The Washington times., 1894-11-05
CONTAGIOUS HOSPITAL SITE
Commissioners Contemplating Early
Action in the Matter.
IMPRESSED WITH THE URGENCY
1t Is to Accommodate Smallpox Cases-Health
officer Woodward's Idea-All Grades Of
Infectious Diseases to Be Treated in One
Building-Effort to Select a Site.

1t is confidently believed that the District
Commissioners are contemplating the early
selection of site for contagious hospital.
The recent appearance of smallpox In the
city, which at one time threatened to become
epidemic, has impressed the Commissioners
with the necessity for refuge where persons
afflicted with the horrible malady may be
treated.
The proposed new hospital is to accommo-
date smallpox cases, but whether it will be
an independent institution, separate and dis
tinct from that where milder contagious will
be treated, is, OF course, a matter OF con-
lecture as yet.
Health officer Woodward believes an in
stitution may be so arranged as to occupy
one site and yet provided with the necessary
quarters for all grades Of infectious diseases.
He was not formulating plan for such an in
stitution when talking with The TINES but
his idea, rapidly expressed, was that 1t Is
| quite possible TO arrange building or col
lection of buildings with pavilion connections,
where the worst forms OF contagion may be
| kept entirely separate from the milder types,
and without the slightest danger OF COM
municating the diseases.
He would have one part of the building ar
ranged for the reception of scarlet fever.
diphtheria, measles, typhoid fever and
| whOoping cough, for example, while another
portion would be isolated for patients af-
| flicted with yellow fever smallpox, typhus
| fever, cholera and the plague. The doctor
| thought it entirely feasible to have each OF
these diseases kept separate from the others
without possibility Of spreading either con-
| tagion.
When President Ross, of the board OF Com
missioners was approached upon the subject
! he was non-committa as was. also, CommlS-
sioner Powell. The latter said however that
| when the board gets ready TO locate the hos
pital it will be done, aud done lrrevocaDly-
1t is not time he said, to publish the inten-
tiOns OF the board; that nothing will De made
| public in advance OF decisive action.
| The proposition for the establishment of
contagious hospital in the District was ad-
vanced seven years ago by Mrs. Archibald
| Hopkins. She had the support OF number
| OF the leading citizens OF both sexes. The
! idea was to construct n pavilion at the Chill
/ dren 5 Hospital, where children only attacked
| bv such infectious diseases as scarlet fever
and diphtheria could be taken and properly
cared for during the period OF their illness.
The project took definite shape in the or
| ganizatiou of the DAISY Chain Guild, :" a
society still in existence. and composed OF the
wee people from all classes. The guiid started
with but four members. but it rapidly in
creased numerically until it now has on its
rolls about 300 names. among the number
being the grandchildren OF ex-President Hlir-
rison and the eldest daughter of President
Cleveland.
The board of officers is composed as fol-
lows: President. Mrs. Levi 2. Morton; first
vice-president, Mrs. Joseph Hobson; second
vice-president, James Lowndes; treasurer,
Mrs Archibald Hopkins; directors, Mesdames
| L Haum X X.
William H. Hoeke, Miss Lena p. Morton. DR..
J. S. Billings H. Sidney Everett Reginald
Fendall Archibald Hopkins, E. F. Riggs, and
DIR. Henry c. Iarrow.
The purpose of the society was and is TO
make the hospital ,ns best of its kind in the
country, to which All children, for pay or free
of charge white and black. may be admitted.
The aim is worthy one. and, under the ell
cient management and care of Mrs. Hopkins
and her able assistants, start has been made
in the matter Of a permanent iund that Is
highly encouraging. From the small mite OF
81 per annum up TO donations OF $500
eacn the fund has received its additions
and has steadily grown until there Is now in
vested in bonds Of the Washington Loan and
Trust Company and of the American Security
and Trust Company and otherwise an ag@re-
gate of $40 000 which is annually augmented
by $500 from interest alone. The last OF the
bonds held by the guild was purchased by
Mrs. Hopkins two weeks ago.
The largest donations to the fund from in
dividual sources were: From the late B. II.
Warder, $500, John Hay, $780, Mrs. Carroll
Mercer $500 and Mrs. John Davies Jones,
$500 Another donation of $500 was made
through the influence of Mrs. Cleveland.
from the surplus funds of the last inaugural
ball The society has had the active support
| of Mrs Cleveland, as it also had OF the
previous administration ladies.
Through the efforts of Col. Hopkins and
| Of no with
the valuable aid Of then Vice President Nor
ton. Congress was induced to appropriate
the sum OF $4,000 as an augmentation OF the
Daisy Chain fund. and at one time there was
a cheering prospect of the early success OF
the project 1t was believed and is still held
that the money thus placed at the disposal OF
the District Commissioners would be suffl-
cient to place the hospital upon permanent
| basis The original idea, however is still
: maintained by the guild, the donation Of its
money being contingent upon the construction
of a hospital for contagious OF the milder
c type.
4 Everybody will recall the futile efforts OF
the District authorities to secure site. The
citizens of every section suggested for the
site successfully resisted its location in their
midst and the appropriation made by Con-
, cress. while still available is practically q
dead letter. so to speak, and unless some ac'
ton Is taken giving it a room to grow, the
. probability is that the fund Will eventually DC
, diminished by as much as the appropriation
= provides
, Ono gentleman prominent in official cir
) cles said Yesterday that in his judgment tht
/ Commissioners should locate the hospital
, using discretion and fairness in the matter oi
r the rights of citizens by selecting an eligible
site which would conflict the least with suct
rights and then let the courts settle the ques
e tions that might arise under possible injunc
3 tions.
4 There are rights and rights, said another
1 "The best elements are interested equal.
o with the worst, and in the presence OF al
epidemic such as was possible recently, ant
n from which wa are not Free the citizens wht
r deserve protection from its ravages are en-
9 titled to as much consideration as those whC
It object TO the selection of a hospital site
n