The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-03-17
ASYLUM HOSPITAL
CAUSE OF DISTRESS
George S. Wilson Declares 1t Is
Absurd to Argue Need OF
New Building.

".Every competent observer has pro-
nounced the WASHINGTON Asylum HOS
pital to he n shame and disgrace to our
community. and the shame Is ernpho-
sized by the fact that for fifteen years
tho National Capital has been going
from bed to worse In the housing ana
care OF it's INDECENT sick"
These arc the sentiments of George ).
Wilson, secretary of the BOARD OF CHAR
tiles for many years. and who has W.T.
nessed the constant disintegration and
delapidation OF the WASHINGTON Asylum
Hospital.
Secretary Wilson has made thousands
Of visits to tho institution and made
countless inspections. each disclosing
worse conditions than the preceding
one.
For moro than a decade Mr.. Wilson.
In his annual reports to the Commits
sioncrs, has urged improvements ct tho
institution and the construction of a
new building al the earliest possible
time
A Valued Public Service.
"1'he Tines has rendered valued
public service by calling attention 10
the denlorahle and lamentntlc condi-
tions at the institution" said Secretary
Wilson,: 'Ir The Times can succeed in
arOusing public sentiment and Impress
ing Congress to the extent of securing
an appropriation for the construction of
now municipal hospital. Il will have
accomplished ono az the hest things
ever done for WASHINGTON. ,......
when tho Board OF Charities was or
Eanised fifteen years ago. II found tho
Washington Asylum Hospital housed in
buildings that were even then old and
dilapidated, and tho board has continu-
ously from that time urged the ncces-
sity of a new hospital. q"
%Of course conditions have become
very. much worse IN the fifteen years
that have elapsed since that time. Not
only have tho buildings necessarily de-
preclated. but the demands upon the
hospital have more than doubled.
when the Board of Charities began
work fifteen years ago the number of
patients at the hospital was less than
100, and now. during the winter months.
the number OF patients Is i'm excess of
f0O, and has reached as high as go. and
these patients will not be received else
where. They are all patients that for
ono reason or another are not admitted
TO private hospitals.
Distressing to Many.
while many OF them are suffering
from chronic, incurable diseases, and
some have been hayward and dissolute
happier days and many have known the
rcfinements of good home life.
1T is peculiarly distressing to such
people to be forged to accept care in an
institution so miserable and Anticipated
IN it's equipment and so intimately asso.
ciated with the jail in its environment.
1T Is peculiarly distressing to the
families and friends OF patients suffer
ing from nervous breakdown with symp
toms of mental breakdown; and yet thi;
Is the only hospital In Washington
that receives and treats mental sus
poets. unless in such instances as per
sons are able to pay the necessaril.
large fee required for the treatmen
and supervision of such patients in pri
vate hospitals and sanatoriums.
Last year the hospital treated more
than 800 of these mental cases. Man,
of these were persons Of natural refine
ment, and the unfavorable environment
of the old hospital is not only the occa
sion for distress OF mind on the par
OF friends and relatives. but Is a dis
tdnct handicap in the matter OF treat
Ihent.
Absurd to Argue Need.
wholesome, cheerful environment 1
q most important element In the treat
nnent of mentally disturbed patients
and the physical limitations of tn
Washington Asylum Hospital are sue
as to absolutely preclude that kind o
environment.
Yet this Is the onl yhospital in Wash
ington In which INDECENT patients of thi
class can be received. unless they al
formally committed as insane person
to the Government Hospital for the In
sane and are thus marked with tn
legal stamp of insanity.
Il might 20 on indefinitely stating tn
many serious disadvantages and hard
shirH of the present situation: but
To h.
new hospital. 1t is more than seIf-ey,
dent to anyone who has seen the pres
ent conditions.
Let us all hope to work to the en-
that Congress this winter may max
this appropriation. which will mark tn
beginning of the end of what has bee
announced by every competent observe
as shame and disgrace to our com
munity:"