Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-21
CHARGES BY AN INDIVIDUAL
Officials Produce Records to Disprove
Assertions.
TO THE BOARD OF CHARITIES
Reference of the Matter for Report
Statement Made by Commits
sioner Mcfarland.

treatment Of insane and alleged insane
patients at the Washington Asylum Hos
pital has been ordered. The investigation
Is to be conducted by the subcommittee on
medical charities of the board of charities,
as a result of public charges made to the
effect that the authorities at the asylum
hospital continue to transfer patients from
their institution to the Government Hos
pital for the Insane in filthy condition and
covered with vermin.
The charges preferred by an individual
were not made under oath, nor were the
conditions seen by him. the charges being
based upon information.
Il am reliably informed it is stated in
the charges that the records of the Gov
eminent Hospital for the Insane disclose the
fact that since the management and con-
duct of the Washington Asylum Hospital
were declared satisfactory as a result of an
investigation by the board of charities the
following patients have been received at
the Government Hospital for the Insane
with vernin upon their persons:
Leila Devine. received June 20, 1907;
Hattie Miller, received July D. 1907: AlonzO
Jackson, received July 81 1907, and Josiah
Inghram, received September 6. 1907.
Il am also informed that Leila Devine
was an inmate of the Washington Asylum
Hospital for a week more before she
was sent to the Government Hospital for
the Insane"
Officials Produce Records.
Notwithstanding the fact that the of
ficials of the Washington Asylum Hospital
have produced their records showing that
each patient mentioned in the charges was
personally examined by attendants at the
asylum hospital before being transferred to
the government hospital, the investigation
will be made.
The records set forth that Leila Davis
was examined by Dr. a. NJ. Mulvanity, Mil
dred Spencer, graduate nurse and Miss
Perknsen, pupil nurse. They wrote. Pa
tents head, body and clothes examined
for vermn. None found"
The same persons examined Hattie Miller
and made a similar record in her case. Jo-
sah Ingraham was examined by DR.. L. NJ
brennan, head inferno at the asylum hos
pita. Miss Perkins and Miss thinner pu-
pill nurses. They found filth vermin.
In the case of Alonzo Jackson the exami-
nation was made by Dr. Muvanity and MISS
Hiser. nurse. who stated that no vermin
was found.
Superintendent Zinkhan Of the Washing
ton Asylum and workhouse says the rec
ords, which were made at the time the pa
tents were transferred speak for them
selves.
Referred to Board Of Charities.
When the charges were filed with Com
missioner Mcfarland he Immediately re-
ferred them to Secretary Wilson of the
board of charities with the request that a
prompt investigation be made.
Mr.. Wilson says that the charges will be
taken up for consideration at a special
meeting of the board of charities next
Monday, and will then be referred to the
subcommittee on medical Charities. The
subcommittee consists of DR.. George NJ
Kober and DIR. Charles P. Neill, the COM
missioner of labor. who made an investiga-
ton and report to the Commissioners last
March. DR.. Kober is now in Europe.
What Mr.. Macfarland Says
Commissioner Mcfarland, who is alleged
to have been responsible for withholding
the former report. said today that the
new charge having been publicly made the
report of the new investigation will, Of
course. be published. The report of the
former investigation was not published be-
cause there had been no public charges
and because 1t exonerated the Washington
Asylum people and therefore no action Was
taken by the Commissioners. None of the
Commissioners suggested that any action
should be taken or that the report should
be published.
Personally, l accepted without question
the results of the detailed investigation
made by DIR. Neill and Dr. Kober, In three
months hard work. as l would accept any
report that they made after such an in
quiry l have learned nothing since to
shake my belief in the correctness of their
conclusions. On the contrary, from time
to time l have had information showing
that the superintendent of the Washington
Asylum Mr.. Zinkham. who is the respon-
sible person, is maintaining conditions in
the hospital elsewhere satisfactory
as those reported.
Mr.. John Joy Edison, PRESIDENT Mr.
Myer Cohen. member. and Mr.. George S.
Wilson. secretary. OF the board of chart
ties. last Thursday morning, and without
of course, any knowledge that there would
be any publication on the subject In the
evening made one OF their unexpected Of
fetal visits to the Washington Asylum. and
found the hospital. as 1 am Informed. in
excellent condition. But. of course, the
charges must be Investigated. and if any
discipline is needed It will be promptly ap-
piled.
II ought to add that the Government
Hospital for the Insane. although asked
by the board of charities at the time of
the last investigation TO notify 1t promptly
of any new case of patient arriving in
bad condition. has sent no notice of any
such occurrence