The Washington times., 1907-09-19

washington Asylum. but who was sent
to ST. Elizabeth's on the ground that
she had a poor memory for recent AMI
remote events, and was '.untidy in
habits and unable to care for herself"
Commitment Papers Vague.
Information also reached the Commits
sioners that the commitment papers ac-
companying the patients sent to ST.
Elizabeth's from the Washington Asy-
lum did not contain as fu1 and def
mite information regarding the patients
condition or symptoms as should be the
case.
The records of the Government Hos
pital for the Insane disclose that, TO all
appearances. the complaints were ia
every case wen founded.
The washington Asylum Hospital is
under the immediate supervision OF
Commissioner mcfarland. II is praeti-
caIly controlled By DR.. D. Percy HiCl-
ling. who, as its visiting physician.
receives an annual salary OF S1.040. The
certificates committing persons 70 the
Government Hospital for the Insane
have TO be signed by DR.. Hickling and
the resident physician. who is generally
a young man occupying the post for The
Effort to Suppress Papers.
Although the papers. disclosing the
contents OF the reports of the Board of
Charities. DR.. Hickling and the boards
subcommittee which worked on the case,
are carefully guarded at the District
building under the Endorsement Not for
Publication It is said on good authority
that these reports. which succeeded in |
smoothing over the situation, do not at
tempt to deny all the shocking COM !
plants. but allow the inference to be |
drawn that, while the things complained !
OF might have happened, they would |
never occur again,
But they have happened again. A
careful inspection of the records OF the |
Government Hospital for the Insane dis |
closes that since the report of the Board |
Of Charities was made. there have been |
five patients received there from the /
f Washington Asylum Hospital whose IN /
clearly condition is hardly credible
Although the authorities OF the Gov !
eminent Hospital for the Insane refuse /
TO discuss the matter, apparently taking /
the ground that they do not feel il in |
cumbent On them TO be drawn into the /
trouble, II was learned today that on /
at least one occasion, the Superintend- |
ent OF st. EliZabeth's found u neces-
saTy to request the physicians at the 4
Washington Asylum to try to make /
their descriptions of the conditions and /
symptoms of their patients more COM 4
plete. II WIS limited that the word 4
unknown appeared too often opposite /
some Of the questions relating to the /
patients committed TO TIE Government |
Hospital from the Washington Asylum. /
Extracts From Records.
Among other things. the records of the !
Government Hospital for the Insane
show that the following. persons were
committed TO St. Elizabeth's from the
Washington Asylum the date OF their
admission ana their condition so far far
as vermin were concerned:
Mary Angel. October s, 1906: ''vermin /
IN head"
Mary. Lanham. August Is. 1876: lice
in head
Rosa Sullivan, August 80. 1905; lice in
head"
IDA NJ: Morse. July 3. 1866, "vermin
John. Dement, April I6, 1860. clothing
filthy"
Mark S. Cunningham, March q, 1906.
clothing filthy"
There are other entries TO the same
erect as there are similar entries i'm
I'VE cases since the Board Of Charities
reported 10 the Commissioners that mo-
one was 70 blame at the WASHINGTON
Asylum Hospital.
A Sample Case
The case of Harry B. Watson is OF
peculiar interest Watson was a man
forty-flve years OF age, and was an in
mats Of the Washington Asylum Hos 4
pital nearly two months before he was
sent from there 10 the Government
Hospital for the Insane. When he was
sent to st. Elizabeths, July 70, 1895. his
appearance, according TO the records at
the Government Hospital for the IN
sane was hlthy.' He died the follow
Ing day. the causes of death being de-
GaTln4U al ~ Eliza hafhfc as
Mental. febrile delirium.
Physical. pulmonary tuberculosis
Immediate, peritonitis from perfoTa-
ton OF tuberculous ulcer Of intestine.
Charge Alcoholism.
Although the records say there was
pothing in the autopsy findings in this I
case to show any sign Of alcoholism,
the commitment paper sent with the
patient and signed by DR.. D. Percy
Hickling and William P. Reeves, gave
the probable cause" Of the insanity
as alcoholism" and defined the pa
uenTs alleged insanity In the following
brief passage.
Patient has decisions in which he
lmaglnes he takes automobile and boat
rides at night de is very restless"
10 the query on the commitment
paper as to whether the patient had
tuberculosis, there was no answer.
Can Be Made Clearly.
Inquiry by The Times today ELECTED
from experts in hospital matters state
ments showing their belief that. with
8 different system of handling patients
at the Washington Asylum Hospital, the
Unclesnliness complained of can be
eliminated. 1t is claimed that such a
condition IL never heard of in the Gov
eminent Hospital for the Insane.
1t was said today that the Commits
ufT Inn eIr.Icr NJ foIaFl
that these persons are now sent from |
the Washington Asylum 70 St Eliza
beth's. This is thought to be particu-
larly true in view OF the fact that Com
missioner mcfarland said only a few
days ago that the Washington Asylum |
could be used as psychopathic pavilion /
for the observation Of alleged insane !
persons before they should be sent to
insane aSYlumS.