The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-05
NURSES NOW EMPLOYED
 ARE CLOSELY EXAMINED
Testimony Tends to Show That the Charges Against Institution Are Groundl ess-H. M. Harton's
 Conduct Is Described.
BY R. T. MAJORS.

| Tuscaloosa, September 4.-fspecfal1- The hospital investigation committee met 1 again this morning at o'clock at the l hospital building, The testimony this ! morning was that of witnesses summoned
 In behalf of the hospital The nurses ap-
 bearing before the commission were all
 those who are now engaged at the insti-
 tuition. and all were apparently intelligent and trustworthy men, and the stories i they told on the stand were altogether plausible.
 It developed in the course of this IT,
 Nestigation that the Bryce Insane Hos pital is a tremendous institution, and
 that the system and care taken are of the highest character. and that the manage ment of such a concern is no small mat ter
 Numerous question were asked in regard
 to all existing conditions. and any pos-
 sible improvement that might be made in
 the general management. In nearly every
 case 1t appeared that the authorities had
 solved possibly the best manner of hand
 ling patients and conducting the hospital
 SIS whole.
 6oSpltal regulations.
 The first witness called was Supervisor | McDuf. He was asked 10 outline all of the duties of supervisor and of all the
 nurses Of sesxfgekinds ,asto To state tlie
 rules and regulations regarding the care of patients and the nurses conduct toward them. the treatment of the sick and the preparation and service of the food.
 l He stated that there were forty-eignt nurses on his side of the building and that there are four night nurses and q watcher, who makes tour of the buld- ] ing every hour during the night, that l he has two or three regular times dur
 ing the day when he inspects, but that
 several inspections are made each day at 1 odd times and from different directions l that all complaints are taken from pd- l tients and that whenever anything an-
 usual oeeers 1t is reported.
 Witness stated that he remembered | when II. NJ Harton was brought to the 1 hospital; that he was very much excited i; 1 that he was carried at once to Ward ]; l that it WAS necessary to put him at once l in the cross hall: that he was not mis- | treated in any manner a this time, that l witness Saw him put In the cross hall 1 and locked up in there, and that it was l not true that he was kicked or struck or l mistreated in any manner al this time.
 nor ever afterwards as far as he could 1 learn. that he was very crazy al this 1 time and tore up his clothes and threw 1 them out of the window; that he always 1 made unusual complaints. and that tue l burden of his complaint was that he was wrongfullY restrained of his liberty: that l he never seemed to understand why he WAS not treated just as 1T he had been ] sane and allowed every privilege that T | II l. ,l1s Is ifta.as ss1 ] never saw the bed bugs that Marton com 1 plained of. that two knives were taken off l his person while he was at the hospital; | that he said that he vas going to Kill the l first nurse that tried to lock him up again. that he continually bemeaned Df. l searcy, but that the latter was always 1 kind and courteous to him, that MT l Glass, a former supervisor, discharged 1 two nurses because he thought they han
 died Iarton too roughly at one time. Nurses Restricted.
 Witness stated that 1t was stristly against the rules for nurses to ever strike or curse patients and that if such things
 ever occurred the nurses were promptly discharged; that he knew Holman and Winters: that he considered them both very good men; that some of the patients did not want to leave Winters hall be- cause they liked him, and some asked - be moved back there to be with Winters Witness also told of Cookers attack on fhe nurses in the cross hall, and later nf how he tried to escape by letting hni-
 self out of a window by rope made of hlankets and that he fell and was found in the yard under the window with broken leg; that he was in no wise mis-
 treated; that he never knew Of Holmdns
 kicking CT stamping any patients that no such thing are tolerated by him or the A hn nFfilN sible for such things to go on and not eventually be found out
 Witness also told of the Falllner es- caDade. and how he had had struggle
 with a nurse and another patient; that tha matter was carefully inquired Into,
 and that no one who saw IL ever made any complaint or blamed the nurse except Harton; that Harton reported the matter after the nurse had already done so. On cross-examnation the witness oA-
 nlainod the equipment for protection against fire. that precautions were always used and that number Of men would always be available in such contn- pency. and that large number of pa tients could assist in fighting fire In case this would ever become necessary. rho committee thanked MT. MeDun at
 inc conclusion of his testimony for his courteous manner in giving them ali Of inc information asked of him so promptly and inte;ligently and he was assured bY tben that no one of them thought he had been derelict in his duties
 RosselI Is Called.
 R B. Rossell was next called. He s inc assistant of Mr. McDun His testi- nonv was very similar to Mr. McDun's, most of it consisting In explaining various features of the plant and its manage ment. He stated that he had never seen any of the cruelties that have been charged and gave both Holman and Win ters a good name.
 Hosni;al Steward Lloyd was then called