Evening star., 1947-11-28
Dr., Miller Asks
Serious Study Of
Ga||inger Shift
Recommends Transfer
OfMentuI Core Unless
Hospital Is Improved

Chairman Miller of the House
District Subcommittee on Health,
Education and Recreation today ad-
vised the Commissioners to give
serious thought" to sending Wash
ington's mentally i'll to st. Eliza
beths Hospital unless needed i'm
provements can be provided in the
Gallinger Hospital psychopathic di-
vision.
Such a shift was recommended
by Commissioner Guy Mason.
Reporting to the Commissioners
on his survey of District health and
welfare institutions, DR.. Miller cited
the need for more attendants and
better use of equipment in CALM
gers psychopathic wards.
This institution has come in for
considerable criticism in the past
few weeks" DR.. Miller wrote. SO
The physical equipment should be
cleaned up. The use of paint, the
repairing of floors and other gen.
eral protective measures are needed
More Doctors Found Needed.
The Nebraska Representative, him
self a physician, said the greatest
personnel need in the hospitals s
psychopathic division seemed to be
for "at least two additional physi-
clans" He called for the use OF
occupational and hydrotherapy and
for the maintenance of case histo-
ries of all mental patients at the
hospital.
"If the institution was physically
repaired and with additional trained
personnel, medical schools should be
interested in using 1t as teaching
institution" DR.. Miller wrote, add
ing:
"It seems to me that serious
thought ought to be given to legis-
lation which will permit the sending
of these patients to st. Elizabeths
Hospital I would recommend this
unless physical improvements and
trained personnel can be provided at
this institution"
Daily Cost Put at 50 Per Patient.
DR.. Miller said he understood the
use of Gallinger's psychopathic
division cost the District approx
mately SO per patient per day.
"If 1t is less at st. Elizabeths and
the care of the patient is better, this
changeover ought to be considered, -
he added.
An addition to the present infirm-
ary at the District Training School
for Feeble Minded Children and the
enforcement of additional security
measures to prevent escapes from
the Laurel CMd.) institution also
were called for in Dr. Millers report.
The Industrial Home School, Wis
consin avenue and Thirtieth street
NV, needs replacement of its two
present buildings, DR.. Miller said.
He suggested there might be room
for this institution at Laurel.
New Kitchens Called For.
New kitchens are needed both at
the Receiving Home for Children,
Macarthur boulevard and Fifty
first street NV, and the Home for
the Aged at Blue Plains, DR.. Miller
said.
The legislator praised the National
Training School for Colored Girls,
adjoining the Receiving Home, and
the Industrial Home School for Col
ored Boys at Blue Plains. He said
the latter is "the best conducted Of
all institutions" in the District. The
girls school, however, is not being
used to capacity, DR.. Miller COM
planned.
DR.. Miller told the Commissioners
he wished to discuss the Districts
day care center program with them
later. He also told reporter he
understood Commissioner Mason
would summon a conference next
week of the heads of the eight in
stitutions discussed In the report.