Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-02-22
no REFUGE EVEN FOR MEASLES.
The Bureau Of Health Suggests the Build
ing of an Addition to the
Municipal Hospital.
AN EPIDEMIC ON AT WEST BELLEVUE.
Som. Colo Stubborn Statements Brought Out in Letter
70 Mayer Gourley.

been reported from that district
Doctors fear that the disease will spread
beyond its present limits. In fact several
cases have been reported from
the flooded districts, both in Pitts
burg and Allegheny. Almost every
person who passed through the flood
is suffering from bad cold. The constitu-
tions OF all the food sufferers are weakened
TO such an. extent that they will fall ready
prev to anv form of disease. These facts,
together with the wet rooms, with damp, bad
smelling cellars underneath, offer sufficient
reason 10 believe that the danger from
a general sickness among the victims OF
the food is more serious than people had
imagined This has aroused the authorities
to a realization of the fact that neither of the
twin cities is able to take care of any un-
usual number OF sick.
A letter received bv Mayor Gourley yes
teriay brought with it an additional force,
aud shows that neither of the cities of Pitts
burg and Allegheny offers place where
p.rsons suffering with contagious or in
Iectious diseases can be properly nursed
and receive medical attendance. This is as
true OF the man who has money to buy every
comfort as II is of the pauper. Smallpox
is the only disease that will find q refuge
and all other cases of infectious or con-
tacious diseases are barred. There is not an
institution, city. county or State, in all
Allegheny county that will care even for 4
case of measles.
No Refuge for the Sufferers.
With all the great institutions CT which
the city boasts, stranger suffering from any
of these diseases is liable to be lett TO die in
the streets, even though he has money to
paw for everv comfort. In consequence of
this lamentable state of affairs the Bureau of
Health will ask for money TO erect an addi
tional building near the municipal hospital,
or the "pesthouse, as it is more generally
called
The secret of the whole matter is that
hospitals will not take any contagious or in
fectouS cases because of the danger to the
other patients They claim to have no
method of isolating such cases. The same
is true OF the hospitals at the City Farm and
county home. The pest house cannot be
used, it is claimed, for ANYTHING except
smallpox, for the reason that the patient is
liable to also fall q victim to that maladv.
An instance of this was brought up yes
terday by a common sense letter which was
received by Nayor Gourley. 1t was from
physician well known in the city. who
would not allow his name to be used, and
told how every door in the two cities had
been shut against a man suffering with
measles. 1t was as follows:
Futile Search for Shelter
Last Tuesday met on the streets of Pitts
burg young man from Homestead who had
the measles. He had been stopping with a
family where there were children, but had been
TO West Virginia on a visit for two weeks. and
when he returned was sick. He came to Pitts
burg to 60 to some hospital, IN order that the
children where he had been might not get the
disease. On Monday evening he tried to get in
the hospital on tEe Southside. They would not
take him. l ItelepAoned TO the Homeopathic
Mercy, West Penn ana the Allegheny General
HOSPITALS. asking them to take care OF case of
measles and got the answer: "Oh! we do not take
? case Of measles here" l then went with him
70 the Central police station and was referred
10 the Department of Charities. There we were
Geferred to Mr.. RitchiP. of the Sheriff's office
On calling at the office of that official we
learned he was a member of the County Poor
Board. but could not be found. and that the
Two other members of the board lived, respect
Ivelv at CoraopOis and McKeesport. Then we
went 70 the railroad station thinking we would
Charters branch was knocked ont by the flood,
and was selling no tickets to Woodville.
Now this is pretty state of affairs for city
like PIttsburg. that boasts of its great chari-
table. phIlautrOpnic institutions and hospitals
and yet cannot or won't take care of a case of
measles. This man has been in the county
since 1885, and did not ask to be taken without
pay but that does not matter. He deserved to
be taken care of, when he was resident of the
county. / dare say there is not city in the
country that has any pride at all, that is so
badly OFT PittsourC in this regard. and think
II high time something is done TO remedy this,
and give sick person 4 place to lay his head.
Great Need for City Hospital.
Alter glaucing over the letter Mayor
GourIey said: sit simply shows The great
need of a good municipal hospital, for we
must confess that we are unable to care for
such cases except at the pest house. and it
would hardly be safe to place any person not
suffering with smallpox in that hospital
The citv must sooner or later erect a good
municipal hospital where all such cases can
he cared for properly. 1t would not be safe
TO place contagious cases in the other los
pitals and risk the lives of the other
patients"
Major Hunker. Secretary of the Allie
gheny Poor Board, was shown the letter and
admitted the truth OF its statements He
said: st would be impossible for hospitals
to take contagious cases, because they have
no way of isolating them. L don't know
why hospitals cannot make arrangements to
keep such patients without endangering the
lives OF the others. There ought certainly
to De some way found. OF course we could
not take them at the city farm, but will
allow such patients TO be placed in the pest
house if they are willing to take the risk
! knew there should be such place, but
there is not. If the two cities were consoli-
dated we could build a municipal hos
pital."
Examiner Hoffman, of the Department OF
Charities, SAYS there are no doors open for
contagious diseases, and that the only solu-
ton is the erection of municipal hospital.
"When such cases are sent to the Depart
ment of Charities" said Mr.. Hoffman, 1--WE
are unable TO do anything, for there is no
place where We can send them even if they
are able to pay Tor being cared for"
Puzzled the Bureau of Health
When the people at tine Health Office had
Just such a case as that referred to in the
above letter put at them, they were non-
plussed-with but two executions within the
p"st nine years had they occasion to deal
nvith eases of contagious diseases other than
smallpox.
SAID Superintendent Baker, OF the Blu.
rsau Of Health: There is no place in the
city of Pittsburg, that is, no hospital
whether private, supported bv voluntary
contribution, or in charge of the city
authorities, where person suffering from
such diseases as measles, diphtherla or scar.
let fever could be taken. In fact, il is a
very hard matter TO secure entrance into a
hospital of a person who has a case of cry
sipelas. All persons who suffer from dis
eases that are liable to spread must seek