The Washington times., 1919-01-29

White explained, however. that with
out any doubt or question the cfh-
cheney of his institution, like that Of
every large plant in the country, has
suffered during the period of the war.
"Same Old Lies"
at is the same old story-the same
old lies" said DR.. White. I'VE are
harrassed in our work every day OF
the week with this sort of thing. We
have tried to do our best under most
trying conditions during the last year
and all we hear is how rotten We are.
NO patient in this institution is
ever beaten or chastised in any way.
shape, or manner. Employees are au-
thorized to use force only in those
rare cases when a patient becomes so
obstreperous that the orderly must
act in self-defense. And there hasn't
been sufficient shortage of help yet
and I hope there never will be-so
that I have ever relaxed that rule in
the slightest. No patient has ever
been confined in an underground cell
in this institution or any other Gov
ernment hospital that l ever heard
Of In fact, it is news to me that
there are any underground cells.
Perhaps Longworth will come out
here and show me where they are
located.
''Longworth's history shows he has
been doing this sort of thing every
where. He tried to run the army be-
fore he was sent here, and he seems
disturbed because he wasn't allowed
to run this place"
Asked why, if Longworth is so OBJ
viOusly mentally deranged, he was
II. Il - V--1 n lW-
1--WE discharge many patients who
are still mentally i'll. When great
pressure is brought to bear by friends
and relatives and when persons of
good standing vouch for the patient,
he may be released in their care.
This was true of LOngworth."
Suffered PrIvatIOn.
"In regard the matter of food and
lack of exercise, there is some truth
in LongwOrth's complaints, but not
in the way or for the reason he gives.
Everyone everywhere suffered hard
ship and pTivation because of the war
and the patients pt st. Elizambeth's
were no exceptions. The efficiency
of this institution, like that of every
institution and big business concern
in the country, was all shot to pieces
by the war.
The trouble comes in the fact that
we are a civilian and not a military
institution as is generally understood.
That's why the uniformed seemed TO
expect military efficiency OF rs in
war times when the fact is we are
and were as helpless as any other
civilian concern. We could ON
mandeer neither supplies nor en-
ployes.
"In regard to the lack OF treatment
alleged, everyone knows you can't
cure mental ailments with pills. Our
occupatiOnal therapy as expressed in
the industrial shops suffered along
with everything else.
Table Suffered.
"On the matter of food. our table
suffered just as yours or anyone else.
Our system of buying has been by
bids. Because Of the uncertain con
dition of the market in fOOdstuffs, the
usual bidders were afraid TO take
chances, and we received no offers.
That threw us out in the open mar
ket We often could not buy what
we wanted. sometimes because the
food was not to be had and sometimes
because the price was higher than
we could afford TO pay. We We're re-
stricted in sugar and wheat just as
the general public was.
LAS to the patients having to give
up their uniforms, that is a regula-
tion Of the War Department and
nothing to do with me. As to their
having to wear clothing previously
worn by patients suffering from in
fectious disease, / am convinced the
charge is unfOunded. We have had
no infectious disease but the flu and
if any clothes were worn again, I'm
sure they were properly sterilized
AS to soldier patients being con-
fined with civilian patients, that is un-
doubtedIy true, but why should any
distinction be made? AS you know, we
care for the civilian insane OF the dis
trict, but ] cannot see why one per-
son mentally i'll should object to be-
ing housed with others mentally i'll
whether they are citizens or soldiers.
This much is true-there isn't any in.
stitution in the world that is or can
be equipped 10 adequately care for the
insane-there isn't money enough 10
do il. Each case should be individual
lied and it can't be under existing con-