Evening star., 1947-11-12
Heads
|ToConfer With
Mason Today
Seek Way to Improve
Psychopothie Facilities
At Hospital Now

Commissioner Guy Mason to-
day. summoned Health Officer
George c. Rutland and CAL
linger Hospital officials to a Dis
trict Building conference late
this afternoon to determine
what can be done Immediately
under existing facilities to i'm
prove conditions in Gallinger's
phychopathic division.
The Commissioner. who supervises
District health activities, also asked
the deans of George Washington
University and Georgetown Univer-
sity medical schools to send repre-
sentatives of their departments OF
psychiatry to the meeting.
Editorial Is Noted.
Mr.. Mason acted quickly after his
attention was called to an editorial
in today's Star urging such a con-
ference.
1--WE are going to determine
whether the psychopathic division is
operating as efficiently as it can
with the staff it now has," the Com
missioner declared.
I'VE will call in all the agencies
involved in order to see what can
be done with existing facilities"
II have asked for this staff con-
ference to see what the trouble Is
in the Gallinger psychopathic divi-
sion"
Teaching Center Proposed.
Before calling today's conference
Commissioner Mason conferred with
the Rev. Paul McNally, S. j., dean
of Georgetown University Medical
School, and Dr. Walter A. Bloedorn,
dean Of George Washington Univer-
sity Medical School. Both assured
him of their desire to cooperate.
Commissioner Mason said he
wanted to discuss with the medical
schools the possibility of establish
ing a teaching center in the psyche
pathic division under arrangements
similar to those now existing in
other parts of the hospital.
In other steps to improve faclll-
ties in psychopathic division, Com
missioner Mason said he has asked
the Civil Service Commission to re-
classify attendants jobs to more
attractive salary scales and that he
is sending Mr.. SouthWick to Belle
vue Hospital in New York to see
how that municipal hospital segre-
gates chronic alcoholics and mental.
patients.
Sweeney Also Called.
Summoned to the conference In
addition to DR.. Rutland were DR..
A. r. Sweeney. superintendent Of
Gallinger; Robert D. Southwick, as-'
sistant superintendent, and DR..
Joseph l.. Gilbert, chief psychiatrist
of the hospital.
For the last three days, The Star
has described in series of articles
conditions in the psychopathic ward.
including the manacling of pa
tients, and has urged concerted ac-
ton to give Washington's mentally
i'll civilized treatment.
DR.. Rutland already was on rec
ord as believing the need for proper
mental treatment facilities at Gal
linger is so acute that construction
of new building should begin at
once, regardless of high building
costs.
He told The Star today that his
department has long been aware
that the city hospitals psychiatric
department was inadequate, as
charged in a series OF articles this
week in The Star.
Need Seen as Urgent.
He said his department has re-
peaedly asked for money to build
a modern psychiatric building and
enlarge the staff of psychiatrists,
but has been told by the District
Commissioners the work would have
to await lower construction costs.
The health officer said he thought
the situation was too urgent to per-
NIT further delay.
Earlier the Gallinger question was
brought up at q meeting in Pierce
Hall of the Voteless District League
of Women Voters this morning.
In response to a query from the
floor about the psychiatric depart
ment, DR., Rutland said:
Il think it's very unfair that DR..
Gilbert (chief Gallinger psychi-
atrist), who is doing his very best, is
being more or less pilloried for the
short rt-comings of that service"
Police Cooperation Praised.
In his prepared talk. the health
officer praised the cooperation Of
District police in helping his de-
partment check sanitation hazards.
The Health Department, he
pointed out, cannot effectively cover
the entire city with its limited staff
of food and sanitary inspectors.
He said the departments school
(See GALLINGER, Page A-4)
Siam King Will Be Urged