The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-27

as it is now, and the chronic and incurabl
CHARITY cases, and many others for who's,
| care the expensive wards of a hospita
equipped for the care of acute and surgica
cases would be inappropriate, would still
have to be provided for.
] Under the present arrangement anC
distribution of appropriations in luuI
sums to number of small hospitals, the
| District does not receive an adequate re-
turn in service for the expenditure. This
| is true because the small number of pa
| tients in each hospital calls for an ex-
| pendlture per capita nearly double that
| which would be found necessary could all
be brought together and classified under
| q smaller number of officers and employees
me administrative expenses of az insti-
| tuition for 300 patients would be p-opor-
| lonateiy very much less than one for 50
patients. 1t would certainly be mos, I'M
iikeIy that per capita expenditures. even
experimenting the experience of the small
hospltais during the past year, would ever
be necessary"
The Columbia Hospital and the Freed
man. Hospital lay some claim 10 being
pubic institutions, but Mr.. Lewis, in the
report referred TO, states that neither of
them is large enough or has the facilities
10 meet such requirements. He also
polLts out tina. some of the buildings of
the Freedman's Hospital are dilapidated
and that the conditions which prevail in
the institution are not what they ought to
be IN public institution.
There is no place in the District of
columbia where cases of long continued
ineorlety can be treated in any public
way DRINKS" taken in by the police
are left to sober up in the stationhouse
however serious their condition. 1t is only
the man with greeEDacks in his pocket who
can unlock the door of private asylunns in
washington and receive care and treat
ment during the period OF abstinence
wnlch is to put him in physical condi-
ton to go about his work and successfully
meet the temptations of appetite The
poor man, If he is unfortunate enough TO
brntaiize himself with liquor, has only
the sta;ionhouse or the workhouse for a
temporary hospital. His cot is in a cell
and his attendants are sometimes those
who wear the striped garb of the incar-
cerated "firebug" and horse thief A ward
in a municipal hospital for this class of
men and women is one of the pressing
needs OF the District at the present time.
The Commissioners in their last annual
report to the President and Congress
stated that in connection with the subject
OF the establishment of a municipal hos
pltal 1t would soon be necessary to face
= largely increased call for hospital room.
ihey pointed out that this would arise
not only from the growth OF population.
1ut from the enforced abandonment of
buildings now in use but beyond proper
repair, and rapidly deteriorating. This
was one of the considerations which de-
termined the Senate committee TO act
and appropriate the money for the hospital
site.
Having passed the Rubicoa OF giving
100000 to buy place for he municipal
hospital TO stand upon. Congress can
hardly fail to make additional appropria- |
tons for buildings and facilities These |
may come slowly, but the Commissioners
expect them to come finally and literally. |
and they hope that within five years the |
District win be in possession of a public |
hospital which will not only meet all re- |
iuirements, but will be pattern for other
American cities to copy.