Evening star., 1943-09-30
Commissioner Mason
Refuses 10 Testify
In Hospital Probe
Continued From First Page }

uAitlI -loSJ July L. WlCl SpCSid
officer was appointed to keep then
within the confines of their wards.
He pointed out the commissioner,
recently ordered abolition of the 49,
year-old piggery and its transfer tt
Lorton, Va, the home of the Distric,
reformatorvt ..
Senator Bushfield manifested con-
siderable concern about. the piggery
at Gallinger.
You're a long experienced physi-
cian.' said Senator Bushfield
Didn't you know the detriment tc
the public health of feeding the hogs
with scraps from the tables OF
tuberculosis patients?"
,it. Discussion of Germs.
mo" DR.. Bocock answered. And
I don't know 1t yet
'."tf the garbage contains tubercu-
losis germs, you mean consumption
by the hogs would destroy them?'
Senator Bushf1eld asked.
II certainly do, SIR" DR.. Bocock
declared. Furthermore, I don't be-
lieve consumption of meat from the
hogs that eat those scraps would be
deleterious to the person who eats
it,"
DR.. Bocock said under the ar.
rsngement for shifting the pisgery
from Gallinger to Lorton. the hogs
would continue to eat garbage from
this vicinity
You want the record to stand
THAT you believe that garbage eater,
by hogs from the tables of tuber-
culosis patients is not harmful to
human beings?" inquired Senator
Bushfield.
Il want the record to SHOW he
replied, that don't believe it has
been deleterious. After all I'm an
sdministrator-not sanitarian."
DIR. Bocock Cites Record.
DR.. Bocock admitted if the charges
are true that nurses handle babies
without washing their hands before
shift is serious break in tech
nique." He, stressed, however, that
last year the hospital handled 1853
baby cases with a low record of
eight losses"
DR.. Bocock blamed the alleged
lack OF attention on personnel short
age, and concluded his testimony
with this statement:
Without exception I've made
every human effort to correct all
Irregularities.
Earlier in today's hearing, DR.. Bo-
cock was confronted aith another
case of alleged brutality and was
asked why he had not discharged
DR., Joseph L. Gilbert, chief of the
psychiatric ward. @'--
DIR. Gilbert, who previously had
testified that dangerous and violent
patients in the psychiatric ward
are placed under restraint by tying
them in their beds because the hos
pital has no other facilities for han
ding such cases, was present at the
hearing.
Don't Approve Brutality.
Neither myself nor the chief psy-
chiatrist approve of any brutality"
declared DR.. Bocock.
Then, why do you, as superin-
tendent, allow practice that you
say is not acceptable?" demanded
Senator Bushfield.
DR.. Bocock insisted the strapping
Of the disturbed patients to their
beds was necessary because the psy-
chiatric ward is in an old building
and has no modern facilities for
otherwise protecting other patients
rs well as themselves.
You don't mean to offer the lack
Of modern buildings as an excuse
for brutal treatment" demanded
Senator Bushfield. What you
mean is you approve such treatment
Of disturbed patients"
81 do not" retorted DR.. Bocock.
How long has DR.. Gilbert been
at Gallinger?" asked Senator Bush
field.
Twelve and a half years." DR..
Bocock answered.
why not fire him?" asked SEN
ator Bushfield.
Methods Defended.
Il am in no position to do any
better" replied DR.. Bocock.
'tDr. Gilbert has been with you
for twelve and a half years and
you still keep him." said Senator
Bushfleld.
He is using the best methods
with the available facilities" de-
clared DR.. Bocock.
The latest report of alleged bru-
taAty was called to the attention of
the subcommittee by Senator Bush
Iield, who said he had received let
ter this morning from a responsible
woman citizen" of the. District who
charged she had been treated
brutally while a patient in the
psychiatric ward in May, 1910.
The writer, whose name was dis
closed only to DR.. Bocock, declared
she had been strapped to bed and
tied up with sheet and two at
tendants delighted in using my
stomach for punching bag"
At the time of her transfer from
Gallinger to st. Elizabeth's Hospital,
the woman said she had two
sinners" and offered to testify be-
fore the subcommittee about the
brutal, outlandish treatment" she
alleged she received in the psychi-
atric ward.
The woman explained she had
subsequently been released from ST.
Elizaheth's Hospital with certifi-
cate declaring she was sane.
New Building Projected.
DIR. Bocock was asked If any recon-
mendations had been made for a
new and modern building for the
psychiatric patients. He replied
such program had been projected
for the future.
DR.. Bocock was subjected. to a
erueiling examination, almost from
the time he took the witness stand
to defend the hospital against the
current investigation.
He said he had been superin-
endent of the hospital for nearly l6
years and knew every nail in the
place" His basic salary, he an
nounced, Is $500 a year, but in
addition he receives an annual
bonus Of $500. He said $500 a year
is deducted to pay the rent and ex-