Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-17
CARE OF |NEBR|ATES
Revival of Interest in Project
for an Asylum.
TOO MANY FOR HOSPITALS
Chief of Police Urges Importance Of
Early Action.
CONGRESS MAY GIVE FUNDS
Suggestion of Diversion of Certain
Fines for Maintenance of
the Institution.
TOO MANY FOR HOSPITALS
CONGRESS MAY GIVE FUND!

| The death in police cell q week ago
! of man who had been arrested for
| intoXication has revived interest in the
| question of providing an asylum for sEch
persons. Maj sylvester says he is fully
iii accord with the suggestions made in
the editorial columns Of The Star con-
| corning the treatment Of cases OF that
character. He realizes that police cells
| are not the proper places for persons
Frustrated by intoxicants, but in the abb
| sence Of more suitable place the police
| can do nothing else with them.
| 1T is impossible to have the hospitals
take care of all the persons arrested for
that cause Maj. Sylvester told a Star
reporter, although many of them are
! taken to the hospitals and given treat
ment before being locked UP. Satur-
day nights there are usually drunken
men enough to more than fill the two
! emergency hospitals, so that those inSti-
| tutions can hardly be expected to keep
| them. 1t frequently happens that the
| number OF intoxicated persons is SO great
| that two or three have to be put in one
CELL"
| Maj. Sylvester says that ever since he
| has been chief of police. and even while
| he was chief clerk Of the department, he
| has done all in his power to interest the
l
establishing an inebriate asylum. Such
place, he says. is imperatively needed
| and he hopes his suggestions will soon
| bear fruit.
| Manual Governs
| There is rule in the police manual
| governing the action of police in cases Of
| sick and intoxicated persons and Maj.
| Sylvester has several times called atten-
| ton to If Tn one MASSAGE IN tho Officers
in charge of the several stations, Maj
Sylvester said:
ut ought to go without saying that
a case of total collapse from drunkenness
needs attention more than a case OF
ordinary drunkenness. and that in eX.
IRENE cases of this character they par.
take of dangerous illness, and should bt
cared for in conformity with the above
Instructions.
Cells in which persons are confined
should be visited by some one of those
in charge of a station house at least
every half an hour. or at shorter inter
walls. as the situation may demand. &c
ascertain the condition Of those who
| may be incarcerated therein.
| "Whenever case of apopleXy Is
! brought to station or case in which
| there is a doubt to whether it is apo
p!exy or drunkenness. as we'll as other
emergency cases, surgeon should be
| sent for without delay, or such subjects
| taken directly to the nearest hospital
Net Qualified to Give Treatment.
4 number of years ago Maj. Sylvester
in one of his annual reports, had this te
say:
Notwithstanding every attention The
police may give in response to then
opinions of these cases, those charged
with making arrests are not expected II
he qualified a nhvSicianS MANY ~ f1aYy
have had hospital training, but that doe.
not qualify them to administer medica
advice or treatment. If any individual
who is taken up intoxicated is to b,
considered as sick person, there ar
thousands of them who should be observ
ed in the course of a years police work
and u physician should be located at cact
police station hospital be HI . t.
which they could be taken directly
Drunkenness in the District Is not erin,
or misdemeanor unless accompanied b.
disorderly conduct, but tine subject is re
moved from the street rather OBJ
struction and in order that the individual
may be saved from injury and rObber.
df not death). and release follows the re
cOvery from such condition.
In Other Jurisdictions.
"In most Jurisdictions drunkenness il
covered by the law and penalty may
be imposed. Some years ago it was pro
pOSeu ~ Illdhe IL d HllSuoIlodnOr, 10 o.
followed by fine. but the proposition die
not prevail. In the absence of any othe
place than the police station it Is neces
sary that these unfortunates be takel
there for protection. The number of suci
cases last year was 1857. Besides thes
many unable to care for themselves wer,
| taken to their homes, but this procedur,
in the vast number of cases would be fa
more distressing to many families ant
relatives. especially where danger Nigh
result from self-injury, than would follow
care at the police station.
Experience long since prompted tn,
recommendation for the establishment O.
an inebrate asylum in the District. No
a day passes but what appeals are made
for the care and treatment of subject:
who cannot be properly cared for at
hospital or insane asylum. Some of theS,
are prepared to meet the expense of treat
ment, others are not; but under any cir
| cumstances the burdens of many a house
| hold would be lightened and many a phy
steal wreck prevented had we the mean,
at hand for dadcal care and treatment
The late Sanitary Officer Frank of til,
police department, who came In contac
with thousands of victims of the alcoho
ha bit during the time he held the position
made many recommendations to NAL Syl
vester bearing upon the care of intoxi
Gated persons. 1t was his opinion tina
with prompt and proper care the lives O
many victims of strong drink could anc
falIe(
to attract the attention of the superin
tendent of police, and the latter uset
them as an argument for the establish
ment of hospital in which these victim.
could get proper care.
Congress May Provide.
\ member of one of the 10, al civic or
CARNATIONS told Star reporter last even
ing he thought Congress might be pre-
vailed upon this winter to make an ap
preparation for the maintenance of such ;
place as the chief of police had recon
mended. He said he thought those VIII,
were confirmed in the use of liquor nigh
be able to support such an institution
when man appears on the streets
under the influence Of liquor. he suggest
ed the law should take hold of him an,
he should be fined, the amount of fine Il
be measured according to the standing O
the person arrested. Money collected il
this way should be applied 10 the worl
of caring for intoxicated persons and vic