Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1909-04-22
Montevue Again Attacked by DR.. A. p.
Herring. Institution Defended by
Officials and Press.

Herring. Institution Defended by
Officials and Press.
Officials of Montevue Hospital are in
dignant over the reports in Baltimore
newspapers of reflections upon that in
stitution made by DR.. A. p. Herring,
secretary of the State Lunacy Commits
sion, in his annual report to Governor
Crothers. One of the newspaper articles
says: DR.. Herring made several trips
to Montevue Asylum, Frederick county.
His reports show that this institution was
the worst of all visited. From the pic
lures taken by DR.. Herring men are
shown with their arms shackled, and one
old negro is seen chained and lying on
the floor in an unclean cell. Patients
men and women-are shown lying hud-
died up in blankets on the floor in the
halls of the building"
In another newspaper, among lot of
pictures furnished by DR.. Herring, one
of corridor in the colored insane depart
ment at Montevue is shown alongside
picture of ward at the Springfield State
Hospital, where no colored patients are
taken, and underneath the two pictures
is line, "Sleeping Quarters Contrasted''
though there is nothing in the reading
matter printed in connection with the
Montevue picture to enlighten the reader
as to the fact that it represents part
of the negro quarters, and not section
of the main hospital, where the white
patients are kept.
Superintendent Gregg, of Montevue
Hospital, says: "Why didn't DR.. Her
ring show a picture of one of our wards
for white patients? If he had done so,
it would have shown conditions, at least
AS regards cleanliness, as good as those
at Springfield can be. In the coored de-
partment, the patients have been some
patients from many other counties. Some
Of these patients are violently insane.
We have some inmates who must be
classe as crimiraily insane. Many of
these people can't be trusted with regu-
tar BIDS, which they would tear apart,
.ni they are very diaorderly in Their use
Il bed clothing, but they are provided
With plenty of the latter, and their quar-
-ers are kept as clean as possible. AS
soon as the addition now being erected
is completed, the cIowding will be reilev-
h..,y =. hay.
patients with contagious diseases will be
kept.
"Dr Herring has treated us unfairly.
He came to the hospital on one occasion
at 10 O'Clock at night, and yet | took him
through the hospital, and he took some
hashlight pictures. One of these is the
picture he shows alongside the Spring
field picture, but he says nothing about
the conditions under which it was taken.
Altogether, have spent a couple of days
showing DR.. Herring about the hospital,
and some improvements which he sug-
gested have been made, but he does not
treat US fairly in his account of cond
tons in the institution
The fact is, said Mr.. Lilly, treas
urer of the institution, that Dr. Her
ring is all wrapped up in this movement
to have the State take over the care of
all the insane, and to help the movement
along he is painting the county institu-
tions black and is showing the State in
situations in the best colors. 1t might
be good thing to have the State take
care of the insane, but it is not fair, in
the effort to bring that about, to mlsrep-
resent the county Institutions.
After reviewing what was published
in the Baltimore Sunday papers, the
Frederick NeUs in an editorial says:
"The condition of patients at Monte
vue, though perhaps not to be compared
with the condition of inmates of newer
institutions built and maintained upon the
most modern principles and with little
or no regard to expense institutions such
as the State is asked to provide for the
accommodation of all of its insane, and
the provision of which is now under con-
sideration has been by no means shock
ing. Dr. Herring, in his eageaness to
make points in support of the cause
which he is jealousy advocating, has
been slandering Frederick county"