Evening star., 1936-06-14

Instead of a "handout," nurse,
matron or supervisor suggests, You
need a new dress, Miss Lizzie. Come
over to the store room with me and
select something you like" So Miss
Lizzie chooses her own gingham, per-
Gale or voile material and is given
a dress length. With it goes patterns
and instructions, the use of sewing
machine and some one adept at fit
ting attends to that part of the new
gown. Later this particular division
of occupational therapy results in a
neat and attractive frock, made in
large measure by mental patient,
who, instead of sitting hour upon
hour, and staring into space, as in
former years, now talks, hens, pleats
and tucks with the best of us.
AS mental and physical progress
develop, that fine theory Of busy
hands making happy hearts carries
on. Electric sewing machines come
into play Looms that create articles
| from linen threads of lacelike con-
sistency shuttle back and forth not
far from other looms weaving rag
rugs and blankets, large and small.
Unless one actually sees the inter-
ested, patient effort of these loom
workers it is difficult to believe that
mutable brains and hands could pro-
duce such fine handiwork.
St. Elizabeth's is fortunate in main
tanning II classes in occupational
therapy, the teachers being of high
est ability and attentive to the
progress of the large number of pupils
drawn from the 5,400 inmates of that
humane institution. The mems thera-
pal activities embrace weaving, car
pentry, toy making, pottery, wood
carving, shoe making and basketry,
and it may be of interest to know
that in the basement of Toner Hall,
across from the Administration Build
ing, are on sale well-made and hand
some articles of nearly all the oc-
cupational projects.
WITH regard to baskets, big and
little, round or tall, decorative
or for institutional service, all willow
used in their manufacture is grown
at a willow holt" on the grounds
of the hospital. The wisps are cut,
peeled and dried and packed away
for future use. Most of the work
on the three farms, of which $50
acres are under cultivation, is ac-
complished by the inmates. There
are dairies, piggeries, poultry yards,
as well as a vineyard sporting 20
kinds of grapes. Orchards bear the
usual fruit and, in addition, fig trees
add their quota. Alvah Godding, son
of the late DR.. w. w. Godding, who
was superintendent of the hospital
from 1877 to 1899, is superintendent
of trees and grounds and it would
be difficult to find more emerald
green parks than those of the insti-
tuition, with their 200 varieties of
trees and close-clipped lawns. In
great measure the grounds are taken
care of by male inmates, who delight
in the tasks that keep them out of
doors and cloSe-even If they do not
realize ito the healing hand Of
Nature.
Aside from innovation of beauty
parlors and occupational therapy, DR..
White and his executive assistant,
Monte Sanger, are responsible for an
ton, change hardly to be compre-
hended until one has seen it function
easily and we'll. Until some months
ago the inmates ate at long tables
and were handed plates upon which
the food already had been placed.
There was no choice Of diet or taste;
it was case of having set before
them what they perhaps did not care
for or could not eat.
Today, gone are the long tables
and in their places are round ones
seating four or six persons. The
service is entirely cafeteria, each pa
tient passing the main counters and
selecting his or her own choice of
meats, vegetables, salads and des-
serts, being piloted by attendants
where necessary. st. Elizabeth's was
the first Government hospital to
change to cafeterias and there is
marked improvement in serving foods
hot and those preferred. Addition
ally, the diners do not have to be
coaxed to eat. Miss Mildred Parker,
who is chief dietitian at st. Eliza.
beth's, is president Of the Dietetic AS
sociation of the District Of Columbia.
A large cafeteria for use Of staff, en-
ployes, public and those patients able