New-York tribune., 1922-10-10
Survey Shows
Hospital No. 81
" ell Managed
rnuarniitee Sustaifis Ross
dale Charge of Abuse
of Samson, but Reports
Guilty Attendants Ousted
()ther Accusations Fail
Protests Agains, Misdirect-
ID Attacks on Institu-
ions to Help Veterans

fyvss this Tr5bases Washington Baredn
WASHINGTON, Oct. 9.---The Veter-
Ans Bureau Hospital No. 81, at Kings
bridge, in the Bronx, New York, has
been managed in q clean, intelligent
and wholesome manner, with the ex-
reptiop of two cases, according 10 the
report Of the committee appointed by
roIonel Charles r. Forbes, director of
Che Veterans Bureau, TO investigate
che charges made by Representative
Alber. B. Rossdale. of New York, and
Major John f. Deegan, formerly COM
mander of the American Legion of the
State of New York. This committe Of
sbree was composed of DR.. Guy 0. Ire
land. chairman, representing the Wash
tngton etice of the U. S. Veterans Blu
reau; E. II. Jewetc, representing the
second district of the U. s. Veterans
bureau, and Martin Littleton, New
FORK attorney, representing the pub
se.
The committee recommended ssthat
- 0 result of this investigation at
kngsbridge government hospitals
hould not continue to be the oh
tet Of misdirected attacks. They must
LIT be pecked at. They must be lift
Il out of the atmosphere of suspicion
nj distrust and placed upon basis
s. public esteem. These are our bows
she have suffered. 1t was for us thew
ssse their life and strength. These
s,s Institutions which we give them
fOr eonyalescence. Their management
must be put beyond the reach Of scan
asl ef reproach."
Charge of Violence Sustained
The charge was made by Represen-
hSiye Rossdale 'that an assault upon
In inmate Of ward s, by name of Mich
plas Samson, was made by two at
tendants, that these two attendants
were rot suspended from duty By the
| authorities in charge the moment thew
learned OF this assault" The com
mittee heard testimony to the alleged
pss Of undue force by the attendants
IN charge of Samson, and it is the
opinion of the committee that force
Tas employed, 'even though undue
ed unnecessary, as a restraint upon
4 tin.p
The committee discovered that
! prompt and thorough investigation
Under the direction of DR.. Chronquest
kss conducted, and that within a rea-
soDahie time the two attendants were
discharged"
aIhs allegation" said the Veterans
Bureau to-day, "that patients with
slight nervous disorders are frequent
ly disciplined by confinement in ward
g, which Is a building wherein are
housed violent and naturally insane
men; that these patients are confined
hx<a dtcc}nlinorv h
punishment for petty infraction of
The hospital rules; that the mental
= anguish aud horror of patients SEN
fenced to such confinement, among
dangerous lunatics. endangers them,
em instead of effecting cures is like
yso retard their recovery and possi-
pis bring about actual insanity, was
discovered by the committee to be un-
Nsand was not sustained.
Lay Prejudice Recognized
However, since in the minds of most
hyman such mingling of cases is
detrimental, and Notwithstanding the
psetice of such mingling in all first
class and private institutions through
out the country, the committee rec
bnmended that inasmuch as Veterans
Hospital No. 81 at Kings bridge, N.
fsis one in which there is very
Unusual public interest, about which
there is great public confidence, due
fsgard,should be had to the universal
Jay opinion that such a mingling Of
| patients is injurious to the milder
type and that some prevention should
| be made in the further development of
Further hospital facilities which would
enable the hospital management to
keep violently insane and border-line.
insane cases separate and apart.
The allegation that patients are
discharged from the hospital when not
fured, and are refused information as
20 their discharge status by the hospi-
sal management; that patients are
shus turned loose and left helpless
Status BY lengthy correspondence or
Repeated calls at the Veterans Bureau
IN Manhattan, was found by the com
hittee to be wholly unfounded.
"The allegation that the patients of
Kings bridge hospital requesting
medical treatment, often find it diff
heult to receive it, but receive ordi-
nry medicines; that patients requir-
ing special food for physical ailments
hse difficulty in receiving it and
n compelled to subsist on regular
Fl sssd, even though they are unable to
/ }srase Of it due to their ailments;
t. Sas Sss0r or no attention is paid to COM
f. taaA ef patients having been beaten
Mghly treated by attendants
F. Misund by the committee to be
/ sss9 s9 unwarranted
T. contention that Kingsbridge
F. y kkng entertainment or recrea-
fl eaaa features that auxiliary vet
,sesister to-dayi
T. you do not register you can
T. BOT vote!
+ !. rolls opea daily from p. m. to
+ .v'o M, and on Saturday from