The Washington times., 1920-09-21
MANY OF THEM HARMLESS.

DR.. White told the Secretary that
many of those who escape are only
feeble, harmless. demented persons
who have simply strayed from the
grounds of the hospital and cannot
find their way back"
The Department of the Interior, In
an official statement today, discusses
DIR. Whites letter to the Secretary.
The statement follows:
Criticisms which recently have
been directed against officials of ST.
Elizabeths Hospital are dealt with in
statement received by Secretary
Payne, of the Interior Department,
from DR.. william A. White. superin-
tendent of the institution.
DIR. White first calls attention to
the fact that in establishing the hos
pital it was the intention OF Congress
to provide a ninstitution to give the
most humane care and curative treat
ment of the insane, and that the
prime object OF their treatment is to
effect o cure of the patients and re-
turn them to the community as use
full citizens, and falling to do that
to make the mas comfortable and
happy as the circumstances permit.
He maintains that patients under the
rigid restraint of close confinement
lent: curative measures are necessar-
lily largely impossible or in allegiance,
and the caretakers become guards
rather than nurses trained to. help
the patients back to sanity,
PAROLE METHODS.
DR.. White points out that the
parole of patients. is a distinct method
Of treatment which gives the patient
an opportunity to test, under he pro-
lection of the hospital, his ability to
again take up his position In the out
side world; but that care and discrim-
nation are exercised in order that
the welfare of both the community
and the patient may be fairly guarded
by granting parole only after con-
sultation of the medical stan at
which the patient is present for aues-
tioning and such further examina-
ton as may be necessary in order to
reach an opinion.
MANY MERELY sTRAYs.
"The so-called insane person, DR..
White states in his report, is by no
means necessarily dangerou; the large
proportion of them are only rendered
III and inefficient by their affliction,
most of those designated as escaped
patients being much moro apt to
come to grief because of their inabil-
ity to care for themselves than they
are to do DANCE to others. Many OF
these, he says, are only feeble, harm-
less, demented persons who have
simply strayed from the grounds OF
the hospital and cannot find their
way back; that 1t has been the policy
of the hospital to promptly notify the
police when n patient was missing,
not implying by such notification that
n dangerous lunatic WAS at large. but
in the exercise OF abundant caution
and to enlist the aid OF the police
in locating tho patient
ain looking over the list OF escaped
patients published in the press" Su.
perintendent White says, There Is
not a single one there from whom !
would expect any serious harm to re-
suit from his being temporarily out
on liberty, and In the rcgrettable in
stance OF the patient Hopkins II
should be noted that he at no time
was off OF the hospital reservation"
AGENCIES or AID.
Among the agencies employed by |
the hospital to aid the recovery OF
patients from their rffliction, to which |
White calls attention |
are classes for educational instruc- !
tion. n special educational department
including weaving, basket making
and toy making, vocational training |
In bookkeeping, drawing and type !