Evening star., 1943-12-17
Three Doctors
To Investigate
Ga||inger Ward
Commissioners PIon
Modernizution of
Psychopothic Unit

The Commissioners announced to-
day that three doctors have ac-
cepted invitation to survey the
psychopathic building at Gallinger
Municipal Hospital with a view to
advising the Commissioners as to
the needs to bring the building and
the department up to accepted
standards"
Meanwhile, the city heads also
were studying appointment of sue
cessor to Dr. Edgar A. Bocock, super
intendent of Gallinger. who resigned
yesterday after l6 years in the post
His resignation followed demands
for his removal by the Senate Dis
trict Committee after a subcom-
mittee investigation of conditions
at the hospital.
The three doctors named for the
survey are Drs. Winfred Overholger,
superintendent of ST Elizabeth S
Hospital; Samuel w. Hamilton of
the United States Public Health
Service and Frederick w. Parsons of
New York, for many years the COM
missioner of mental hygiene for the
State of New York.
VIII Have ID. {. Aides.
Commissioner Guy Mason said the
Doctors Committee would make a
technical investigation and would
have available for consult alton
Nathan c. Wyeth, municipal archi-
tect: Assistant Engineer Commits
sloner Joseph d. Arthur. jr for en-
elneering problems and the aid OF
any other municipal department
/ that can be of service to them.
The Senate Investigating Sub
committee also had demanded in its
report the removal of DR.. Joseph L
Gilbert, head Of the psychiatric
ward; Commissioner Guy Mason
Health Officer George c. Rutland
and DR.. Charles P. Cake. chief OF
the tuberculosis ward of the hospi-
tai. The full District Committee
said it would meet soon to consider
/ these recommendations
Commissioner Mason promised
last night that efforts to find
new superintendent would not
, lag and advanced the possibility
/ that officials would consider the
/ appointment of a hospital engineer
/ The search. he said. would not be
/ limited to the field of doctors.
Administrative Post.
Mr.. Mason described the super
intendency as primarily an admin
/ lStratlve post, and pointed out that
the medical side is well supervised
by the resident and visiting physi-
clans. He said he had no one in
mind for the post.
The final appointment OF a sue
cessor Will be made by the Com
missioners. The health officer. how
ever. may suggest a candidate and
in any event, will be consulted, Mr.
Mason said.
Meanwhile. DR. Daniel l. Seek
niger, assistant District health Of
fiCer who has been co-ordinator OF
health and hospitals since 1888
took over TODAY as acting superin-
tendent. He will fill the post until
a successor can be found to DR.
BoCock
May Contact Agencies.
Because of the expected difficulty
there was speculation at the District
Building last night that officials
might be forced TO contact various
Government agencies. such as the
/ Civil Service Commission. the
United States Public Health Service
the American Hospital Association
and the Army and Navy to find a
new superintendent
Il am strongly of the opinion that
the Job is too large TO be handled
by one person, Health Officer Ruh-
land declared.
Senate Appropriations Committee
shelved the request of the Commits
sioners for a deficiency appropria-
ton OF s15,750 for employment of a
deputy administrator and eight
other key posts. in an effort to re-
organize the administrative ma
chinery of the hospital and tighten
the burdens of the superintendent.
Calls Salary Inadequate.
Pointing out that position initially
pays only $500 year, DR.. Rutland
said he felt that the salary was
inadequate to attract the caliber
of person We should have" He de-
scribed the man needed-as "a
trained hospital administrator
Dr.. Seckinger was introduced to
the hospital staff within less than
four hours after the Commissioners
announced their acceptance of the
resignat ton of Dr.. Bocock. who has
been under fire for several months
as result of a Senate subcommit-
tee investigation into the hospital
Dr. Seckinger was sworn in as
assistant health officer on october
|. 1885, He resigned as a member
of the Georgia State Health De-
partment to accept the post.
Previously, he was connected with
the Savannah tGaD health office
During his five years there the in
FAINT mortality rate was reduced
sharply.
DR.. Seckinger received his medi-
cal training at Johns Hopkins Uni
versity and his scholastic training
at the University of North Carolina