The Washington times., 1907-02-18

the physicians and attendants. - wei
a. "a want OF sympathy with these un-
fortunate people
Question Of Food.
The majority-s commentator of The
food given the patients is as follows.
The testimony that has been offe--5
IN regard 10 these food supplies shows
tAdl the food purchased is OF a good
qlalty and is obtained with pr0Der
GoIIs7!dertuon FOR the health OF the in
hdDllants of the hospital combined
with the economical administrator -
ne Institution. although some tesrfrnonv
Mas introduced tending 10 show that az
- e-llles me average IN quality had not
Dcen what II should have beeu
In the course Of its au1inarior, the
committee visited the kitchens of the
institution. and believes that the food
- OF sufficient quantity. and not
MllhstandinE the complaints that have
been made as 10 improper preDarafior
~ prepared
The committee believes that by the
pacing Of steam tables in all Of the din
ing rooms, and building OF al le;{sr ono
I not two additional kitchens. the ia
CluueS would be such that the prepara-
ton OF the food and its prompt service
might be improved. and would recon-
mend that when specific improvererfs
or this character are asked for by the
superintendent or the hospital sucb
recommendation be adopted and proper
provision made"
Evidence Is Conflicting.
On this the minority saw
As 10 the food which is supplied TO
me inmates Of the hospital. there is a
conflict of evidence; but IL seems to the
undersigned that the great preponder-
ance Of the testimony is tklt the FOOD
is generally badly prepared. badly
served. and oftenumes is not of such
character as TO be fit for consump-
ton Especially when the character of
these people is taken into considera-
ton.
II appears that the food served. from
the general kitchen is cold and 1lnpaI
atable. that il is sometimes irsrfficienr
and sometimes not nit 10 ear Forty.
one witnesses testify 10 oue or Tho
oller OF these conditions. and these
WITNESSES are fO- the most part em-
rlOyes Of the hospital.
~ appears from the evidence that the
meat is frequently bad, and this Is not
surprising when il is shown that fbe
meat Is inspected by persons who are
entirely inexperienced.
~ There is no excuse for any or all of
tneSe conoitions. The Government 81
me Onlted states makes a generous an
preparation for the care CT these 1Tnfor-
Inmates. and II properly managed ana
Judlclously expended, these appropria
IONS are ample 20 provide good. nal
at2ble food. well cooked and comfort
ably served"
Dr.. White Commended.
Concerning the claim that TOO few At
tend2nts are employed to look after the
Patients. the majority says the attend
ants are numerous enough, while the
minority blames cruelty and neglect of
patients TO the fact that too few at
tendants are employed"
TO Dr. White the majority nav the
Following tribute of commentator:
From a personal examination of the
noSpltdI ana a Careful Investigation Of
It's management under DR.. VVfIIia11
MhWe; superintendent: from )7
w hlte own testimony and that of nc
!neClcdl san. from the testimony of
the ATTENDANTS formerly in the qr,5nIov
OF the institution and now empTove6
from the testimony of the superintend,
ents or other similar Institutions and
OF olher persons having knowledge of
the needs or hospitals for the insane n
Is the opinion OF the committees thai
)r. William ~ White is fully quaIified
Tor the position of superintendent. is
an able ana distinguished alienist. and
an eulclenT honest, and progressive
OF all of the several branches
OF the hospital. and a careful and nm
name carstaker of the patients i'm his
business
affairs of the Institution and looks sfter
the medical and physical affairs of its
inmates Wen and faithfully. and flIs an
the requirements or the statutes.
Lunacy Commission Discussed.
In discussing the proposition of 2
lunacy commission for the District. the
say:
The Government Hospital for the
insane Is subject to no inspection. eX-
cep1 by the superintendent and its board
of visitors. Manifestly il should be
inspected by some such agency as would
correspond TO the lunacy commission Of
the States. Every witness who testified
on this subject. with very few excep-
tons WAS OF the opinion that some sys-
tem should be inaugurated
1t Is true that DR. White. the SUPER
lntendent, opposed such a method of
Inspection, but, On the contrary. the