Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-24
STILL FAVORABLE.
Yesterday Afternoons Session Of In
vestigation Into Insane ASYLUM.

At the afternoon session of the commit
| tee DR.. William F. R. Phelps, dean Of the
George Washington Medical School. said
| the general staff of the asylum is consid-
cred the best by medical authorities
In fact. we think so well Of the doctors
over there" said DR.. Phelps, that we have
appointed Drs. White and Clark and others
to our corps of lecturers. Comparing st.
Elizabeth with many general hospitals that
I have visited, 1t is one of the best In the
country
Mrs. Jennie H. Cole OF Richmond, Va,
whose mother was an inmate OF the asy-
lum for two years. testified that she had
gone over to see her mother two or three
days after she was admitted, and found
her lying in bed with only thin night
dress on and cold wind blowing on her
from an adjacent open window. Mrs.
Coles sister. Miss Griffin. had testified to
the same effect several days ago and her
testimony was positively denied by DR..
Clark when he was on the witness stand.
Mrs Cole corroborated her sisters state
ments In every particular. but when Rep
resentative Smyser asked IL she (Mrs. Colel
cared to take her mother away from the
institution Witness said NO"
MY mothers ribs were fractured" said
Mrs. Cole, Just after she admitted
to the asylum. How or why do not
know"
DR.. Clark. when on the stand. expressed
| to Mrs. Griffin's admission.
Mrs. Sarah A. Wise, who said she had
visited the asylum six days a week for
eight months to see her daughter testified
| that at first she had horror of ST. Eliza
| beth. but that all that horror has left her
now
II think DIR. Clark is one OF the finest Of
men and an excellent physician" said Mrs.
Wise. Everybody over there has been
| very kind to both my daughter and me,
and cannot pick a single flaw In the man
agement of the asylum. l don't know Of
| a thing l can complain Of
| Mrs. Margaret Colbert, formerly an In
| mate of ST. Elizabeth. told the committee
| that she had been put into the asylum
| through mistake, but that everything was
conducted properly. She had only good
words for Drs White and Clark. and she
thought the nurses and attendants extreme
| ly kind and considerable toward patients.
Mrs. Honora O'Brien, matron at the asy-
| lum, and for fourteen years a supervisor,
testified that 1t Is her duty to see that
clothing and linen furnished by the insti-
| tuition are in good order. Witness stated
| that the treatment accorded patients Is OF
the best. Only one instance Of mistreat-
| ment had come to her attention in sixteen
| years, and then the offending nurse was
discharged.
The food Is good said the witness
''Of course, we have oleomargarine In place
| of butter. but oleomargarine is healthful
Il don't see how any improvement can
| be made IN the conduct OF affairs at the
asylum"
| r. L. Browning, employed for nine years
at the asylum, testified that he is In charge
| of the criminal insane. but that In the past
| three years he has used no restraints what
| soever. Browning declared that he never
| resorted to cruelty.
| II treat them as 1 would my own chill
| dren, II 1 had any" said the witness.
MY patients are attached to me because
| treat them kindly"
| James e. Toner. supervisor at the asy-
| Ium for twenty-five years. testified that the
| food Is good. and as rule Is served hot
| II saw only one case of cruelty In three
| years" said the witness. land as the re-
| suit of an investigation the attendant that
| had struck the patient was not only dis
| charged, but effort was made to arrest
/ HIM
| Each attendant Is told that cruelty will
| not be countenanced and that harsh words
| are as out OF place as clubs. Attendants
| who violate the rules are Immediately dis
| charged"
| ]. H. c. Taylor. also attendant told
| the committee that he had never seen any
| cruelty In the seven years of his service
| but he complained about the long hours OF
| labor required of the attendants. He
| claimed that attendants are actually on
duty forty-three out Of every forty Eight
hours.