Evening star., 1940-03-06


from the feeble-minded and epilep.
tic to the non-violent insane and
prisoners released from reforma-
tories, a special board of physicians
today recommended adoption of
new admission policy and the trans
fer OF SO ailing patients of the home
to other institutions.
The physicians, reporting to Well
fare Director Robert E. Bondy the
result Of their medical examination
OF the ,69l inmates of the Blue
Plains institution, summarized their
findings with this statement:
we found conditions more closely
approaching those described in the
writings of Charles Dickens than
the standards which should be ap-
Piled to such home in the Ma
tions Capital in the year 1910"
Before undertaking the examina-
ton, the physicians said they in.
vestigated the requirements for adj
, mission to the institution and were
surprised to learn that the homo
is not only home for the aged
and those suffering from the in
f1rmities of old age. but also a place
of last resort for almost all classes
of the unfortunate of the District
of Columbia"
Transfers Recommended.
The only strict requirement for
those who enter" the report added,
"ls that they be INDECENT AS a re-
suit, the institution has become not
only refuge for the aged, but also
home for the feeble minded. the
eplleptlc, the non-violent insane.
deaf mutes, the blind and the incur
able Of all ages; convalescent home
for different diseases. shelter for
prisoners released from jails and re-
formatorles who cannot find work,
and for normal, healthy men in their
5Os who likewise cannot find work"
Specifically, the report recon-
mended that, in addition to the
five cases already sent to Gallinger
Hospital, IA more be transferred
there for complete medical study;
| l6 cases of chronic neurological dis
eases referred to suitable hospitals
for complete examinations; 10 an.
parently psychotic inmates be trans
ferred to suitable institution il
found commitable by the appropri-
ate agency; 81 feeble minded in
mates be considered for transfer to
more suitable institutions, and eight
eplleptic cases removed to other in
stitutions.
BOndy Praises Report.
Describing the report as an ex-
cellent one and expressing appreci-
alton to DR.. Edgar A. Bocock, SUI
perintendent of Gallinger, for MAX
ing the survey, Welfare Director
Bondy said:
These recommendations are in
accord with policy that. in my
| judgment, should be followed for
admission to and care of people at
the Home for the Aged.
"All along, I've been calling this
home a dumping ground for all
Kinds OF lndlgentS, and I've stated
repeatedly that the home should be
used only for ambulatory ages not
feasible for old-age assistance"
The welfare director declared
that, where other institutional fa-
cilities permit, transfers will be
made as soon as possible in Accord
ance with the physicians recon-
mendations. He said he would con-
fer with heads of the various insti-
tutions concerned to see what ad-
justments can be worked out where
there are overcrowded conditions to
contend with.
&At the same time, Mr.. Bondy re-
iterated his belief that the situa-
ton cannot be thoroughly cleared
| up until we are provided with an
adequate staff for all these institu-
tions involved"
Majority Suffering Disabilities.
The medical examination. ordered
following congressional hearings on
the Blue Plains institution, was
made by Drs. Albert S. Sullivan,
Joseph j. Wallace and Sam Sugar.
DR.. Sullivan is chief medical
officer of Gallinger Hospital, and
DrS. Wallace and Sugar are senior
resident physicians in medicine on
the hospital staff. All have been
connected with the hospital for
three years or more.
The physicians reported that, be-
cause of limitations of the physical
plant, no attempt has been made
to segregate the various groups at
the home except according to sex
and color.
A majority. of the inmates, the
report said, are suffering from mod
crate to severe disabilities, and that
there is only "a very narrow zone
between many of those who are
ambulant and in the dormitories
today and those who are bedridden
and in the infirmary tomorrow"
Analyses Of Patients.
In reporting of their analysis Of
the 122 patients in the infirmary
at the time of their investigation,
the physicians said SO were suffer-
| ing from the cardio-vascular COM
plications of arteriosclerosis and
apprehension, including 80 who had
suffered cerebral vascular accidents.
OF the 38, none were under As years
of age. IL were under go, "a were
between go and 70, % between 70
and 80, 18 between 30 and 80, and
were over 80 years old
The other "a were found to be af.
flicted with many different diseases,
only few of which are particularly
associated with advanced years. The
physicians said they found the great
majority Of the disabled inmates can
(see BLUE PLAINS, Page A-5J