Evening star., 1939-02-06
Randolph Requests
Detailed Report on
Ga||inger Conditions
Reveals Step Taken
Before Potent
Ron Amuck

TWenty-four hours before a COL
ored murder suspect under obser-
vation in Gallinger Hospital ran
amuck yesterday and assaulted
doctors and patients with a chair,
Chairman Randolph of the House
District Committee revealed today
he had called on Supt. Edgar A.
Bocock for a report on conditions
at the institution.
Representative Randolph told DR..
Bocock he had been deeply con-
cerned over reports that nurses
and other staff members were over
worked, that the food served is
below standard, that wards are
overcrowded and that the tubercu-
losis houses ARE a disgrace to the
city,"
Text Of Letter.
The letter to Dr. Bocock, dated
February 4, follows:
II have been deeply concerned for
some time about reports which have
been brought to me concerning the
conditions existing at your hospital.
I had hoped before now to visit you
personally and intend to do so in the
near future In the meantime, I
would appreciate it if you would give
me a report on the following mat
ters:
'First-It has been brought to my
attention that your nursing staff is
greatly overworked and, because of
too few nurses to properly care for
the patients. Is required to work
mary hours a day than is right. I
am told that this same situation
exists with respect to the attendants,
laboratory technicians, etc.
"Second-I have heard from very
authoritative source that the food
served is far below hospital stand
ards and contributes in no way to
the health and well-being of either
the staff or the patients.
"Third-It seems to be generally
known that the wards are greatly
overcroWded and that the tubercu-
losis houses are disgrace to a city
of this size and type.
Asks Detailed Statement.
Il feel that it is time We recog-
nized the desperate need for an
adequate city hospital and believe
definite steps should be takens to
place our medical facilities here in
Washington at least on par with
other leading cities of this country.
I would, therefore, appreciate de-
tailed statement from you regarding
present conditions at Gallinger,
what equipment you now have and
what you consider necessary to be
done there. OF course, as you
know, appropriation matters do not
come before my committee, but I
want to try in every way to be
helpful.
Il know that you have been doing
the best you possibly could with
your limited facilities there and be-
lieve you deserve the appreciation
of all for the fine services you are
rendering"
A demented colored man who was
being held under restraint at Gal
linger worked free from the leather
straps which bound him to his bed
yesterday and terrorized other pa
tients in the psychopathic ward with
a chair.
The patient, who is suspected of
having murdered two women. went
raging through the ward, smashing
windows and furniture.
All available orderlies were mus
tered and DR.. I. Silverman, in charge
of the psychopathic ward, asked
that two guards be sent from the
nearby District Jail. It was said
the patient slightly injured three
orderlies before he was subdued.
Nine other patients were within
reach of the man when he ran
amuck. The. guards remained in the
ward until the patient was quieted.