abe

SAE/MON

-s« Yeerans’ HOSPrraL 7387,
XXAXXXKK AKAAKKKAXAAKAAAN

LK/LB. ) Waukesha, Wisconsin,
March 18, 1922.

Dr. Thomas W. Salmon,

Wedieal Advisor,
National Comittee for Mental Hygiene,
Larehmont, New Yorks

Dear Dr. Salmon:

Inasmuch es you have always manifested a friendly interest
toward this hospital, I am going to tell you about an imeident Which
has just closed and ebout which you have probably heard some incom-
plete reports. ope |

Two patients who had been receiving salvarsan treatments died of
pneumonia last week. Two deaths in one week are so unusual with us
that the incident naturally excited some comment, and among our nervous
patients some fear that someone might have been poisoned. The State
Commander of the Legion has given the lecal post in the hospital, orders
to report any grievance to him. They reported these deaths. He immed
{ately called up the Governor and asked for an investigation and gave
out to the associated press that three people had been poisoned and
that he would see that the thing was not whitewashed as was our usual
custom under such circumstances, We naturally got some publicity.

Dr. Loreng of Madison was called in to do an autopsy on one of the
patients. He also investigated the records of all three patients,
(A third one was a case of general paralysis of the who died
several weeks previously)» Dr. Lorenz found double pneumonia as the
cause of desth and no evidence whatever of salvarsan poison. He ex-
amined the reeords of all three cases, questioned the doctors who had
been treating them, and expressed his approval of what had been done.

This man, Edward J. Barrett, State Commander of the American
Legion seems to be the last word in pin headed fools. He is « doctor
but has not practiced for shout 18 years, although he served in the
army. Personally he seems to be agreeable and he pretends he is try-
ing to cooperate with us. He seys it is a great mistake ever to have
a Legion post established at this hospital, and that our patients are
generally irresponsible and unreliable, although he admits he has
encouraged them to send him reports. As a measure of his judgment and
sincerity you may judge from the following:+- He told me goon after
arriving here that I ought to get rid of most of my subordinates.

Dr. Heldt especially was no good. After allowing him to ranble about
this for some time I told him that in my opinion Dr. Heldt was one of
the best men in the country for this kind of work, and that the
i

i

‘Dre Thomas Ws Salmons whe

National Committee had given $10,000 per year in order to get him away from

mee He said he did not care how wich Dire Holdt was offered, he knew that
he wag no goods He, by the wy, never heard of the lati onal Comittee for
Mental Hygienes Dr. Barrett expressed confidence in ne, but after what I
told him, he has no doubt lost it by this time beoause of my defense of
Dre Heldt and some others about whom he knew nothings

He asked about an old deteriorated chronic alecholie who accosted him
in the leobbys .1t was an outrage he thought thet a diagnosis of chronic
alcoholism should be made on this mane This was more evidence that things
were wrénz around heres He gave out reports in the newapapers shout this
building heiag e fire trap, anid generally seemed to be in a malicious frame
of mind, I inten? to cooperate ani be polite with thie man and the Lecion
ac far as possible in matters pertaining te the hoerital, but when it comes
to dispensing with valued employeer ond making dlacnoses te confirm to his
ignorance or malice, I draw bhe line. Before doling this I would be kicked out
myselfe — sie

 

Very truly yours,

#80n In Armes