Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-11-24
The Proper Site for the Hospital.

citizens of Mount Pleasant, regarding the
site purchased last June by the Commits
sioners Of the District for the location of
| contagious disease hospital. as stated
in The Star, do not think II would be out
of place to call attention to the recommen-
dation of a former health officer on the
subject which was published In The Even
ing Star of June G, 1893, in which he claim
ed that the best location for a hospital
for persons suffering from a contagious
disease is at the point mentioned in his
report, which said:
The question of the location a site for
the contagious disease hospital has
sunled such proportions that think IL may
be of interest to quote a letter. prepared
on the subject about a year ago, when
complaint was made of the place where
| the present smallpox hospital is situated.
II still hold the views therein expressed
| that the point mentioned is the most de-
sirable for the purpose. The letter read as
follows:
Examination of the smallpox hospital,
adjacent 10 the District Jail, erected some
years ago on the site of the ruins of the
old building put there by order Of the board
of health in 1872. has been made with
view to its repair and as to its adaptable
ity for the reception and care of patients
should there be an outbreak of the dread
disease i'm the District of Columbia
THE structure. which has not been used
for several years for the purpose designed,
with capacity for fifty or sixty patients.
has lain idle since the spring of 1888, when
the last case of smallpox disappeared from
our midst. A cursory look at the establish
ment, inside and out, shows the usual de-
cay that occurs in all buildings abandoned
for so long time The roof. weather
boards, floors and plastering are sadly d.
lapidated, the porches and steps are re-
| Dinders of the adjuncts of that character
OF ancient buildings in the eastern hem
isphere so frequently described by tourists
But, even considering this condition of
the building. think that 1t can be put in
proper order for the reception of patients
at at least half the cost of construction of
new hospital. | am not a carpenter or
builder, and, while L might make rough
estimates of the sum of money nect ssary
Tor these repairs, / would rather that the
services of the Inspector of buildings Capt
Entwisle, should be called into requisition
TO determine the expense. Its location for
The purposes designed l hardly think can
| he surpassed anywhere in the District of
Columbia. If We must have pest house
what better place could there be selected?
Its situation Is not nearer than 400 to 500
| feet from the District JAIL On public
| ground, facing a river, with no likelihood
OF dwellings, being erected in its vicinity
| for years to come. and the danger of con-
tagion spreading from there is at the mini
| mum.
| THE construction of such a hospital in
| any other part of the District adjoining
| or adjacent to private property, even III
upon the utmost bounds of any rortion of
| the District, would cause the same If not
! greater, complaint than has been heard
! from the Jail. A brick yard is nigh there,
| but hardly near enough, in my opinion, to
| cause fear of the few laborers there en-
| ployed contracting the disease from the
unfortunates domiciled therein and GER
| tainly the bricks will not suffer.
I'VE large wards, one for males the
| other Tor females, and some seven or eight
smaller rooms for office, kitchen and other
| purposes, are provided and the structure
| throughout, II properly repaired painted
| and cleansed, is admirably arranged for the
| purpose originally intended, and 1 cannot
see. as before stated, where better To-
| cation can be found for the care of the
| afflicted from this class of diseases than
there. - -..-.- -.. -,
II would therefore recommend that an
appropriation be urged for the purpose of
! putting this building in good condition on
/ its present site for the comfort of those
| who cannot be isolated and properly cared
| for at their homes. While / cannot say
| that 1 am in any way alarmed, nor think
| that We are threatened with an early APP
proach or visitation of smallpox to our
! capital yet l believe precautionary meas
| I'll es should be taken, with concern for the
/ Welfare of the unfortunates, as well as the
! people WHO are liable to come in contact
| with them If not promptly removed to the
| hospital Further, If We are not visited by
| this malady, the building, after being put
| in proper order, may be utilized for the
| care of those who are sick with scarlet
| fever, diphtheria or other contagious dis
| eases requiring hospital treatment and
| accommodations.
! The grounds east of the hospital, near
| the river, and owned by the United states,
| could be used for the establishment or
| plant for the disnrection, renovation or
! destruction OF bedding, clothing or other
| infected material
."The words CONTAGIOUS diseases sub
! stituted for smallpox would cover the
| project now being agitated
Approach to a hospital at this site could
| I,y,I tar
! the corporate limits of the city, Yet II is
! and probably will remain isolated for many
! years / recommended speedy construction
! of the necessary buildings
Il do not fear to express the opinion that
! an establishment OF a hospital for conta-
/ gious diseases, built on scientific principles,
| with isolated wards for the various dis
eases, would be Of incalculable benefit to
! the people of the District of Columbia
should emergency arise for it's use, and
that far less danger of the spread of such
| diseases would be apprehended, even to
| residents near by, than by the retention or
! patients in hotels, boarding houses and pri-
! Vate dwellings"
Reports of the health officer of inspec
! tions of proposed sites at Twining City,
! across the Eastern branch, and on Lincoln
| avenue opposite Glenwood cemetery might
! be quoted as evidence of his sincerity, but
/ # is really unnecessary, as common sense
/ teaches lis that filth from hospital where
! contagious patients are treated is carried
]
| connected nearly If not all Of the houses
and institutions, public and private Dor
dering thereon, well as laterals from
! adjacent neighborhoods. 1t is Well-known
/ fact that complaints are received daily at
! the health department of foul and offensive
| odors coming into houses by reason of de-
| fective plumbing.
I II the plumbing is out OF order the nat
| ural inference is that germs OF smallpox
or any other infectious disease may escape
into these dwellings. the public buildings
! and even into the presidential mansion.
not excepting the Star building itself,
which lies on the route from the location
t purchased, to the Potomac; whereas, If
| located where recommended in the report
! all fear from that source is removed.
! An examination Of the law of Congress
making appropriation for the purchase OF
! a site for the purposes above named will
probably show that the purpose of the
| daisy Chain Guild in establishing this
hospital was not only for patients suffer
| ing from minor diseases, but for all classes
|