Evening star., 1949-02-10
Two Delegates
View Conditions
AtCrownsviIIe
Policies Approved,
Need for Buildings
And Stuff Stressed
By J. B. Zotmon
Stor Stoff CORRESPONDENT

stor Stoff Correspondent
ANNAPOLIS, Feb. 10.-Beds
jammed so close together there ID
no room to pass.
Railways and porches converted
into wards.
No recreational facilities, no oc-
therapy room, medical
standing idle for lack
of trained operators.
These were some of the condi.
tions seen yesterday during a sur
prise visit to the Brownsville State
Hospital near here by two Mont
gomery County delegates to the
General Assembly and Star re-
porter and photographer.
After their tour of inspection,
Anders R. Lofstrand, jr., delega-
tion chairman, and Mrs. Leona
M. Rush described conditions at
the States only institution for
colored mental detectives as "ter-
rible."
Policies Approved.
They said they could find mo
fault" with the policies of DR..
Jacob Morgenstern, hospital su-
perintendent, adding that the
principal need appeared to be ad-
dltional buildings and employees.
To bring this about, they PROM
ised to support proposals for in
creased funds. For the fiscal year
beginning July l, Lane has asked
an allotment of $1,359,622. This
is about $500,O00 less than the
$1,84l,025 asked by DR.. Morgen-
stern. The currect appropriation
is ST 1,201,152.
The spacious lawns surrounding
the institution were in sharp con-
trast to the crowded conditions
inside, where there are about 1900
men. women and children crowded
into space intended to accommo-
date 1900.
Caring for these patients are 116
nurses and male attendants, less
than half the 237 needed. Ac-
cording to DR.. Morgenstern, there
is one nurse or attendant for every
% patients during the day. and
one for every IS patients at night.
He said the American Psychiatric
Association has recommended q
ratio of one nurse or attendant
for every four patients day and
night.
Transfer of 80 Urged.
Among the inmates is a group
Of about 80 criminally insane men
who, according to DR.. Morgen-
stern, should be transferred to the
Spring Grove State Hospital at
Catonsville, where there are more
adequate facilities. Spring Grove
has refused to admit them, how
ever, claiming it has no room.
Because of the shortage of en-
ployes. about $50 of the patients
at Brownsville have been pressed
into service in the kitchen, the
carpentry shop and on the hos
pital farm.
Better treatment could be given
them, DR.. Morgenstern said, in q
supervised occupational therapy
program. But the room originally
intended for that purpose has long
been used as a ward.
The hospital superintendent dis
played a chart showing that the
rate of admittance of new patients
has shown steady increase dur
ing the last three years, rising
from 589 in 1916 to 648 in 1948.
The number discharged each year
has failed to keep pace with this
increase with 452 inmates released
last year.
Some Could Be Released.
Some of the older patients
could be released. thus making
available much-needed beds, If
there were some place they could
go and receive adequate care, DR..
Morgenstern said.
IF we discharge them" he as
serted, they will just end up in
the streets and be sent back here"
Food appeared adequate but
lacked variety. Although the cost
per meal for each inmate amounts
to only IA cents, DR.. Morgenstern
insisted the patients receive the
proper amount of calories.
Near the dining room is what
used to be a hall. 1t has been
blocked off and contains 19 beds,
all of which are practically touch
ing each other. There is no space
for any tables or chairs. The
converted hall should have only
10 beds. each 3 feet apart, DR..
Morgenstern said. The fire haz-
ard under present conditions is
obvious" he added.
Some patients must sleep on
mattresses because there is no
room for beds.
New Building Needed.
One of the principal needs Is
an admission building, where new
patients could receive immediate
treatment. He estimated about
rs per cent of those admitted for
the first time could be discharged
within three months after they
entered if such facilities were
available. Only one new building
has been erected at the hospital
in the last IL years, he said.
Another urgent need is for
housing for physicians and at
tendants, and for a maintenance
allowance for those forced to live
outside the hospital. There are
10 physicians and at least six
more are needed.
Miller Resigns as Head
OF Brownsville Board
BALTIMORE, Feb. 10 (P.-The
president Of the board of managers
at the Brownsville State Mental
Hospital for Negroes announced