The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-15
GARFIELD HOSPITAL RELIEF.
The Commissioners Approve AN Adj
ditiona1 appropriation of $1,000.

| ditiona1 appropriation of $1,000.
The Commissioners have transmitted to
| both committees in Congress on the Dis
| trict of Columbia the draft OF joint reso-
! luton for the relief of Garfield Memorial
! Hospital, with request for favorable ac-
| ton thereon. II reads as follows:
Resolved by the Senate and House Of Represen-
tatives of the United States in Congress as
semblcd That Sl,V1 is hereby appropriated out
Of any moneys in the Treasury Of the United
States not otherwise appropriated, and out OF
the revenues Of the District of Columbia, in equal
parts, for the maintenance Of the isolating ward
Tor minor contagious diseases at Garfield Memorial
Hospital for the remainder Of the fiscal year
ending June 80 1909
Tine framing OF the joint resolution and
the recommendation of the Commissioners
were inspired by the report of the District
Health Off ,er upon letter written by the
secretary OF the Garfield Memorial Hos
pital in which he stated, in effect. that
the appropriation for the treatment of
minor contagious diseases at the hospital
was exhausted. and that the wards would
| be closed, unless funds 10 the amount of
81, 900 should be provided.
DR.. Woodward states in his report that
| from October II. 1899. TO April -. 1900,
| both inclusive, there were treated in the
wards of the Garfield Memorial Hospital
ffty-four cases of diphtheria, seventeen
cases OF scarlet fever, and twenty cases of
measles. covering in all l. I54 hospital days
The entire appropriation of 81 900. and the
entire income from pay patients, an in
considerable amount, he says, have been
devoted to the support of these wards. The
cost of each patient per diem DR.. Wood
ward figures out at sl.1l which, in view
of the small number of patients treated
and the special character OF treatment re-
qured. is, in his judgment, reasonable
amount
Attention is called TO the fact. however,
that much more than the mere relief of the
patient is accomplished in these wards.
The treatment of cases there. DR.. Wood
ward says, diminishes the extent TO which
the public is exposed 10 contagious dis
eases. 1T frees the families from long
quarantine, enabling the wage-earners 10
continue work and to take care OF those
dependent upon them for support who
would otherwise in many cases be thrown
upon the charity Of relatives. friends, or
the public. 1t enables householders to re-
lieve thems elves of, domestic servants suf-
fering from contagious diseases, who would
otherwise be in quarantine on their prem
ises, not only without danger. but with
benefit to such servants, Finally. it en-
ables proprietors OF hotels. apartment
houses. and boarding places often to Sc
cure the removal of cases of infectious dis
eases from their premises when otherwise
it would not be possible TO do So In fact.
since the wards for the treatment of minor
contagious diseases have been in operation,
it is dif!ic1lt 10 imagine how the COM
munity ever got along without them.
Therefore If the cost OF treatment for each
patient per diem is larger than the cost OF
treatment of ordinary hospital cases, the
benefit which the community derives from
the expenditure is in the former case
greatly in excess of the benefit derived in
the latter"
The appropriation requested for the sup
port of these wards for the remainder of
the current fiscal year. $1,000. DR.. Wooc-
ward thinks reasonable, and he strongly
urges its recommendation. He also. advo-
Gates the proposed increase in the appru-
priation for the coming fiscal year.