Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-08-24
RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHOLESALE DEATHS CHARGED
TO AUTHORITIES OF. STATE INSANE ASYLUM in REPORT
Inmates Are Treated More Like
Prisoners Than Invalids, Says
Report, and System of Confine-
ment Strongly Savors of Past
of Chains and Shackles, Where
Opportunities of Abuse Are
Abundant.

Here is the report of a commission
appointed under Governor Smiths admin
istration TO investigate sensational
charges brought against the Georgia san
itarium for the insane.
II declares in substance that inmates o.
the institution are dying OF tuberculosis
and that these deaths should be charged
10 the authorities OF this institution. ''fo-
with proper care they could prevent
them"
II asserts that the attendants in charge
OF the helpless inmates are unfamiliar
with the rules they should follow. that
course OF the inquiry. that some OF then
were drinking and one Of them actually
they proved TO be untruthful during the
drunk on the witness stand
IL states that the supervisor Of all these
attendants. the man whose responsibility
for the welfare OF the inmates is great
est, Is 80 years old and utterly incapable
OF performing his duties.
These are but glimpses into a report
that is perhaps the most interesting from
a civic. scientific and human standpoint
ever officially rendered in the states his
tory. Its spirit is that OF a passionless
diagnosis. Certain conditions were OBJ
served and recorded Yet In their mere
recital, these observations shape them
selves into a drama more darby absorb
ing than any the stage could arect-
few months ago the sanitarium was
lifted from its usual obscurity. One of its
former dsnizens who had been restored
70 the common sunlight told a story Of
grave wrongs practiced there by the men
charged with caring for the helpless ones.
Other stories followed, alleging that the
food was inadequate. that patients were
some times tantaIiEed and unmercifully
beaten by their guardians: that a watch
man had aided several women inmates in
escaping and had then held them in a
basement, using them for immortal pur-
poses These charges were brought To
the attention Of former Gov. Hoke Smith
during the closing weeks OF his ONCE. He
appointed three commissioners to investi-
gate them and 70 render a report. These
commissioners were DR.. Willis f. West
moreland, OF Atlanta; Seaton GFantland.
OF Grimm. and Judge W. +. Jenkins, OF
Eatonton- They spent two days In At
lanta taking testimony on the charges and
then for four days made an examination
81 the sanitarium itself.
Two OF the commissioners. DR.. West
moreland and Mr. Grantland, are a unit
In their conclusions. Judge Jenkins de-
clares. however,
Il concur in much Of what Is contained
In the foregoing report do not concur
fully"
The findings Of the commission cover
some eight OF ten specific phases of life
atrths sanitarium- OF these, tuberculosis
Is particularly dwelt upon.
DEATHS CHARGED TO OFFICIALS.
tuberculosis is the greatest danger TO
the health Of this institution In looking
over the reports we find that this condi-
ton was recognized by the authorities
and that I'm Is0s they requested an appro-
priation OF $4,000. We also find that they
had on hand a balance OF ss.9l7.55 with
which to guard against any emergency
which may ariseD in the words OF the re-
port II appears to IS that no greater
emergency can OF will ever arise that the
care for these people. There were I2s
deaths from tuberculosis thar year. These
are deaths from an infectious. prevent
able disease. These deaths should be
charged to the authorities of this institu-
ten. for with proper care they could pre-
vent them"
The report declares elsewhere on the
same subject:
Without radical change. the SANTA
rum win become a death trap"
With reference to the building OF the n,
stitution. the report credits the place with
Their on.
The male convalescent building is a
verftable fire trap
IRRESPONSIBLE SUPERVISOR
Immediate steps should be taken To
provide adequate exits. One OF the gra-
vest defects in these buildings Is the i'm
proper facilities for ventilation. The ma
IOFity OF the yards are entirely too small
tor the patients Most OF them are shade
less, they are surrounded by high brick
walls which cut of the air, making them
very hot in summer and the clay soil
makes them muddy and unfit for use in
bad weather"
After pointing simple means by which
these things might be remedied. the re-
port declares:
These people are not Jail birds but in
vaIids and the penitentiary methods Of re-
Etraint in vogue belong 20 a past Of chains
and shackles.'
II is further reported that the present
medical staff Is so far inadequate that
each physician now has an average OF
SI2 patients to IL after. The general
supervisor OF all the attendants II is de-
,lared, Is a man - years old. long super
animated and confined to his mouse.
we cannot too strongly condemn the
filing Of such an important post by q
man OF that kind and the authorities are
derelict in their duty IN doing So
ATTENDANTS WERE DRUNK.
The report further sets forth that the
men employed as attendants. of whom
there are about loo. are absolutely up-
familiar with the rules. On the witness
stand. II Is said. they were untruthful. and
10 quote exactly:
'In the whole first days examination
there was not a man but that swore thai
he had never seen a patient mistreated
- Or any rules violated. this even when they
we're present in the wards where Offenses
acre committed as afterwards proved
Some Of these men. though on duty were
drinking One OF them VS. intoxicated
during the investigation by our commits
sion"
WORKMEN GO FISHING;
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