Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-18
Provision for Larger Number.

receive no government support.
Provision for Larger Number.
There Is no doubt, therefore, in the opin-
ion of the board, that with the added facili-
ties which the private hospitals in this city
will have within the next twelve months
larger number of charity patients will be
treated by these institutions than is at pres
ent the case. OF course, the larger the
number of patients cared for by private in
situations the smaller the number that 1t
will be necessary for the government to
nske provision for. The board, of course,
is of the opinion that the government
should make provision only for the care of
such persons as are not suitably provided
for by private charity or other agencies
The board further pointed out in the COM
munication referred to that undoubtedly
the majority of charity cases treated by
the private hospitals would be those which
were suffering from more or less acute dis
eases, and that such hospitals would not
be likely to receive any large number of
charity patients classed as chronic, tuber-
cular or alcoholic. The experience in
Washington and other large cities teaches
that private general hospitals are not likely
to make provision for the classes of pa
tients named in any considerable number;
and it, therefore, falls to the lot of the city
to make ample provision for such cases.
The need of provision for the treatment
Of patients suffering from tuberculosis
needs only to be mentioned to be recog
nized. The need of making some provision
for inebriates has been urged by the judges
of the police court, who see persons
brought before them again and again be-
cause Of drunkenness. and who feel that a
short confinement in the workhouse is with
out effect in remedying this condition. In
connection with this class of patients a law
to commit habitual drunkards to the mu-
nicipal hospital for confinement and treat
ment
Number of Cases Treated.
The total number of cases treated by
physicians to the poor during the year was
G,3S3. Great assistance has been rendered
the physicians to the poor by the Instruct
i've Visiting Nurses Society, volunteer
association which maintains a corps Of dis
trict nurses, who under the direction of the
physicians. care for patients at their own
homes when the aid OF nurse is needed
Child-Caring Work.
The board again emphasizes the import
| ance of a better organization of the child
| caring work of the District. AT present
| there Is much duplication of effort, and re-
suits must necessarily be unsatisfactory. 1t
seems almost self-evident that there should
be some central agency through which chill
| dren should be received into public depend
| ency. But under present conditions there
| are at least seven separate and distinct
| agencies through which children may be
| received to be maintained, in whole or in
| part, by appropriations of public money
| Such a system-or lack of system-can
never be made satisfactory.
| The board ecommendS that the contract
| system be introduced in such private child
caring institutions as it may be desirable
to use, and that for those institutions
| adopted a gradual reduction should be
| made In the appropriations.
For New Almshouse.
An estimate for SIPS, 900 for construction
| of new almshouse, In accordance with
| plans prepared under an appropriation
made heretofore, Is requested. In the plans
| prepared provision is made for 300 in
| mates. The buildings are so arranged that
the inmates will be provided for an on the
first and second stories, while the employees
will be housed on the third story. Ample
sun rooms and porches are provided, and
| provision Is made for aged couples, so that
| in the few instances where it Is found
necessary to admit both husband and wife
| to the almshouse it will not be necessary to
| rangements. The ground has been pur-
| chased, and the plans prepared under, ap-
propriations made in former acts, and we
| earnestly recommend that the approprfa-
ton for the building be made Immediately
available. If this is done we believe that
J most of the work on the building can be
| done within the present year. If the APP
preparation Is not available until July /
much good building weather will have
passed before the work can be begun, and
the work Is liable to be arrested by the APP
proach Of winter.
In conclusion the board renews its rec
concentration Of last year. that all the pub
lie charities Of the District should be or
ganized under the immediate supervision of
the Commissioners of the District of Co
lumbia. The public charities of the Dis
trict should be in all respects an integral
mart of the District government, and should
be subject to the District Commissioners In
the same manner as are all other depart
| ments of that government.