The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1914-02-27
Examination of Patients.

| Examination or IatlentS.
1t appears from the evidence Of
! the physician of the colored female
ward that no specific examination is
made as to the character of insanity
and the stage it mas reached and the
physical condition of the patient on
her admission to the ward. The state
ment contained in the commitment
papers originating in the court of pro-
bate and the general conclusions OBJ
tanned from looking them over gen
orally determine the line of treat
ment adopted. This policy ignores
he fact that the design of the State
! is to restore all patients not incura-
Bile and helpless, and that the first
step in reaching sucha conclusion is
to determine by painstaking diagno-
sis (a) tne character Of insanity;
i lb) its stage of development; (c) vio-
lence of attack; I'D can cure be ef-
fected? (e) and the means.
Practical and efficient treatment
can only follow knowledge of al the
causes and facts and such knowledge
cannot be obtained through commit
ment papers and looking over the
patient" ."
Inspected by the Superintendent.
The vast volume of detail now de-
yolved on the superintendent in hay
ing oversight of all the business OF
this great a2d heterogeneous institu-
tin and also in promoting and super
vising the g: eat work vat the State
Park renders impossible in him to
give such close inspection to the su-
pervision of the different wards fill
ed as they are with patients, as is
Gc=.4 able ana necessary for the best
interests of the inmates and the dis
cipline Of the institution. He should
be relieved by business manager,
whose duties should be other than of
medical nature, appointed by the
superintendent, by and with the con-
sent of the board of regents, and sub
!; ject to suspension and removal as
herein recommended. The superin-
tendent would then have the time
: with a staff officer to make thorough
| inspection of each ward of the insti-
tuition at least once week, and daily
advise and consult with his staff and
subordinates, and these duties he
should be required to do in IFefer-
ence 10 all other duties and labors
that might be devolved upon him.
Subordinate Employees.
Tie members of the staff should
each have the authority and right to
select all subordinates in their re-
spective wards, subject to the appro-
val # the superintendent, and each
staff officer should also have the
privilege and power to suspend or dis
charge subordinates under them by
and with the approval and consent
of the superintendent.
RepOrts-Staff Officers.
We find as matter of fact that all
staff officers do not make reports in
writing to the superintendent or file
them as a record of their departments.
Every member of the medical staff
should make full and complete re-
port in writing to the superintendent
at least once a week, and file the du-
plicate of the same among the rec
ords of the general Office, and should
suggest by way of recommendation
such measures and treatment as would
be beneficial to patients in the treat
ment of their special maladies and for
the good of the institution. We find
as matter of fact some staff officers
make their reports and recommends
ton only once per annum and in such
general and synthetic terms as to
enable the superintendent to make his
annual report and recommendations
for the general assembly.
Pharmacist.
There is at present no licensed
pharmacist at the State Hospital for
,, the Insane to compound drugs and FL
the prescriptions of the superintend-
ent and staff officers.
There should be a most sklllfui
pharmacist at the State Hospital for
the Insane-one who is licensed by
the pharmaceutical board of this State
1Il(