Evening star., 1944-02-02

Vt. VlIilOm MOSeS
Backed for GuI|inqer
Surgical Post
DR.. William Moses, Washing
tonian who has served on the stat
OF several Baltimore hospitals sine,
his graduation from George Wash
ington Medical School in 1899, i
being considered to replace DR.. j
Ross Veal, resident chief medical of
flcer in Gallinger Hospitals surger,
department. who resigned yesterda,
to enter private practice.
That was disclosed last night b,
Health Officer George c. Rutland
who said DR.. Moses had been in.
dorsed by DR.. Charles Stanle,
White, chief medical officer in sur.
gerry at Gallinger.
DR.. Daniel L. Seckinger, actinf
superintendent Of Gallinger, alst
disclosed yesterday that DR.. Elain.
Wentink of the admitting Office lef
the hospital as of December 81 tt
return to her home in Minnesota.
Blames Higher Authorities"
Chairman McCarran of the Sen.
ate District Committee, after hear
ing of the designations of the addi-
tlonal Gallinger Hospital physicians
said late yesterday the higher
authorities" were to blame for con-
ditions at the hospital.
Senator McCarran agreed that
District officials have a difficult task
to fill the vacancies because of the
wartime shortage of physicians.
A committee of outstanding psy-
chiatrists now is making a study of
the psychiatric ward, it's facilities.
methods and problems. A report
is expected to be ready within two
weeks.
Senator McCarran said he did not
plan to bring the Gallinger Sub
committee recommendations before
the full District Committee until the
findings of the Commissioners COM
mittee have been received.
DIR. Seckinger'S Statement.
DR.. Seckinger said the two resig-
nations were not related Ito recent
events at the hospital growing out
of a Senate District Subcommittee
investigation and recommendations
for the removal of Commissioner
Guy Mason, DR.. Rutland, Supt.
Edgar A. Bocock, DR.. Charles P
Cake, head of the tuberculosis ward,
and DR.. Joseph L. Gilbert, chief
psychiatrist. DR.. Bocock subse-
quently resigned, as did DR.. Cake,
who agreed to stay on temporarily.
Commissioner Mason backed DR..
Seckinger's statement that DR..
Veal's departure had nothing to do
with the investigation. The Com
missioner said that I'VE are afraid
we are going to lose another man
on the Gallinger staff because he
can make two or three times more
money from private practice
The resignation of DR.. Veal still
leaves the hospital with two resi-
dent surgeons and a visiting staff.
Mr.. Mason said he wished to make
it clear that DR.. Veal had been
planning for four or five months
to leave the staff and open a pri-
vate Office" but delayed his de-
parture until yesterday. DR.. Veals
position pays $4,000, and the ad-
mitting office post pays $2,6oO
year.
Resignation Rumors.
DR.. Seckinger admitted there have
been rumors concerning. the re-
ported additional designations "but
nothing definite has happened DR..
Ruhland said it was quite true that
the chief medical officers at the hos
pital could obtain higher incomes
in private practice and said he
only recently had "appealed' to one
to stay on at his post because
civilian needs must be recognized
in total war"
Meanwhile the Social Hygiene
Society passed a resolution calling
on the Commissioners to stand
firmly" against carrying out the
recommendations for dismissals in
the District Health Department yes
terday at its annual meeting in the
YWCA.
The resolution was presented to
the group by Dr. H. H. Hazen, presi-
dent OF the society. DR.. Ruhland
was at the speakers table and re-
celved a round of applause when
he was introduced.
Text of Resolution.
The resolution read:
"Whereas-it is generally under
stood and accepted that a consid-
erable degree of decentralization
exists in the Districts Health De-
partment personnel due to Senate
subcommittee recommendations for
dismissals following an unjudicial
and inadequate hearing, and to
lother threats amounting virtually
TO legislative coercion: and
III "Whereas-these conditions. in
addition to their unfairness to the
officials involved. threaten Wash
iilngtons health defenses,
II BE 1T resolved-that the Social
Hygiene Society of the District of
Columbia at this annual meeting
hereby urges the Board of Commits
sioners to stand firmly against
carrying out these menacing recon-
mendations, thus indicating their
intentions to encourage and protect
sincere and efficient civic service
throughout the entire structure of
the District government.
Burlesqres Testimony.
DR.. Hazen burlesqued testimony
OF patients against their hospital
treatment by reading some notes"
he said he had made in a local hos
pital while "delirious for a consider
able period" after an operation.
II, The physician drew laugh when
he read note on how a nurse had
carried him pick back in a fire
drill; how "the night nurse kid
lnaped me and took me to Virginia
In a dirt truck, where I lay upon a
ilstretcher while she ran her hus-
bands store" and how another
night nurse and a switchboard