The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-22

ity to manage Iii, c.xccltl.se md Of ~.
You'd criticism or censure.
No greater humiliation Of superintend-
ents can be imagined than the one pro-
posed and as for the boards. the same
humiliation, increasing. day by day, will
be In store The members of the boat1s
serve absolutely without compensation
IL compelled, without compensation and
to mere hgurehcads, few se!f-respeet.lg
men Will be willing to. spend their time
In such work 1t is Il Ia y that no board
they perform free. rhe pcnitentary
board is allowed n coinpetsation, aid the
work OF the hospital boards IS exactly
of similar character the other boai'is
are In no sense similar.
1t has been the de5isc W the present
management of the hospitals 10 chcour-
age physicians 10 enter ,hc scientific field
nionsness Of the Stale ~ 10 salaries has
practically prohibited tbs, nr rendered
It nearly impossible Fey young i en-
Of talent in these days bet can, find a
more proftable one, u, gene:..tl or special
practice elsewhere l.; one mighty mo-
gul'' is raised over Ito nends af super
intendents and faculty 20 drop IN on them
as he may feel disposed. TO direct them
in HIS modes. regardless nf .iieir cmn
research. experience or pra 2tice. nosSi-
bly, to lecture. find fault, or condemn.
be found in our hospitals: ambitious, self
respecting men will throw off such slav-
cry and go out as freemen to carve their
own way and make their own reputa-
tons.
This new law will in no sense create
a. school for educating physicians as
aliensts, nor, members OF the boards as
executive officers. The one great head
will sweep down. upon his various
charges, clothed in superior authority
and, like the centurion, say to this one
go-and he goeth: to another, come-and
The wisdom of creating the office of
the commissioner of lunacy in the first
instance has been doubted In some quar-
now to the Constitution. The Office was
created by 1t and the scope and meaning
of that office are plain. With some ex-
perience as a member OF the board of
we most unhesitatingiy declare that the
proposed step is, In our humble judg-
ment. unwise. IL not. indeed. dangerous,
and VIII SO humble and smasculate the
hospitals. as to make II a plaything in
the hands of the commissioner by
word in the mouths OF the people of the
State.
believe. by increasing the salaries of the
various superintendent and members OF
the faculty. thus insuring. In each talent
of high order. and likewise encouraging
interest in alienism throughout the State,
as we'll as insuring friendly rivalry
between the hospitals, which is the sur
and highest achievement. Ambition will
be smothered If a single great head is
created. Friendly rivalry Will be thing
OF the past The experience. learning
of our hospitals will never be heard OF
again. but all wisdom, all learning, all
results VIII not only emanate from. but
be conveyed 10 the Governor the Legisla.
,Dh > tie ,t,,ht
creation of law, this inspiring genius,
who will be omnicient in mental dis
eases and infallible in monetary affairs
These conditions will not be apparent at
first. they will grow gradually: but they
are as certain to come as the days roll
by. and we know too we'll that few Of
irnIzed. or errors in high places corrected
after such office has assumed concrete
form.
Lastly. this officer is required to live
to administer no medicine: in fact. not
required to be in touch with the actual
sufferers at all. If he should be an
eminent surgeon. physician. or both his
real usefulness in SO far as any of our
hospitals would be concerned. would be
lost. If such person exists, far better
let him be placed at the head
skill can be directly felt. rather than
have him created a titular dignitary and
his skill dribbled out over the entire
state, with not enough left at any one
place to be of service. Let him create
a model hospital. which by it's example
Will force the other hospitals to a higher
level.
greatly appreciate Mr. Wicsham's mo-
tives. They are. / am sure, as are all
of his public acts, of high character; but
In. this instance in an honest effort to
improve a condition. feel sure he would
ultimately injure 1t even more than /
have been able TO depict. r. S. TURK.
Staunton. Va.