Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-24

reports as acute and chronic, as alcoholics
and drug habituates, as other chronic
sick male as well as female.
THE care in the asylum hospital OF
81 maternity cases in 1911 and 56 cases
i'm 1912 excited surprise in the minds OF
your committee Such cases should have
been sent to the Columbia or other hos
pital with which the District authorities
have contract relations.
The care in this asylum hospital OF
the so-called mental cases is VIGOROUSLY
unsatisfactory to patients, as we'll as
to the authorities Your committee secs
no reason why the old system of tempo
rary commitment to the observation ward
of the Government Hospital for the In
sane. still authorized by law, is not
greatly superior to the present practice.
where appropriate segregation or white
from black and of mild from excltable
cases can be had, and all this at an
enormous saving of expense to the Dis
trict. Under this system. and In &C
cordance with existing law, patient
SO committed can be discharged at any
time within the temporary commitment
of thirty days If he be found of sound
mind by the superintendent of the gov
eminent hospital.
This proposed return to the old and
better system of temporary commitment
would have lesSened the number or pa
tients treated in the Washington Asylum
Hospital by 425 in 1911 and $50 in 1912.
Could Go Elsewhere.
"Of the remaining cases treated in 1911
and 1912, a large proportion might have
been sent to other hospitals of the city
which receive large appropriations from
the government, and are far better pre-
pared to render timely and skillful care.
THE Freedmen's Hospital has recently
increased its capacity and this can now
be awaited of. A slight outlay for ward
for chronics will enable 1t to take care OF
all the chronic colored sick.
AT Blue Plains there are at this writ
ing accommoda tons for thirty additional
cases. That place has resident physi-
equipment.
s.All maternity cases can be cared for at
Columbia Hospital, or at either Garfield.
Georgetown University or George wash ,sn-
expense and with vastly better accOmmo-
dations and treatment
.sThe Hospital for Incurables has ap-
pealed to Congress for a small appropria-
ton to enable it, with funds already in
hand, to build another wing for incura-
bles. If such aid be given the grant could
be made under conditions OF care for
large proportion of undesirable chronics,
resulting I'm humanitarian care OF them,
and greatly lessening the burdens on in
cases.
Financial Point of View.
From the financial point of view this
is worthy of immediate consideration.
From a humanitarian standpoint not
day should be lost in the distribution of
these cases. as suggested. and in the
closing of the Washington Asylum Hos
pital.
'Your committee cannot express too
strongly it's opinion that from the asylum
hospital. without delay, all the above de-
scribed cases should be transferred as
suggested For this. it seems to US. there
is needed no additional legislation. only
a determination on the part of the Dis
trict authorities to secure to the very poor
and needy better treatment than is now
within reach, and this at less cost than at
present.
Your committee found all the build
ings but two of those named unfit for
present use. and practically beyond re-
pair or reconstruction. We found the
common drinking cup used alike by
tubercular and other, acute and chronic
sicks We found that for a period Of
one month no registered pharmacist
was on duty. We found alcoholic and
mental cases of both colors black and
portunity for segregation OF quiet pa
tients from noisy. A like mixture was
found among the female alcoholics. 1t
seems to be almost impossible to keep
the nursing staff up to the required
number, due no doubt to unsatisfac-
tory surroundings and the amount OF
work placed upon them. In hot weather
the mental and alcoholic cases are
closely confined in insanitary, coOped-
UP quarters. a disgrace to civilization.
Relocation Of Jail.
"As to the Jail, this serves at this time
no purpose but that of place of deten-
ton for prisoners waiting to be sent to
prison and those under indictment. For
many years the relocation of this insti-
tuition close to the courthouse has been
advocated-this. as in other cities, for
reasons Of economy and the speedy and
convenient access to those therein con-
fined. A capacity of 40 would cover all
needs, and in this building also could be
placed the headquarters of the District
police department.
THE removal at an early date of all
the patients in the Asylum Hospital.
their admission to. and appropriate care
in other hospitals now maintaining a high
standard OF service. and the construction
of the proposed House of Detention for
the care of prisoners close to the court
house will remove from the eastern sec
ton of this city all the objectionable
structures which have long been its bane.
which have worked needlessly to its hurt
Thus cleared of, reservation No. 13 can
be given to the Eastern High School and
TO the stadium and a college for agricul-
ture for the boys OF the District of Co.
lumbia-"