The Washington times., 1916-03-15
PSYCHOPATH WARD
BURNING NECESSITY.
DECLARES zINKHAN
Head Of Washington Asylum
Describes DepIorable condl-
/. tons at the Institution. va.

4,
District OF Columbia today 10 big,
brikht. roomy, modern municipal hos
pital with an adequate and properly
equipped psychopathic ward; said
superintendent L. r. zinkhsn. Of the
Washington Asylum, today.
''This has been q burnins necessity
here for years" he continued, "and
sincerely trust that the publicity The
Times has given the woofui ard depior.
able conditions al tho institution win
bear fruit In. an early appropriation
for the constfuctien OF the proposed
Gaiiinger Hospital The Times has per-
formed great public service by expos.
ing conditions at the inhtituuon, and
the role OF washington owe u n big
debt Of gratitu1es"
Disgrace to The City.
Superintendent Zinkhan took charge
of the WasbingtoY, Asylum twelve years
arc. lie has inaukurated many reforms
and worked innuIherable improvements.
but all this has counted for little be-
cause Of the physical conditions st the
hospital,
"The very name OF the place and It's
location defeat the purposes for which
the institution was CREATED" said the
superintendent The institution ,is .
DISGRACE to = City Of the Hise and IN
ing OF this being the Capital OF the
United states! where standards for the
nation should be set. ~. .tt
.f'It is absurd TO- tank o. ever making
the present institution In amp, way sde-
pital. Putting rnpney OF repairs or I'M
provements would be like throwing %
much money into rat hole The need
and the need now Ia for q municipal
hospital dishssociated from the jail or
ton, both In utilization and location.
The need To- for ADEQUATE roouls, sun
porches. well-kept grounds for eonTa-
resent patients 10 walk around 90.
modern and up-to-date facilities inolvd-
ing plumbing, and the best possible
sanitary conditions f.
Things Most Needed.
III ] were 10 place one need of the
institution above another. should say
tbst q big. properly equipped psycho-
pathic ward n most necessary, In our
present pSychopatfie ward we handle
between 100 and 600 mental suspects.
alcoholics. and dope ffends every year.
I'VE haven't either the room or equip
ment to handle that many The pres
ence Of theae disturbed and pften vio-
lent patients In the hospital with old
and young men and women who are
seriously sick cannot. but have q dele,
ttsri9Ts sfsct on the ,, Litter a. there here
SONS sent 70 The psyeopathis ward.
Tho doctors and nurses Mt the tnsti-
tutton give every .p9sstble care, sttsnr
tion. and service 20 the people who ceIns
"a pure, wholesorsc, and the best that
chn be provided. We are hsmpcred,
however. by inadequate room, uretcAed
plumbing facilities. deplorabie sanitary
conditions and undesirable enyiron-
THE name ana ioeation of the insti-
tuition keep sick people who can be
proud as well as Ill away from IT,
The work Of the doctors and nuTsas
ssS tSe D Sseept !, tSs os "so
hoiies. dope nends, and insane patients
who arouse the sleeping sick men and
women q srl hour; o. the day and
night.
. 100000 Asked.
The recovery of patients In the In
stitution Is retarded by the lack Of sun
porohsa, fresh air. and proper accom-
modations called for by THAR condi-
lions.
I'VE have accommodation for ITS
persons in the institution. There have
been very few days during my twelve
compelled TO receive ana accommodate
considerable more than this number
The average Ii close to 900 each day.
During one period last year we had to
hhddle 1B siok and disturbed patients
IN the hospital. Because Of this crowd
gate the cases. either as to races or
disease. the way they should be setbr-
1.-THE District owns the site for a nsu
municipal hospital. An appropriation
has been made for the plans and speci-
mead and they have been en- drawn We
construction OF the institution and the
in q year.
Haste Is Urged.
"All possible expedition should be used
In providing this institution at the
earliest date. Last year request for an
appropriation Of 100000 was made t.
Congress. This was cut to $500, 900 LateI
the 100000 was reatored and this wa
enursiy stricken from the DiStTict an
IF ths Institution Ia built according X
the plans already drawn, Il would have
900 Foon1s and accommodate that man
patients. We could give better care an1
attention to the patients, and the worI
OF the doctors and nurses would mo-
he pullined a. at present.
out Of the D. 1903 patients treated a
1pi4 the deaths aggregated sol. fVdc no
say these deaths. any OF them. wer,
due to. conditions at the Institution, BIZ
u II manifest that the patients woul,
have had better chances for recover,
ana their lives II conditions had beef