New York City, Aug. 20, 1899.
To the Editor:
—Notwithstanding the fact of numerous applicants for the post of superintendent, the vacancy in the Government Hospital for the Insane yet awaits a successor to the late incumbent whose death occurred several months ago. We learn from Washington that the delay in making the appointment is a matter of no small concern among those interested, who are chiefly the applicants for the position, the hospital attendants and the inmates themselves, many of whom, though of unsound mind, have enough intelligence to feel and express a lively interest in the matter.That this institution, so well endowed by the Government, and having so many possibilities in the way of clinical material that might be utilized for the advancement of science, should have a competent specialist in mental and nervous diseases as its medical head is a consummation devoutly to be wished. We