Evening star., 1898-02-15

pie might be assured Of the enjoyment OF
the same advantages to be derived from
hospital service and experience as they
now possess In any new arrangement
which may be made This proposition would
practically consolidate all hospital service
for the poor and dependent of the chronic
class in one institution, to which no pro-
fessional objection can be raised. If the
Freedmens Hospital were not the property
of private corpc ration, and If its site and
plant were under the control of the gov
ernment, it might be converted into
municipal he spital, under the management
Of the District autho rites.
Isolated Wards.
6. 1t is recommended that at the Gar
field, Providence and Children's hospitals
contagious disease wards be erected on
the p1 emises to receive all contagious dis
ease excepting smallpox.
For Insane Persons.
Z. 1t is recommended that ward for the
temporary detention of insane persons and
of cases of alcoholism who may be ar
rested on the streets, or who may fall
into the custody of the police to be detain-
ed pending their examination and legal
disposition, be erected in connection with
the municipal hospitals and that the tenn
porary detention of insane persons in the
station houses or Jail pending such exami-
nations be prohibited.
A Supervising Board.
8. To bring all of the hospitals, charitable
Institutions and reformatory institutions
of the District under government super
vision and inspection and to establish
system whereby their operations may be
unified and co-ordinated. it is recommend
ed that board of charities and correc-
tions be created for the District of Colum-
bia. This board should serve without pay.
A portion Of it's members should be women.
1t should have a paid secretary, who shall
be a physician familiar with hospital,
charitable and institutional work. This
board need not possess administrative
powers, but should visit and report an
nually, and be the medium through which
Congress may be informed Of the practical
and detailed operations Of all institutions
coming within their purview. The board,
through it's secretary or agent, should
have authority to ascertain the residence
and legal settlement of persons in the hos
pitals or other institutions, and power
to return such cases to the place from
whence they come. They should receive
monthly reports from the hospitals, ard
verify them. They should have power to
make orders of admission to hospitals, TO
make transfers from one hospital to an
other, and to discharge patients from hos
p;talS.
1t Is not considered our province here
to enumerate all the powers and duties of
such beard as we are not sufficiently in
formed how far they might conflict with
existing statutes, but we have seen the
necessity of Cnification, accountability and
economy, and feel it a duty to urge the
establishment of such 4 board.
The changes above suggested are far
reaching, and in all probability they can
not be made at once. They look 10 a uni
fication of hospital work a comprenen-
sive plan, and if adopted they will unques-
tionaby prevent a duplication of hospital
work and a waste of public appropriations.
They will also assist in more accurately de-
termining the duty of the government to
the helpless sick of the District of Column
hia.