Evening star., 1926-12-01
MEDICAL EXPERTS
PRAISE CARE GIVEN
AT ST. ELIZABETH'S
Continued from First PageD

Continued from First Page)
Indiana University. appointed in early
September by the Interior Secretary
The medical advisers were agreed,
moreover, that st. Elizabeth's Hos
pital is not excelled in completeness
of provision for medical and surgi-
cal treatment of physical Illness of
patients; in specialized study OF
difficult and doubtful mental condi-
tions; in interest and earnestness OF
effort In medical research: in the
use of measures of prevention ani
cure of mental illness: I'm dissemina :
ton of the results of It's research
and experience through numerous
publications for the benef1t of the
public and the medical profession;
and. finally, in utilizing exceptional
educational facilities In training
physicians. nurses and welfare
workers for service in state hos
pitals and community. These results
have been achieved under the IN
spiration and direction OF the pres
ent medical superintendent ana have
made. in all these respects. ST
Elizabeth's Hospital pre- -eminently q
modern hospital for the scientihc
treatment anu nuilldHc 'uic VI i'N
tai patients.
Excitable Class Overcrowded.
That serious overcrowding OF the
untidv and eXcitable classes OF
patients exists. especially IN Ola
buildings erected 40 or more years
ago was pointed out in the report.
In these there is great deficiency OF
toilets and bathing facilities and
floors are insanitary. it was stated.
Good sanitation is impossible under
these conditions. Otherwise. hous-
inc of patients and sanitation in per-
manent buildings are good, the re-
porr declared.
rho committee OF inVestigat tOrs
urged that immediate provision be
made for 500 patients. OF whlch re-
lief from present overcrowding re-
o,,ires 500 beds: replacement OF TEN
norarv buildings erected in war time
5no more and assured increase OF IN
sane the remaining 500.
IN carving out this recommenda.
tion careful plan of development OF
81 Eliza abeth's Hospital should be pre-
nared which would meet both present
and future needs. the report says:
Ite reo,1irements would be a new
medical and surgical hospital or loo
beds; a new reception hospital Tor ooV
men and 600 women; better general
cla ssification Of patients provioing
suitable separation OF classes III
nroner relation to each othef. nanei!
untidv and feeble patients excltani,
natients capable of training in useful
nnncnnations. farm colony at Goodini
Croft and centralization Df Kitchens
and StorerOomS.
Holds System Is Arrhaic.
Turning to admission of civil pa
.;onts from the District of Columbia
the committee says;
"The method governing ADMISSION
which calls for an adjudication DE n
iiIrv trial of civil cases as prerequl
site for treatment Is archaic ano
wholly out of accord with the modern
handling of the problem of mental
disorders
."rhc routine commitment of men
tal natient following the procedure in
tho District of Columbia in civil cases
whereby the question of insanity If
ma ssed upon by jury trial is prac
tice that is wrong and loses sight ol
The fact that insanity is a mental Ill
ness Every facility should be pro
vided for the mentally sick to secure
treatment as in a general hospital
No longer are mental hospitals re
sarded as institutions for mere Gus
todial care,
NO provision is made for the vol
ur.arv admission Of patient to st
F,izaheth's Hospital, and as result
hospital care is not sought in many
instances. except as a last resort
when the outlook for improvement
and recovery is less favorable.
The medical advisers are emphatic
in their belief that provision shoult
he made whereby the superintendent
when requested by Commissions
Of the District Of Columbia. by 8
phvsician, by a member OF the nitet
states Public Health Service or by &
police officer may receive and care
for I'm the institution as patien
for a specified period (probably 10 Il
Is davs, any person needing lmme
diate care and treatment because o.
mental arrangement other than de
lirium tremens, drunkenness or eX
cess,ve use of narcotics.
provision should be made also fo
q, emergency admission upon thu
medical certificate OF two physiclan'
f,r q period Of approximately FIVE day!
~ a natient who is violent or dan
cerous, hut without court order, ant
nendinc the determination OF his men
tai disorder.
Remedial Legislation Urged.
Patients are admitted to the hos
pital for a period of 80 days. and II II
is found that treatment for longe
period is necessary. the patient mus
be taken 70 a cour" and the question
~ insanity determined by jury trial
In brief. adjudication by a jury tria