The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-17

L IL.
And l wish to make It clear he said,
that was not connected with them In
any way whatsoever,
-, Judge Iredway. In replying to Messrs.
turk and Bland, said that the board
| was engaged In considering a matter
| that was serious. TOO serious" he said.
| tons"
| rejoined Mr.. Bland, "and it should be
cleared up In justice to all the members
| OF the board. For my own part, / wish
that the matter be looked into by the
board and determined here and now"
Following this statement Messrs. GIL
| llam marlborough and Tredway arose In
turn and discla,rned all knowledge OF any
secret session OF the board with refer
ence TO this matter.
Colonel Lawless now arose and said
he had no more witnesses present ex-
fsps P bo,,r FoSss st and as It was near
the committee arose to meet again AT at
2:30 p. NJ.
Dr.. Foster on Stand.
Dr. Foster was sworn as soon as tho
| questioned by Colonel Lawless.
The first charge, find named
against aga You" said Colonel Lawless rs
effect q resolution of the board passed
In 1903 requiring night attendance
upon ,a, the wards. ! wish you to explain
- sos'' "Nil " rS .lUls TeSOluIlOn mas
been carried out and II not. why not?"
Dr. Foster said. he found it would
require fifteen additional attendants.
reported this to the board, and the
members agreed that 1t was not
feasible to execute the resolution.
On the charge OF ''ducking," the SUI
once, when q patient had struck him,
but he gave absolute instructions that
It should not be done again, and it was
The records will show he went on.
that have discharged at least thirty
employees. either for neglect of duty or
cruelty to patients patients. and have made 1t
In speaking of the charge of the
maltreatment of patients. Witness told
of case where DIR. Henderson had re
ported that patient had told him that
an attendant had slapped a patient
DR. Henderson did not regard the mat
ter seriously and witness was satisfied
he reported 1t to the next meeting of
| the special board. The resolution of
| the board on the ub1ect was read. and
| It completely eHo1erated all parties
Witness had never seen two patients
bathed in the same water and II it was
| done 1t was done without his knowledge
| or consent
The next charge is that strait
| jackets were used. and that on ore oc-
caslon man was strapped to a bed
and an electric battery applied to his
| spine. What have you to say to this?''
II found rait-jackets In use when
came here, but gave orders that they
should be abandoned as rapidly as posi-
BILE. They We're abandoned as a rule,
| and are now used only In extreme cases
| punishment
Witness had given DR.. Henderson
strict orders when he came here not to
| of rGaHSSitv. would hoe
tate to use a, Straight jacket" If he
| found 1t necessary any moro than he
would to prescribe drink of whiskey
| for patient whose condition demanded
| He never knew anything of the al
| legged use of a battery On a patient until
| 1t came out before the investigation last
| year, and he did not believe thatsthe bat
! terry was ever used as means of pun
| ishment.
Coming to the charge about the food
| being inferior in quality and inadequate
offered in evidence the general ration
| list in use at the hospital He also
introduced the reports OF the assistant
physicians, which showed that the food
was all right in both quality and quan-
tity. DR.. Foster read the ration list.
which he said was varied from day to
day. and he read from 1t at length.
Witness spoke Of the lack Of kitchen
to time done all he could to improve
| condition. He had reported the facts
both to tho board and to the Legisa-
| ture.
! DR.. Foster was now asked as to the
charges concerning the bad construction
| Of the Montague building. and he de-
| clared that tho board had employed a
! competent architect, while he had given
'Is the Montague building faulty in
constrnction?" he was asked
II think not" was the reply.
rs it true that some green lumber
| DR.. Foster said this was true. and
explained under what conditions It was
used saying he had the advice Of arch-
tects on the subject. DR.. Foster thought
the matter could be remedled by putting
in steel ceiling.
Doctor" said Mr.. Lawloss. .'the next
| branch of this charge Is that the build
ings are badly lighted. What have you
to say about that?'
of them cut OFF.
Witness now came to the charge
tween the superintendent and his med
zeal staff. and ne said there had been
some differences between himslf and
DR., southall, but these We're all over.
and their relations were now pleasant.
AS to the rule. requiring the superin-
tendent to make daily vlsitations to
the wards. witness said the rule had
of the situation would permit, He had
not followed up and watched his as
sistants to sec If they were doing their
duty. He had too much confidence In
them for this, but he had been In some
wards Of the hospital every day, and In
some of them several times day
did you fail as these charges say"
asked Colonel LaWless ITO provide
offices for your. assistants in the execu-
y expect I did" he replied.
''Why?"
because I had not the money to
erect an additional building. think
the offices ought to be there, and l
have repeatedly urged that the build
NJ have, however. assigned the as
slstant physicians offices in other
buildings"
Witness denied the charge that he
was unfamiliar with the Workings of
the Institution. and said he was In
close peraonal touch with every
feature Of the work.
DR., Foster explained tho use of
caustic in certain cases. and his tes-
timony on this line was practically that
given before the investigating commit
tee.
Witness testified as to the charge,
that he had criticised the special board,
thereby creating friction.
Flo declared that he had criticised
Messrs. Gloves and Coles for ordering
| r,ss-..I,iri,ay ri tho tratitutjop ~ ha