New Britain herald., 1914-05-08
DR. MAHFR CALLS
 ATTACK MALIGNANT
Physician Scores SanatorIa Crit
 CiSm Of John r. CunShaRan.

New Haven, May 8.-Dr. Stephen J state tuberculosis sanatoria, the com. asked by reporter whether In view of the publicity given to John E. Gunshanan's recent attack on the stae tuberculosis sanatoria, the com- mission ought not to make some re- ply.
 "No," said the doctor. II think it would be better not to keep the mat ter stirred up because of the unrest such a discussion causes in the sana- toria and the terrible anxiety it gives to the friends of the patients.
 "Yes," said the reporter, "but the papers of the state are still talking about it, and asking that the truth about the sanatoria and about MT. Gunshanan be told.''
 The doctor read an editorial from the Hartford Times that was handed to him.
 Well, let's take this summary of MT. Gunshanan's charges" said the doctor finally.
 Feeding of Patients.
 First as to the improper feeding of patients. We buy the best food in the market. We employ the best cooks we can get. And we are constantly endeavoring to improve details of ser- vice. A comparison between the kitchen and dining room service of the state sanatoria today and that obtained during MT. Gunshanan's term of office, would in all four in- stitutions result in favor of present conditions. Nevertheless, sometimes patients will complain at state san atoria, as at all hospitals and hotels, of the temperature of the soup, or the infrequency with which some favorite article of diet appears on the bill of fare.
 'As to the charge that a patient must apply to one of the physicians of the sanatoria in order to have a special diet served to him-that is a very proper rule and needs no de- fense. In all the sanatoria special soft diets are given to the very sick who need them. During the last few months there has been some restric- tion in the indiscriminate use of eggs by all the patients, but that was done for medical reasons. Such a restric tion is in conformity with the prac- tice of the best public and private sanatoria of the country.
 Use of Liquors.
 As to the excessive use of liquor: MT. Gunshanan appears to think we ought to furnish whiskey to our pa tients as therapeutic measure, and that we are to be condemned for dis charging patients for drunkenness. In both points we disagree with MT. Gunshanan. In fact, we are constant ly limiting the use of whiskey and opiates. And the attractions of the rule against drunkenness are far fewer than during Mr. Gunshanan's service on the commission.
 ''As to the three remaining points. the garbage waste, the row between one of the superintendents and a pa- ticnt, and the serving of a roast beef dinner to dying patient. In all three lie referred to conditions or occur rences which he says he discovered l when he, himself, was commissioner There have been no such happenings l since he was retired from the board. 1 at least none that I know of, and I l think that have kept in pretty close l touch with the situation.
 Defects Less Than Before.
 "Mr. Gunshanan says that members l of the Rockville Employees associa- l ton that he organized last summer re- 1 fused to go to the Hartford sanator- ium because of the treatment ad- l ministered to patients there. We'll, if 1 MT. Gunshanan is their authority on l conditions at the Hartford sanator- l ium, their refusal is readily under | stood. There are some things at the l Hartford sanatorium that still need ] correction; but they are fewer and less fragrant than when MT. Gunshanan 1 was a commissioner We are con- stantly polishing up the conditions at the Hartford sanatorium, and we in tend to have 1t the best sanatorium in New England. But even now we will guarantee good treatment to all pa tients from Rockville or elsewhere.
 Evidences of Hostility.
 "At the last meeting of the commits sion that MT. Gunshanan attended in June, 1913, he made a little speech in which he disavowed any malice to- ward the new members of the com mission, and in which he volunteered to help in every possible way the commissions work. During the ten months that have elapsed since that meeting tho corn Y,oicc;o,, l,o. ob,o~,,os