Evening star., 1942-07-16
Mason Pledges
Improvements
Al Glenn Dale
Reviews Protests on
Talk by RuhIond
Rebuking Patients


Further Improvement of food and
other conditions at the District
tuberculosis sanatorium at Glenn
Dale, Md, was promised today by
Commissioner Mason after he re-
viewed protests that Health Off1cer
George c.. Rutland had criticised
patients for having sent their COM
plants to Congress.
DR., Rutland, 1t was brought out,
visited the institution last Thurs
day after the Commissioners had
ordered more care in preparation OF
food and correction of other man
agement problems, and made a
talk" to patients assembled In the
The next day william Rittenhouse,
chairman of a committee of patients,
wrote to Renah F. Camalier, counsel
to the Senate District Committee,
asserting that DR.. Rutland had
given the patients a tongue lash
ing" The protest was forwarded
to Commissioner Mason who inter-
viewed DR.. Rutland and obtained
from him a transcript of his talk.
This was sent to Mr.. Camalier.
improvements Under Way.
Commissioner Mason refused to
comment directly on DR.. Ruhlands
talk to the patients, but he agreed
with the health officers position
that the patients should present
their complaints first to hospital
authorities instead of going over
their heads" to Congress.
Mr.. Mason reiterated that the
protested conditions are being REM
edied and that the difficulties were
OF an administrative nature and
should easily be corrected" He
added that the institution, physi-
cally, was one of the best in the
country and announced that Civil
Service Commission approval had
just been obtained for employment
OF cooks In higher salary grade,
that some extra help was being
provided and that cracked dishes
were being replaced.
The transcript of DR.. Ruhland's
talk showed he had told the patients.
at the beginning: Il am rather dis
appointed that the particular con-
dltlons that were made the subject
OF publicity by our critical ob-
servers at Glenn Dale were not
presented to me, because, after all,
I am held finally responsible, or to
the superintendent Immediately in
charge. The reaction on the
outside Is that it would have been
much better if we had proceeded
according to Hoyle. BY and large
the public likes fair play and no
one likes to be accused without
knowing why, and that, unfortu.
nately. is what has happened.
Says Only Few Protested.
II am favorably impressed, how
ever by certain facts: That out Of
a total number of several hundred
patients there was only a small
group, as you know, who would go
to the officials not held directly
responsible. That is a procedure
not according to fair play-not
cricket.
Furthermore, out of those who
Gid sign the petition quite a num-
ber have stated they regretted the
act, in fact they did not know
what they were signing. Well, let's
all understand it. I want you to
know, first of all, some of the prob
lens the service faces, and also the
effect of what has resulted from the
unfortunate publicity. 1t is true
you have gotten visits from the
Commissioners and from some
in Congress. II Is
all to the good, we hope, but re-
member in the last analysis the
service will depend upon those who
are employed here" He added
that since the protests, one Gal
linger Hospital patient had refused
to be transferred to Glenn Dale.
DR.. Rutland discussed hospital
problems, the desire of the staff to
give the patients the best possible
care, and added that "in spite OF
the fact that we did not get enough
money to buy food for you," rs per
cent of the patients had gained
weight, an dthat some of those who
had made protests had gained 80
pounds, which shows that your
appetites were not wholly lost and
that the food must have been good"
Pleads for Team Work."
He asked for team work" and
that If patients find any
thing wrong they report it to the
floor nurse, who would take 1t to
the superintendent, DR.. Daniel l..
Finuane.
Meanwhile the Advisory Commit
Tee to the Health Department on
tuberculosis, headed by DR.. Will
liam Charles White, reported to Mr..
Mason it felt the recent publicity
very seriously injured the morale
If the institution" and recognized
the sinister character" of impress
sions created by the publicity.
1t recommended survey be made
by an impartial group and suggested
\ group composed of a member
designated by the president Of the
National tuberculosis Association.
he Surgeon General of the United
States Public Health Service and
he director of the Veterans Ad-
In addition to DR..
members of the advisory
group are Drs. Roy D. Adams, John
Minor, William H. Hough and
James G. Townsend.