The Washington times., 1907-12-14
Superintendent Urges
Changes in Commit
ment Law in An
nual Report.
Tells Of Conditions al
the Government InSti-
tuition During Past
Year.

ADOHuon OF jury trials In the commit
ment OF Insane people 20 the Govern
ment Hospital for the Insane is strong
ly recommended by Dr. William A.
White. superintendent Of that institu-
ton, in hisIannual report 20 the Secre-
tary Of the Interior
The report, which explains that the
institution is in excellent general shape.
points out that the average daily num-
Der OF patients is always on the In
crease there. and that additional appro-
priations ars needed to care for them.
House Investigation.
Dr. White then has this 10 say about
the commitment OF insane people in the
District of Columbia:
"A special committee Of the House
Of Representatives appointed at the last
session OF Congress 10 make full and
complete investigation OF the manage
ment Of this hospital WAS compos ed
largely of lawyers. This committee
looked into the question OF hnacy Ieg-
isladon with considerable care. and as
a result OF such investigation We're
fully convinced, I believe. % the just
ness Of the structures which have
heretofore placed on the methods OF
procedure in the District"
Want Appropriation.
For the support. clothing. and treat
ment Of the insane that are sent to St.
Elizabeth's an appropriation OF t6O0, 900
is asked from Congress. with he follow
ing explanatory note;
This amount Is based on 2,7SO patients
at 500 per capita. This number is az
rived at by estimating the probable In
crease on the basis Of what the increase
has been in past years. Pursuing the
same method OF calculation fo- the Dis
trict OF Columbia patients. their snare is
S294. 500. leaving $305. 500 - to be provided
for In the sundry civil bin,
The last year shows an Increase IN
the daily average population Of the
hospital Of twenty-seven, while the
number remaining in the hospital on
June 30. 1907. was torty-four in excess Of
the number remaining at the close OF
the last fiscal year. Practically all Of
this increase has been from the District
OF Columbia. therefore the increased
is asked for this class
$4,000 for Repairs
For general repairs and improvements
$40, 900 is asked
In the total sum Of SS55lOO which Is
asked the following items are included:
New entrance to gatehOuse.....-.. s., 600
Building COW stables. barns. pig
gerry, henneTy, etC.--........-....... 90 90
Iron fence on east side Of Nichols
avenue ..--......-.............. li,OUO
Additional amount necessary 10
construct an amusement hail.. s.. 600
CentraliZing power plant, remodel
ing electrical layout, etc.....-..... 1880
The report gives this statement about
the patients treated:
There were 2,54S patients remaining
In the hospital on June 30, 1906, as
against 2 596 on June 30 1907 an increase
for the year ended June - 1906, was
2. .542. as against 2,569 for the fiscal year
ended June 80, 1907, an Increase Of p
In the daily average number Of patients
for the year. During the year there
were admitted to the hospital 619 pa
tients, making a total OF S,167 patients
under treatment. OF the total number
admitted 400 were from civil life and
2i0 from the army, navy, and Public
Health and Marine Hospital Service.
The total number Of DISCHARGES for the
year. including the deaths, was 57l,
classified as follows: Recovered, III;
improved, 134; EnimprOved. 30; died, 21s;
not insane. s."
Accounting System.
OF the accounting system. DR.. White
says:
The work of bringing the accounting
system into conformity with the most
approved business methods has been
continued during the past year. In
fact, this work has now been in prop-
ress for nearly two years. While we
are still far from having solved all the
problems. we have accomplished a very
great deal I'm adopting greater uniform
ity Of accounts, in locating avenues of
waste. and in placing the accounts of
the different departments on such Il
basis that the results of each one can
be analysed and compared. The ex-
tTeme complexity of the problem that
confronted the hospital when an effort
was made to install such a system can
be appreciated to some extent by con-
sidering what the institution embOdies.
There are several libraries, both
medical and general a large store
room, from which supplies are issued
to the several departm ents; a branch
postoffice, a telephone exchange sew
ing and mending rooms, a tailor shop
a bake shop. and twelve kitchens. in
which are preserved and canned friIi.. I.
Jellies, etc. There is a dairy farm from
which the milk IS secured and a DIS
teurizing plant through which It All
passes before it is used. In addition to
this. all cows are tested for tuberculosis
before purchase and periodically after
ward by visiting veterinary surgeon
DR.. White also reports that the on
portunities for scientific treatment Of
patients are greatly improved.