Evening star., 1949-04-28
Stebbing toHead
GaI|inger;;P Plans
New Program
Fovors Psyehiotrie
Treatment for Mental
= Patients at Hospital

LII. +. n, Il. SCeDDln, VINO Wi
become superintendent of Gal
linger Hospital May Is, said to
day he favors short-term psychi
atric treatment for mental pa
tients at the city hospital an
will work toward that ideal.
At present, as The Star ha
repeatedly pointed out, Gallinger'
much-criticized psychopathic di
vision is more of a clearing hous
than a treatment center.
DR., Stebbing. who is now med
zeal superintendent of the hos
pital, pointed out that patient
in the psychopathic division &c
treatment only for their physica
condition, but not for their men
tai condition.
Asked how he feels about tn,
manacling of mental patients, h,
said the. elimination of these me
chanical restraints is IAN ideal t,
be strived for
Personnel Is Problem.
He said he will delve into thu
question of the distribution o,
nursing care throughout the hos.
pital although. until he has don.
so, he cannot guarantee that the
psychopathic division will get any
more help. Undertaking is tht
current explanation for patient,
being manacled instead of carec
for in seclusion rooms or giver
continuous baths to soothe them
AS for the hospital in general
Dr.. Stebbing, whose appointment
was announced today, said he
wants every department head te
know specifically at the beginning
of the fiscal year how much
money. he will have to spend fol
the year on supplies. That is not
being done at present.
DR.. Stebbing said he intends to
work closely with the District bud
get Office. Il will make extraor-
dinary efforts to keep within the
budget" he said. but when thai
is not possible will let the bud
get Office know about it as soon
as I know"
Survey Asked by Mason.
In that connection, Commits
sioner Guy Mason has asked for
a survey of the fiscal and supply
situation at Gallinger. District
Auditor A. r. Pilkerton and Pur-
chasing Officer Roland M. Bren-
nan will make the survey next
Tuesday.
Mr.. Brennan said he will pro-
pose closer cooperation between
the supply and fiscal branches OF
the hospital and more authority
for the supply officer.
DR.. Stebbing said vi1e had no
tnkling that he was under con-
sideration for the superintendent
job until last Monday. While he
knows the working of the hospital
we'll through his long service there,
he said he is not familiar with
some aspects of administration
and will have to study them.
He succeeds DR.. Alvin r
Sweeney. who mailed his resigna
ton to Health Officer George c
Ruhland today after serving a.
superintendent for four years.
At the same time. DR.. Ruhlane
announced that DR.. Joseph F
Fazekas. chief medical officer al
Gallinger. will become chief oi
staff. DR.. Fazekas on May Ii
will replace DR.. P. S. Rossiter
who rendered his resignation last
September, but has been awaiting
q replacement.
Ends Job Merger Plan.
DR.. Rutland said the appoint
ments signify the end of an earlier
proposal to consolidate the posts
Of superintendent and chief oi
staff in one $l5,000-a-year job.
Health Ofi1cer Rutland saic
DR.. Sweeney. who is 66, retired
in order to take a much needed
rest before entering private prac-
tices
DR.. Stebbing, who is Is, was borr
In Kitchener. Ontario, but movee
to Washington at the age of 4
Attending elementary and high
schools here. he enrolled in tn,
George Washington University
Law School for a year and workes
for a brief period as an attendant
at st. Elizabeths Hospital.
Got Georgetown Degree.
He graduated from Georgetown
University and took his medica
degree from Georgetown in 1880
After interning at Gallinger, h,
entered private practice here, re
turning two years later to Gallin
ger as admitting officer and chic
resident physician.
During the war, DR.. Stebbin,
served in Army hospitals in New
Zealand and Saipan. He returne,
to duty at Gallinger in 1916.
DR.. Fazekas. 80, has been chic
medical officer at Gallinger for {
year. He entered the Albany
N. Y, Medical College after l,
years of research in physiology an,
pharmacology. After working a
the Pratt Diagnostic Institute II
Boston for several years, he cam
to Gallinger last July as chic
medical officer. He resides with hi
family at l Stockton road, Silve
Spring, Md. He had been makinl
$9,975 a,year.
Eligible for Navy Pay.
DR.. Sweeney has been eligible TO
retirement pay from the Navy sine
1945 when he left that service witt
the rank of captain. He has beer
unable to draw retirement pa.
while on the District payroll, how
ever. DR.. Rossiter is retired rea
admiral.
DR.. Rossiter's pay has beer
$4,000 a year. paid by the George
town and George Washington Uni
versity Medical Schools. Th'
$4,000 salary offered DR.. Fazeka
,nroho hlv means that the DiSfrir