The Washington times., 1906-06-27
Compares Well With
Conditions at Other
Like Institutions.
BETTER IN MANY WAYS
Patients Well Housed and
Given Best Of Care, Wit
neSSeS Claim.

The examination of expert witnesses
today occupied the time of the special
Congressional committee. investigating
the Government Hospital for the Insane
In general terms they commended the in
stitution and gave Dr. White, the su-
perintendent. a high reputation for eff
cheney.
DR.. Mary NJ Wolf, superintendent. Of
the women's department of the Penn
sylvania Hospital for the Insane, at
Norristown. was the first witness. Her
testimony consisted. for the most part,
OF a comparison Of the institution with
which SIC is connected and St. Eliza
beths. She spoke in high terms OF St.
Elizabeths. saying that in every re-
spect 1t was well-managed She took
up in detail the various features Of the
management and commended them
highly.
Spent One Day at Asylum.
DIR. Wolf was at st. Elizabeth's for
about twenty-four hours and during that
time made as complete an inspection as
was possible. The hospital at Norris
town is a three-headed institution, the
management Of the mems and women's s
departments is separate and the stew
ards department is under a third head
Dr. Wolf said. personally, she approved
OF sinsie head for a hospital Of this
kind
The witness testified she considered the
Character Of the nurses and other at !
PENDANTS at g. Elizabeth's good the !
buildings " .ll-planned and the nurses i
home the prettiest and most attractive
she had ever seen. The hours at Nor
llStoWn and the pay Of nurses and at
tendants are about the same as at St l
Eltzsbeth's s. The ratio Of attendants at /
Norristown is about one TO nine. COM
- ~ .He-H.@
St Elizabeth's.
Prayer Meeting at NorTistown.
DR.. Wolf. describing the amusements
at Norristown. included weekly pray |
er meeting in che list
DO you think the patients ENJOY this |
meeting" asked Chairman Olcott
We'll. that is a question" said the
witness Dr. Richardson and 1 dis
agree; he thinks they do and think
Mr.. Olcott said he was moved to ask
the question by certain memories Of his /
own. which made him somewhat doubt |
fui
The per capita cost of the care OF na-
tients at Norristown and St Elizabeth's s j
is about the same
Dr; William F; Drury, superintendent
of the Central State Hospital for the 4
Colored Insane. at Petersburg, Va was /
the next witness In his institution there /
are l. 200 patients. He also had made an 1
examination at St Elizabeth's and in /
highly.
ment by his description of the amuse-
ments at his institution
Amusements at Petersburg.
1--WE have everything from watermelon
feasts up said the witness. "Baus and
cake dances. athletic carnivals. and |
everything else. We can't have the same
amusements for colored people you
would have for the whites. For exam
pie, a negro wouldn't care 20 play bridge
whist; he would rather play craps"
There was an outburst of laughter IN |
the midst OF which Representative Sny-
ser was heard 10 murmur, so would j" /
DR.. Drury, testified that physical re-
suaint oil all KINDS, save that which has
mated.
This theory has been described as
a sentiment. said DR.. Drury. but If
II IS. II is a very pretty sentiment"
Dr. Drury said he thought physical
restraint should be absolutely eliminat-
ed at St Elizabeth's, and that the
superintendent should be relieved of
some duties In order that he might find
II IN MS power TO visit the various de-
partments of the institution.
Commended by Ohioan.
Dr. Drury was followed on the stand
by DR.. Henry c. Eymon, superintendent
of the State Hospital for the Insane at
-hdSSAAiDu. Oulo- lie also comm nended the
conduct of affairs at St Elizabeth's DR..
Eymon said St EliZabeth's was entirely
too large.
ANY institution OF this kind with
more than 1000 patients is too large"
Would 1t be practicable for the Dis
trict OF Columbia TO take care of its
own insane and permit the Government
70 look after its soldiers and sailors?"
asked Representative Hay.
think II would be entirely practi-
cable, was the answer.
Dr. Eymon said three institutions In
the District could be managed at the
cost OF the one large institution. except
the cost Of the two additional plants.
ANGELS" Don't Want Jobs.
DR.. Eymon did not think the treat
ment inflicted upon the patient. Gartren,
as revealed in the testimony yesterday.
was cruel or unnecessary. 1T is hard |
to get the best class of attendants -
he said. There must be trouble some
times, unless we could get angels for
attendants-and they very seldom ap-
ply"
At the conclusion of DIR. Eymon's tes-
timony a recess was taken until after
noon
SALE OF NEW HOTEL SITE