The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-10
nR. ], H,PR70R is DISGUSTED.
,rs1cyS As SUPERINTENDENT
nv TUBERCULOSIS HOSPITAL.
r,-ed Of the "yicious Capitalization Of
power" In Fiscal Supervisor Bender
and OF BEING Associated WITH Board
NJ trustees VINO Are Only Figurehcads.

and OF Being Associated With Board
~ trustees VINO Are Only Figurehcads.
s,e.SAc LAKE, n. Y, July 9.--1n speak
,,a If his resignation as resident physician
~ the State Hospital for tuberculosis
Dr. John r. Pryor said:
II resigned last March, but no action
.hstayer was taken on my resignation
~ have now asked to be relieved imme-
x,,ely. I shall leave this institution on
,he 10Th Of this month and take up my
,ssidence and the practise OF medicine IN
s.r,nao Lake. My reasons for resigning
-. that | am tired Of the shackles involved
l., State institutional work as 1t Is at present
rid on in New York There is infinitely
~ mich red tape, which has grown in the
s.s,rse Of years and has been supplied
,.r,elv by clerks. am tired Of the vicious
Capitalization of power in the hands OF
s,e man. such power as is possessed by
,hs fiscal supervisor, H. H. Bender. l
am tired of being associated with board
~ trustees Of a State institution who no
lo,ser legiAate, but merely meet and act
a. Snreheads. Only Dickens could prop
~, appreciate the humor presented by
the atuauon.
y am disgusted-and I measure my
xonds when | say disgusted-wit the re-
.rlt. Of the civil service as administered in
,b;s State. The Civil Service Commission,
a, rather its clerks seems able to furnish me
with everything I do not want and nothing
do want in the way OF assistants. A super
intendent is held responsible for the entire
mana cement of his institution, but all his
.nphoyees have to do Is to pass an exami-
n,tion which so far as it can show their
fitness for the positions they hold, is COM
nlete farce. do not hesitate in saying that
the time Is past when superintendent OF
s,ate institution in New York State can feel
that the direction of the institution is in
reality in his hands, and the time is ap-
preaching rapidly when no physician OF any
professional standing will accept position
in a State institution.
1T must be assumed that l was selected
70 al the position have held in this institu-
ton on account Of my knowledge Of tuber-
c,loeis and its treatment, but my work
here has been work that required peculiar
executive tdetiVi thiAii iAiSNAASoA
edge. The building, the State sanitarium
here, is really barrack, according to the
confession Of the men who designed it.
II is a botch architecturally and has been
criticized severely by qualified judges who
have visited it from similar institutions
from all the States OF the Union. Yet At
b admitted by all authorities on the matter
that this sanitarium leads, when its age is
taken into consideration-first, in the num-
Der Of durable cases, treated, and, secondly,
10 the results obtained.
After short rest it is my intention to
write a series Of articles OF the methods
.sed in conducting State sanitarium.
will give actual facts, and they are GER
ainly such as to astonish the outside public.
These facts must be known: They should
ave been exposed by the State Board OF
charities, but that honorable body in
lulges principally in garrulity and in liberal
promises that it will do something some
There should be 100 patients in this
anitarium, but with the present appropria-
ion the only way in which it is possible to
provide for more than 100 patients is by
actually reducing the food supply of each
innate. When l have been required to
axe more patients than maintenance was
provided for, l was advised to, as it was
expressed, put the matter up to Mr.. Bender
md he would be obliged to allow necessary
expenses, even il they would create deficit
n his department. But H. H. Bender had
efused to allow 81 900 that was absolutely
equired for maintenance, and it became
lain that fourteen patients who had not
'et recovered would have to be discharged.
his may be taken as an illustration OF the
economy boasted OF by Mr.. Bender. At the
ti,pa ,oofiortc could ho
nodated here with ample room, and the
My added expense would be the additional
God required and the services of few
nore Mattresses.
The sanitarium has cost $250, 600 and it is
iven up to 100 patients. It should be
emembered that the cities and counties
rom which the patients are sent pay two
birds Of the cost Of their, maintenance in
be institution, so that the added direct
ost to the State for the seventy-fve ad-
itional patients would be comparatively
mall. and this trifling increase is not al
owed because, apparently, the present
aiserly boarding Of needed money re-
ects credit on one man. who Is striving to
btain reputation for economy regard
,ss OF everything. The present manage
nent Of the Ray Brook institution, as ad-
Aughable exhibition. 1t is only fair to
az, and have pleasure in speaking OF it,
hat politics have been connected in no
'ay with the institution. No politician
as endeavored to inject them here, either
y using influence to place patients in the
ouse or in any other way. Gov. Higgins
as done his utmost to forward my work,
I'd my relations with him have been most
easant."
After leaving Dr. Pryor tour Of inspec-
Ion OF the institution was made. 1t looks
cry much as il cyclone had recently
truck it. For furnishings of the nine rooms
coupled by the superintendent there are
ne small rug, one bureau and one stand.
he State is supposed to provide furnished
partments The walls throughout the
ouse are bare there are no medical books
the library and the very microscope with
inch the examination Of sputum is made
cen left by him because the institution has
Q other. The billiard table and piano,
Inch afford almost the only recreation
ossibe to the patients, still remain. They
uhalo.