Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-31
LAST FIRE TRAP"
BUILDING EMPT|ED
AT WALTER REED
81 Patients Moved Into New
PSyChiatric Ward of Gen.
eraI Hospital.
GEN. IRELAND PLEASED
WITH PROGRESS MADE
Institution Now Has $50 Under
Treatment-Peak During
War Was 1900.

The last of the old temporary, war
time "fre-traps" was emptied of World
War veteran patients at Walter Reed
Hospital yesterday, when a group of
"a pSychiatric cases moved from their
old building to the modern, new fire.
proof pSychiatric ward.
This transfer marked a big step In
the transformation of the Army's Gem
eral Hospital here. 1t not only removed
from patients themselves the dread of
n1e, put provided great relief to all
officials in charge.
Maj. Gen. Merritte w. Ireland. sur
geon general of the Army, made a tour
OF inspection of the new ward. It has
neen under the personal supervision of
the surgeon general that this hospital
has been turned into what is now a
pride OF the service. A building pro-
gram Of about $4,000 900 has been car
REQ on for several years, during which
ABOUT 20 new fireproof modern build
lngs have been constructed.
Once Had 2,2OO Patients.
Walter Reed Hospital, Gen. Ireland
recalled today, was a hospital of only
$50 beds at the opening of the war.
At its peak during the heavy war load
the expanded institution accommodated
1900 patients.
But the growth, rapid and temporary
as IL was, OF course, was of temporary
construction, mostly of wood, with some
buildings made of tile and wood. Rap
idly deteriorating, despite the best of
care, after the war, these old structures
became dangerous fire hazards, and Gen.
ireland was constantly in the forefront
OF the movement to eliminate all these
structures and replace them with per-
manent buildings. Congress responded
to the need with appropriations.
The transfer Of 81 patients yesterday
was conSummation Of the most Inn
portant phase of the building program,
according to officials in charge.
There stu remain some temporary
buildings on the reservation, but they
are used for barracks for the enlisted
men on duty there, who are able to get
out OF the buildings in case of fire. Sew
eral other new buildings are on the pro-
gram for construction but none of
them is for patients wards.
Bad Fire in 1921.
Only one bad fire took place at Wal
ter Reed Hospital in all the time since
the war. This was in 1921, when two
buildings were burned to the ground
when they were set af1re by "firebug,"
one Of the psychiatric patients of the
hospital This "firebug" hid himself
in the burning structure and was the
only one of the patients who was burn
ed to death.
The transfer of the last patients yes
terday started at about 10 O'Clock and
was carried out under the personal SUI
pervision of Brig. Gen. G. r. Darnall,
commanding officer of the hospital, and
Lieut.. Col w. L. Sheep, executive on
Ger. 1t was completed in about two
hours, and the patients had their first
meal in their new ward at noon. The
food was brought to them from the
main kitchen through an underground
tunnel, beneath the street, into the
basement of the psychiatric ward and
on an elevator to the first floor, where
it was served in cafeteria.
Ward Has 1O4 Beds.
The new psychiatric ward has 1O4
beds and the latest devices for protec-
ton of psychiatric patients to prevent
them from injuring themselves. Even
the paneS of glass in the windows are
made over interviewer wire, so that in
case pane Is broken it will not shatter.
The building cost $4,000. It is said
by experts to be virtually "foolproof."
Among new structures still scheduled
Tor Walter Reed are the Post Chapel,
which is now under construction and
soon will be complete; the second addi-
ton to the nurses quarters and a large
building for the Army Medical Center.
This latter structure will be used for
the veterinary and dental schools and
as headquarters for the Army Medical
Center.
Later on there will also be con-
structed third addition for the nurses
quarters and new barracks for the en-
listed men to replace their present
wooden barracks.
The general hospital now has about
1000 beds in fireproof construction. as
contrasted with 100 beds before the war.
The number Of patients today is $50.