The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-07-10

The classic question of Shakespeare. "oh.
who can minister to a mind diseased"
finds better or fuller answer no place
in the world, perhaps. certainly nowhere
else in this country. than at the Govern
ment Hospital for the Insane. the enor-
nous institution out beyond Anacostia
among the thickly wooded hills OF Con-
gress Heights.
Here there Is a steady population II
1000 and over, men and women suffering
from ali forms of mental disorder. from
the harmless and mueh-to-be-pitied epi-
leptic to the disordered minds afflicted
with homicidaI mania. who are dangerous
TO themselves and others. Between these
two extremes. there are more varieties
OF mental disease. more forms OF IN
sanity than an average man could mem
orize the technical names for in month.
Has Steadily Grown.
Created by act OF Congress in 1855 the
Government Hospital for the Insane has
been steadily growing In size and i'm
portanee until to-day the main buildings
stand IN park of ls7 acres. thiel6ly CIV
cred with handsome and up-to-date
buildings. and opposite Alexandria it
owns another 400 acres. used largely as
farm wherein most OF the produce used
by the hospital Is raised. Because the
hospital has been creature of growth
according TO necessity. it has not always
followed definite plan OF development.
but IN its entirety, IT represents prac-
tleally every type OF asylum construction
that has been in vogue for the past half
a century.
But its growth. year by year. especial
ly since its administration has been in
the hands of its present superintendent,
DR.. William A. White, has been along
the lines aof the most approved and mod
ern methods. The buildings are divided
into groups. each group having its hos
pital for the sick of that group and with
its own set OF trained nurses.
In the center of the grounds stands a
handsome administration building. and
on either side of this are two psychopa-
thic pavilions. where the patients are
placed when first received Here they.
are watched. their cases noted. and II
It Is necessary, they are assigned to
other departments where their specific
ailments may be more carefully and in
diligently treated
All Departments Crowded.
But vast as the institution already Is. It
is crowded in every department and
Howard Hall. the department for the
criminal insane, is crowded to its utmost
while the steward OF the institution in
his latest report. says: Attention is
called 10 the necessity Of providing ways
and means to enlarge the capacity in the
shape OF beds. in order 10 keep up with
the new patients being received. All
available space for beds has been used
and further additions will necessarily
have 10 be new buildings" Undoubtedly
this is true, but so skiIfully do the Off
Gals Of the institution make use Of such
space and material at their command,
that though one gets the feeling that the
place is thickly populated. there is no
evidence of overcroWding and certainly
none Of discomfort
For the population OF this unique and
sorrowful city Of the insane shows no
signs OF diminution. The average daily
population last year was 1910, and yes
terday the census board in the admins
tration building. which is kept up to date
every day showed the population to be:
Men. (white), LIZA; colored. 3S4; women
(white). 456; colored, 2e4. Total, 2903.
For the immigrants into the city OF
the insane come from many quarters,
Primarily the population is made up Of
all of Uncle Sans soldiers and sailors
that go insane while enlisted; the mem
bers Of the Revenue Cutter Service, the
Marine Corps, the inmates of the Ma
tionaI Homes for Disabled Volunteer Sol
diers. and all insane persons charged
with or convicted Of crimes against the
United states Outside Of these, the only
other inmates are the unfortunates who
go insane within the District Of Co
Eumbis
Kindness for Inmates.
To go through the Hospital for the
Insane is a task from which any man
who sympathizes with his kind might
shrink. Here, indeed. everything has
been done that kindness can prompt
science suggest, or skill provide TO lessen
the ills that nature has wrought. There
is 10 gloom, no prison air, or outward
signs OF restraint It is as II these build
ings were set In the midst OF a fair
country, where indeed
Every prospect pleases and only man Is vile.
But in spite of II all, there is some
thing terrifying and narrowing to the
soul in the vacant glances of the pa
tients-so often apparently unconscious
Of the gulf that divides their lives from
those OF their fellow-men; the sense of
life without vitality, of existence without
purpose.
Enter one Of the psychopathie wards
under the direction OF an attendant One
Of the first things you may note win be
the table, piled high with the mems caps
The men themselves are iounging about
inside. But how significant the caps arel
Here Is an army SLOUGH hat, marked
with a big "P'' and with the word
"CaYite'' written on the brim. It speaks
more eloquently than It's wearer can now
OF service in the Philippines under a
broiling sun. Hard by there IS a red
banded service cap Of an American ma
rine. Piled about are the caps OF In,
fentrymen; the khaki cap o. some SOL
der, dusty with field service, and un-
dsrneath two or three caps OF seamen,
Uncle Sans Jack tars. whose voyaging
has brought them to this port at the
last
In this ward It Is shaving day, and
the patients are gathered In the center
OF the room. while one man. patient.
but traetaele. fathers ouch as sit IN the
chair, while the attendant. handling his
razor a-thought. carefully performs his
once on their boards. There seems
something sinister Ia the iuxtaposition of