The Horry herald. (Conway, S.C.) 1886-1923, February 25, 1915, Image 2
HOSPITAL CONDITIONS
WERE INTOLERABLE
As Found by Dr. T. J. Strait,
New Superintendent, When
He Took Charge
APPOINTED ""LAST MARCH
Facts and Circumstances Under
Which He Had to Labor
Are Set Forth in Interesting
Letter.
Much has apeared in the public
prints lately about the State Hospital
for the Insane in Columbia. An expert
(or said to be) was sent for from
the North to look into the asylum and
make report. i t is report neglected
to blame the Legislators and Common
"Wealth of South Carolina for the conditions
he found there, and seemed
to want to cast as much reflection as
possible on the management of the in
stitution. The hospital was vastly improved
under Dr. Strait as any one
who has looked into the matter will be
bound to admit.
The conditions existing there when
Dr. Strait took charge last March, are
set forth in the following letter written
last week and mailed here to
the Judge of Probate along with a
report of J. A. Summerset and Dr.
Strait which was read before a Legislative
committee. The letter and report
or statement follows:
Intolerable Conditions.
"When 1 took charge of the State
Hospital March 17, 1914, I found the
place without a night watchman, back
gate broken down, waterway under
fence near the gate open; plank off
the fence back of stables, permitting
people to go in and out at will, earrv
ing off whatever they desired, coal,
wood, etc. Back yard covered with
decaying matter, such as soiled clothes,
soiled blankets, etc. Steam pipes
leaked, allowing quantities of steam
to escape; had this overhauled. Two
125 h. p. boilers, which would generate
about 150 pounds of steam, reduced
it to 70 pounds of steam sufficient
to run the whole thing, thereby saving
a great amount of coal.
Repaired sewer pipes all over the
building, rehabilitating lire hose in
the absence of fire escapes and had
the hydrants in the wards, eleven in
number, changed to conform to City
fire hose.
By using bread cutters which had
been laid aside, and distributing bread
differently, we saved, acording to the
baker's reeport, 82,000 loaves, and still
giving the patients all they desire.
The waste from the kitchen, acording
to the report of the wagon drivers,
ii \ % ?...
nas Doen reduced to one-liall.
The hospital for negro females has
been screened to protect them from
the flies, which was intolerable.
Had Labatory changed from old
building on account of dust, smoke
and other causes.
Had the basement of entire building
cleaned out, which contained
loads and loads of decomposed material
of one kind and another. Had all
disinfected and covered with lime. We
had other places on the yards that we
found needed it cleaned up and made
sanitary.
At State Park, before Dr. Patterson
took charge made considerable sanitary
improvement, under direction of
Dr. Blackburn, at Pill House by having
proper drainage and pipes placed
for dumping the refuse, and also by
having the tin cans destroyed by fire
instead of puncturing them.
Now with $15,000 for repairs, with
the storms we have had blowing down
our fences, etc., with not one cent for
improvements we have accomplished
this work. If you will give us the
V\ M /\n ?> f ?? ?-> ' 1 -? f * "1* ? - - ?*
iiintHiiii, aim ii liiu miuwiii^i
wc will show you what can he done
with the institution.
When I came I found the railroad
track which belonged to State Hospital
in such a condition that the railroad
refused to deliver freight over
the track, it cost us between $300.00
and $400.00 before we could get an ar
rangement made whereby the road
assume all expenses and take the rail
road track over, having to haul coal,
etc., from the main track.
I also found the lower gate opening
from the south into the Institution un
protected by screens or anything, and
the patients were trading through the
gate, crowds collecting on the outside
carrying on conversations with the patients
through the gate. This I screened
with tin to cut ofT the view from
the AiitsulA T T RTR A IT M n
Supt.
Mr. Chairman, and Gentlemen of the
Committee:?
In our consideration of this Bill in
connection with the one of Senator
Patterson, we are forced to the conclusion
that the object of both of those
Bills are merely to Legislate out of
office the present management of the
State Hospital for the Insane; the
Board of Regents and the Superintendent.
The people are told that the
cause or excuse of this drastic Legislation
is the present condition of the
institution. Now Gentlemen, The
present management do not question
your right to Legislate them out of
oftice, and if desired, by the "steam
roller process," but we do most earnestly
protest against being charged
that the present managemnent is in
any way responsible for those conditions
which have been harped about,
criticised and condemned. So therefore,
we submit when the present condition
of that institution is assigned
as the reason of this Bill and Kindred
Legislation the present management
is not getting a "square deal," and a
"square deal" is all we ask, and we
feel it is a reasonable request for us
to make of you, or any others interested.
to substantiate our contention,
allow us to quote the records, and only
the records. How long has the
present 'what is termed deplorable)
condition existed at this institution?
The record answers "at least six
years." For we find those very conditions
reported on by your 1909 Legislative
Committee, and in just about
the same terms as has been made this
year. Now when that 1909 Legislative
Committee made its report, no one
was legislated out of office on account
of those conditions that now calls for
all this legislation.
We suppose you can reason why,
and also why the attempt was made to
place the responsibility on the present
management for those conditions
which bring about this summary legislation.
As shown by our 1914 report, a majority
of Board of Regents and also
the Superintendent were appointed dv
ring 1914, and after the appropriation
for the institution had been made for
that year, and after plans and policies:
for the entire year of 1914 had been
tentatively agreed upon. Please bear
those facts in mind and consider the
further fact that the present report
on conditions of the institution shows
very little to have been done towards
the suggested improvements from the
1909 investigation to 1914, when the
present management assumed charge.
We are making no criticism of any,
former management and make no com
parison. We do, however, feel it our
duty to tell you what we have done
along constructive lines for the betterment
of the institution in the short
time we have been in charge.
In doing so, we ask you to bear ii
mind again that we fell heir to the
i: a. : i : 1 ~ c 1 i. ..1 i .
cuimu nuns iruuijjuum'u ul <uhi iuiu it
begin our labor without a single dol
lar having been appropriated for improvements
to the institution. We
have come to you, the first Dcgisla
lure since our incumbency with a ful.
report at the very first of your sossior
That report recommends and suggest;
practically everything of a constructive
character advanced by the report
of Dr. Herring. We stand for those
improvements as shown by the record.
We ask you to study our report am
note bow we have anticipate! the recommendations
of Dr. Herring and v
great deal of our report in turn wa.
taken from the exhaustive legislative
report of 1909, which no doubt some
of you have road, and we believe
would prove interesting, instructive
and beneficial to all of you.
As recommended by the 1914 legislative
investigating committee, we
have a business manager, appointed
temporarily, and we have put in force
a set of rules, or by-laws for the government
of the institution that we believe
have proven of benefit in system
atizing, organizing, as well as harmonizing
the cntr*<* force. Good fellow
ship and a spirit, of co-operation is
thus obtained ?~d is now evident.
We found the institution 'was maintaining
the railway side track with
the result, while costing considerable
was then in such a condition that i'
could not he used, making it necessary
for us to spend over $800.00 dray
age on coal alone. That condition has
now been overcome without cost under
a new contract whereby the maintenance
and repair to the track i.c
done by the railroad company.
Wo found a ten inch water mair.
with a "dead cod." which prevented
the circulation of our water supply
and also reduced the water pressure.
That has been remedied and without
cost to the institution.
We found eleven fire hydrants to
which the City Fire Department could
not attach their engines. These have
all been standardized, which materially
increases our fire protection.
We have put in force the operation
of the State Dark buildings, which has
added considerable to the work and
cost of the institution and manage
ment.
We have increased the medical
staff, as well as nurses and attendants
to the end that better care may he
given the inmates.
i We have increased the equipment
and work of Pathologist to a consider
able extent, which is a decided improvement
in the medical affairs of
' the institution. More reports are now
made, and more records of patient:
kept than ever before.
We require our Chaplain to hold
separate survices for the races, to visit
State Park colony, to personally
look after the proper preparation and
burial of all who are buried by tin in
stitution.
We have added a night watchman,
installed a standard clock system; had
the accounts of the Treasurer audited;
the plumbing officially inspected; the
tire protection inspected by the City's
Fire Chief; screening done for the nc-j
gro hospital ward; and other like improvements.
We have recently had a committee
to visit the Central State Hospital at
Petersburg, Va., which we understand
to be one of the best managed insane
hospitals in the Country. We now
have plans on foot for the further improvement
of our institution to conform
to the methods we found in vogue
at Petersburg; both in the medical
and husinoRs d oiiii u nc ii'?11 ?ic I
the physical condition of the property
?the physical condition of the property
is the primary cause of the present
conditions that are condemned.
We all know this to be true.
In conclusion let us again say we
are not specially concerned about
holding our positions. If you desire
to legislate us out of office, be fair.
enough to us to state reasons that are
more in accord with the records and
the known facts. Do not allow, stated ,
or claimed, that is on account of con- j
ditions that you know we are no more
responsible for than you are yourselves,
but on the other hand, have done
all in our power with the means at our
hands to ameriorate and ovorconu i
those very conditions.
You may perhaps pass this Bill, and
thus prevent us from having the opportunity
of putting in force and effect
tlie very ideas of improvement
you all seek, and that arc recommended
in our report to you. In the event
that you do this (pass this measure)
will you not in justice to us, place
this, our statement of our position in
your permanent Journal. That in after
years anyone interested may form !
their own opinion and conclusions as
to our work for the institution and
the cause of our removal, and whether
or not this action of this legislature!
establishes a precedent for future j
legislative enactment of like charaeter.
Respectfully submitted,
J. A. Summerset,
President.
T. J. Strait,
Superintendent.
effci?gr?t kidney
remedy soon realized
I feel it my duty to let vou know
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and decided to try Swamp-Root.
Used five bottles and it has been five
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troubles and he took your Swamp- i
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about live years ago.
You may publish this letter if yov.;
choose. Verv truly yours,
MRS. MATT IE CAM FIELD,
R. F. 1). No. 3. Gobleville, Mich.
Subscribed and sworn to before mc
this loth day of July, 1909.
Arvin W. Myers,
Notary Public,
for Van Duron Co., Mich.
Letter to I
I)r. Kilmer & Co., j
Binghamptoli, N. Y. |
Prove What Swamp-Root Will Do fori
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stores.?adv.
GERMAN PAPERS SHOW HEAT.
Berlin, Feb. IK.?Dip Post, commenting
on Germany's reply to the
American note, says Germany does
not recede one hair's breadth from
the measures announced for a submarine
blockade of English waters.
"America's bluff assumption that
we could assume responsibility for the
endangering or destruction of American
ships," Die Post says, "is flatly
rejected. The answer will not fail of
its purpose if it convinces the Washington
government that neither the
German people nor its leaders will
give way in weakly compliance or
fear, as plainly is hoped in Washington."
"After this note," says the Cologne
Gazette, "who misunderstands the pur
pose and the manner of the German
i course is no longer neutral in our
OV'PS."
The Vossische Zcitung says tho note
does not make use of the excited tone
indulged in by America when a single
ship load of weapons was delivered in
Mexico by Germany.
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The Old Standard Grove's Tasteless
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General Tonic because it contains the
well known tonic propertiesof QUININE
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I out Malaria, Enriches the Blood and
Guilds up the Whole by idem. 50 ceut3.
NOTE OF PROTEST i
PROMPTLY ANSWERED
By Authority of Great Britain
In Conciliatory Tone
COMPLETE~REPLY IS MADE
Great Britain Denies Interference
With Neutral Commerce
on the High Seas?
Claims Certain Rights.
Great Britain's second and complete (
reply to the American note of protest,
which, on December 28 last, asked for
an early improvement in the treatment
of American commerce by the ,
British fleet, was made public last ;
week by mutual agreement between
the State Department and the British
foreign olliee.
The note, addressed to Ambassador
Page by Sir Edward Grey under date
of February 10, denies that the dc- '
pression in American industries is due
to the activity of the British fleet, and
suggests among other causes the
shortage of shipping facilities, the
consequent diminution of cotton trade
and the "destruction of many neutral
ships by submarines, laid by the enemy
indiscriminately."
The communication contains the announcement
that GreatBritain intends
to take retaliatory measures against
the German submarine campaign on
enemy ships, but does not reveal their
nature.
Sees No Difference.
Conceding that food stuffs intended
for the civil population of a country
are not contraband, the British government
points out that "in any country
in which there exists such tremendous
organization for war as now obtains
in Germany, there is no clear
division between those whom the governmentis
responsible for -feeding and
those whom it is not."
"It will still be our endeavor," says
the note, "to avoid injury and loss tc
neutrals, but the announcement by the
German government of their intention
to sink merchant vessels and their .
cargoes without verification of thoi:
nationality or character and withou ,
making any provisions for the safety
of non-combatant crews by giving
them a chance for saving their lives
has made it necessary for his majesty ,
government to consider what measures
they should adept to protect then
interests. It is impossible for one belligerent
to depart from rules ar.d pre
cedents and for the other to remain
bound by them."
Supplementing the preliminary reply
of several weeks ago, the 1:0v.
note is about 10,000 words long and i:
eludes not only slntk-ti nl argumentbut
a further dis<- i; n of the lega
principles involve
50,000 RUSSIANS ARE "!
mm PRISONERS:
Also Large Number of Russian
Cannon Arc Captured
MAZURIAN LAKE FIGHTING
In Nine Days of Fighting in
Mazurian Lake District Terrible
Slaughter and Carnage
Resulted.
Fifty thousand prisoners and many
Cannon and machine guns were captur
ed by ihe Germans when the J?uss:nn
tenth army v.*.is defer t.-d m *he Ma/u
rian lake dirtr'ct, Ei?t -Vc>si?i according
to as general hn.: t ; la te
statement. Its lot fo'uiA'-.:
"In a nine days' miotic in the Mazurian
lake district the Itussian tenth
army, consisting of at least 11 infantry
and several cavalry divisions, not
only was driven i ut cl* strongly entrenched
positions east of Mazurian
lake plateau, but was (need lack
across the frontier.
* Vtterly defeated, at alnu-st every
point, only the remnants of the army
* ?"? ! n ;i r? tVi/i umrxlo nnet of I
tW * V.UVII "VVUO VWOV WA
Suwalki and Augustowo, where they
are being pursued. The number of
prisoners taken has not been ascertained,
but certainly exceeded 50,000.
More than 50 cannon and 60 machine
guns, besides an unknown quantity of
war material were captured.
"Emperor William was present during
the decisive fighting in the center
of our line. The victory was won
by veteran East Prussian troops assisted
by other troops who were
young for such work, but proved their
worth.
"The achievments of these troops
under fearful weather conditions,
marching by day and night and fight
ing against such a stubborn enemy,
are beyond all praise."
Make Blockade Effective.
Germany's reply to the protest of
the United States against designation
of a naval war zone about the British
Isles is couched in the most friendly
terms but firmly maintains the positions
of Germany as already announced.
I
CALOMEL DYNAMI1
MAXES YOU JICI
"Dodsoa's Lher Tom" Starts Your Urn
Batter Thai Calomel and Yon Don't
Lose a Dai's Work
Liven up your sluggish liver! Feci
fine and cheerful; make your work a
pleasure; bo vigorous and full of ambition.
But take no nasty, dangerous
calomel because it makes you sick and
you may lose a day's work.
Calomel is mercury or quicksilver
which causes necrosis of the bones.
Calomel crashes into sour bile like
dynamite, breaking it up. That's when
you.feel that awful nausea and cramping.
Listen to me! If you want to enjoy
the nicest, gentlest liver and bowel
cleansing you ever exj>ericnced just toko
a spoonful of harmless Hudson's Liver
SITUATION WAS GRAVE
THOUGHT WASHINGTON
Officials in Washington Think
Danger Zone Round England
is Dangerous Indeed
LATE IN ANSWERING. NOTE
But Despite Crisis in Affairs,
Diplomatic Relations Were
c? a ? - "
obin uourieo ' a,s Jiivcr.
Secretary Bryan said late last week j
that no reply had been received from
Germany to the American note concerning
submarine attacks on the belligerent
merchant vessels in the new
sea war zones under the German admiralty's
proclamation which went into
effect last Friday. If a reply to
the proclamation of the United States
had been delivered in Berlin to Ambassador
Gerrard, the state department
had not been apprised of that
fact.
Publication of the text of Great
Britain's complete reply to the American
communication concerning contraband
and neutral shipping,'which contained
a warning that if Germany abandons
the principles of international
law by refusing to verify the charactor
of a merchant ship before attacking.
England may not be bourn,
by the rules hitherto accepted, injected
into the general situation further
uncertainties on which the development
oT the next few days were generally
expected to have an important
bearing.
Full of Danger.
While White llov.se and State D
pa,-tmont ofii: ie.is did rot cir <"ia;s what j
might bo done if an\ American vesse
)] lives should !;e i st in tin war : or :
it was admitted on all sides that 1:
situation was frought with ma.n;,
grave possihiiitic-s.
Representatives of the German gov
eminent arc entirely friendly in the ir
conferences wuh Ambassador Gerard. |
and there is nothing to show tin t
officially there has been any eh a. j.?
in the good relations which have
hitherto existed.
The manner cf carrying out the
submarine campaign is awaited with
considerable anxiety. It was hoped
that sir.ee negotiations with neutral
governments were pending the German
proclamation would not actually
be carried into effect for a few days.
May Go in Place.
Many American vessels will he in
the war zone in thte next few days
and these will be afforded, it is believed,
an opportunity to reach their destinations.
The recent suggestion from German
sources that American merchantmen
might escape attack if convoyed by
an American warship has not met
with approval in naval envies here.
It was suggested that the threatened
British retaliation for the German
war zone order may be a blockade of
the German coast. In that case not
even an American man of war would
have the right to pass the blockade
lines alone
Formal notice by the British of the
blockade and recognition of it by the
United States would at once remove
from the field of diplomacy negotiations
on all questions relating to the
right of neutral nations to send cargoes
of food to the civil population of
the blockade state.
Russian Official Statement
Petrograd, Feb. 18.?The general
staff today issued this statement:
"On the right bank of the Vistula
the fighting has been going on in almost
the same localities with great
ferocity in certain sectors.
"In the region of the Nieman river
we nave found only patrols of the enmy.
"On the left bank of the Vistula
there has been no change."
I THE GR
MfnJ en A successful
BjLy mJP and all Blood ]
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Millions of people are using Dodson's
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the sale of Calomel is almost stooped
entirely here.
NICKELS 50-CAR BILL WAS KILL;
ED IN UPPER HOUSE.
The bill requiring railroads over 50
miles in length operating in this State
to limit to 50 cars the total number of
cars composing freight trains was kill
Gfl hv t li<? Bonntfl Wo/Jmao/Iom l-...
?>.v W ? ? WUIV/OVHI^Y U^V ((!
record vote of 24 to 15, after extended!
debate. Senator Nickles introduced!
this bill in the senate, and it was sim-!
ilar in its provisions to the Graydoril
bill passed last week through the low-!
er branch of the general assembly. I
The debate on the 50-car bill waJ
o])one(l in the senate Wednesday 1
Senator Carlisle, who vigorously np!
posed its passage. He said the hill!
would stop railroad development!
which this State so greatly needed!
and he stated that the passage of tin!
hill would cripple the development of!
the port of Charleston and divert the!
commerce from to th ports ifl
Wilmington, Savannah and Norfoll^B
The Spartanburg senator referred to!
the fate of the full crew bill which!
the people of Missouri overwhelming!
!y defeated at a referendum and h!
said that vote proved strongly ti.at!
the people were tired of legislature!
"baiting" the railroads. He deniW!
that the bill would work for the safe!
i.v of the railroad employees, and sai<!
South Carolina had been hamperet!
sufficiently by anti-railroad legislation!
and h p!< ad wit th< : cnate not t!
pass the hill and stop the railroad < < !
velcpmcnt now in full force in Souti"!
Senator Sharp said the bill struct!
at the Vf ry prosperity of the Stat(!
end dees not help towards the safctj!
f the railroad employees. He refer!
! to the bill as class !c gCiation !
o:.:\ general laws under w'.ij!
all people and interests could kajjj^H
a chance should he enacted. He uvg!
A ;;i ..us. ir-a <f v. hat he termed cx!
ir..\uiga;vc on the p: rt of the real!
reads was nude t.y henator \ eria !
favor of the bill. He believes, he sai<!
t; ]),. b'U vr.ulrl lifir, Cnv 1 U#? cm tV
of the employees and that its passag
would r.ol stifle or hinder develop
mcnl and lie decs not believe the rail
roads are as poor as they make out
Senator Laney favored the bill be
cause he thought the railroad em
ploycs had good and just reasons fo
asking for the passage of the bill an
he believed it would mean for thei
safety and he did not believe in put
ting the dollar above the safety of th
ployecs. Senator Wightman, I). I
Johnson, R. 1). Epps, Godwin, J oh
F. Williams spoke for the bill, whil
Senator Banks opposed its passage.
Senator Nickles closed the debat
with a plea for the enactment of th
bills into law. When he closed hi
speech he demanded the call of th
ayes and nays on the motion by Sent
tor Mullins to strike out the enactin
words of the bill, and the senat
adopted the motion and by a vote c
24 to 15 killed the bill.
The vote by which the Nickles 5(
car bill was killed came at 1:4
o'clock at the close of an all-day di
I lliltf* urU a xr nfrwl f a Irill 1 I*1
UMWI * IIV/OV/ YT 11V7 V tu Ail*
bill were: Appelt, Banks, Bricc, Blac^B
Carlisle, Christenscn, E. C. Epps, E-?
ans, Ginn, Goss, Harvey, Alan Joh^H
stone, Ketchin, Lee, Manning,
Gown, Mullins, O'Dell, Paterso^B
Richardson, Sharpe, Sinkler, Walke^B
D. R. Williams, total, 24. H
Those who vote<l for the bill wer^|
Beamguard, Beattie, Earle, R.
Epps, Goodwin, Hughes, D. B. Joh^^
son, Laney, Nickles, Sherard, Spingd^
Stuckey, Verner, Wightman, John
Williams, total, 15.
One pair was announced, Li^|
against the bill with Nicholson for
The senate at 2 o'clock recessed ?|
meet at 8 o'clock. , Kj
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