Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-24
APPROVE THE REPORT
Views of Commissioners as to
Treatment of Insane.
ACTION BY CHARITY BOARD
Should Have Place Worthy of Ma
tional Capital.
QUESTION IN SOME QUARTERS
Prevalence of Unsoundness of Mind
in the District Disproportionate
to the Population.
ACTION BY CHARITY BOAR[
QUESTION IN SOME QUARTERS

Commissioners Mcfarland and West
today gave consideration to the recently
submitted report of the committee on the
treatment of the insane appointed by the
Society of Nervous and Mental Diseases.
Both approved the report.
so Ear as the statements as to the con-
ditions at the Washington Asylum Hos
pital, and the need of better provisions
for the observation and treatment of
those believed to be insane, and also the
treatment of inebriates and what are
called the criminal insane, are con-
carned" Commissioner Mcfarland says,
the report is directly in line with the
statements heretofore made by the board
of charities, notably in its annual report
of this year and which have been APP
proved by the Commissioners. The board
of charities. which has official jurisdiction
of this matter. will also make a special
report upon the subject when it receives
the final statement of the physicians
whose advice was asked by the Commits
sioners for the board of charities, and for
which it has been waiting. .
The Commissioners three years ago
asked the board of charities to. make a
special investigation and report on. the
subject of the insane. and later asked
three physicians to give professional adj
| vice ana leCnnlcal on the
| subject. and il is for the final reports
| from the physicians that the board o.
| charities is now waiting. Meantime, how
ever, the board of charities. in dealing
with the actual work of caring for the in
| sane especially at the Washington Asy-
| lum Hospital. has had to anticipate its
| special report in order to meet pressin 6
conditions, Last year Congress. on the
recommendation of the board of charities
| approved by the Commissioners, app-o
I IL
| house building. so as to provide for in
sane and inebriate cases. and that work is
so well advanced that when Congress
| provides the necessary equipment and en-
| ployes the Washington Asylum Hospital
| will be relieved of those cases. This,
| however. so far as the non-criminal in
| sane are conce~ ned, is admitted to be
| simply temporary expedient. The non
criminal insane. like all the other poor
! people now sent to the Washington Asy-
| lum Hospital. because there is no other
! place to send them. ought not to be in
! that makeshift institution under the
| shadow of the jail and the workhouse
and i'm association with criminals. sane
| and insane.
Working for Modern Hospital.
Ever since I have been Commissions
we have been working to get a decent
modern municipal hospital, far removed
from the wo-khouse and the Jail. where
the sick who are also INDECENT may have
proper treatment in respectable surround
| nds. We got a fine site on Brightwood
| avenue; we got admirable plans through
Il fine competition Of architects, but in
| ertia in some quarters and a selfish and
| misguided opposition in other quarters
has prevented the execution of those
plans. except that we have one ward for
tuberculosis cases provided for and we'll
advanced.
No ,Nhr 4. -
trct' is employed SO thoughtlessly and
so often about trivial matters that it ha s
lost considerable force. but 1 will say
| what / have said to the committees of
Congress. that it is shame that we have
not suitable municipal hospital for those
who cannot be cared for in the private
hospitals, including the chronic and con-
valescent and the norf-criminal insane or
| those suspected of insanity. l wish that
some of the energy which has been ey-
here had been put behind the Commission
ers efforts all these years to take the de-
cent poor sick people away from the work
house to the beautiful site on Brightwood
avenue. However, 1 am hopeful that we
shall make great progress in this matter
at this Congress. The Commissioners
have recommended, on the advice of the
board of charities. wards for chronic and
pavilion for the observation of non-crim-
inal cases of suspected insanity and the
treatment of mild and temporary insanity.
What Is Expected.
Il hope that at least this much may be
provided, together with an extension of
the tuberculous accommodations. Then
the altered workhouse and finally the
Washington Asylum Hospital plant can be
used for inebriates and criminal insane.
under proper detention laws which the
Commissioners have recommended.
Then people whose only crime is pow
erty,' 10 quote great authority. will have
a place to go worthy of the National can
ital. and which will not impair their self
respect. AS it is now, scores If not hun.
dreds of such persons will not go to the
Washington Hospital, even when 1t il not
too crowded to take additional cases and
remain in their poor homes, suffering, as
! the municipality has no right to let them
| suffer, and unconsciously> working a ter
| rible vengeance upon the community Nv
| spreading the seeds of disease not onIv in
| their neighborhood. but in the fairest and
richest quarters of the city,
Disproportionate to Population.
| The recommendation for a revision of
the lunacy Legislation made by the spe-
cial committee appointed by the Society
of Nervous and Mental Diseases meets
with my hearty approval Commissioner
West said. Ever since have been Com
missioner the question of the commitment
| and care of insane persons has appealed
to me very strongly. not only because |
| believe the laws are not framed with a
due regard for all circumstances but
4 also because 1t seems to. me that the
prevalence of insanity in the District of
| Columbia. is disproportionate to the popu-
lation. The district expends, In round