-
ton Of the institution was made. 1t looks
very much as if a cyclone had recently
struck it. For furnishings of the nine rooms
occupied by the superintendent there are
one small rug, one bureau and one stand.
The State is supposed TO provide furnished
apartments. The walls througho. t the
house ara bare there are no medical books
in the library and the very microscope with
which the examination of sputum is made
Is DR. Pryors personal property and has
been left by him because the institution has
no other. The billiard table and piano,