Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-11-15

have temporary light frame buildings
not costing much money. easily dis
infected, that can be burned if neces-
sary. better location for the hos
pital would be back on the hills. where
it is dry and clean. There an inexpen-
sive building could be erected that
could be kept clean and warm. and
no one would object going there if
unfortunate enough to contract con-
tagious disease"
DIR. q. G. Craig, Jr.: "An isolation
hospital is a necessity not fully APP
preciated by the public in general.
In my first report as health com
missioner (1Sg9), before the epidemic
in Davenport commenced, l recon-
mended that the abattoir be fitted up
as smallpox hospital, and suggested
that the west end of the building be
converted into a separate depart
ment, where those who have been eX-
posed could be kept under supervision
without further exposing them to
the disease. Also, that a respectable
couple be given the privilege of liv-
ing there, rent free. in order that the
premises be kept clean, and to pre-
vent theft.
''rhe location is good if certain
nuisances now existing there are
abated. No one wants pest house in
their neighborhood. and 1 cannot sug-
gest better one for the purpose.
"As to the expense of remodelling
am not prepared to say, but all that
is required is that the present build
ing be made practical and comfort
able and kept in readiness for any
emergency"
County Physician
DR.. c. T. Foster: AS county ply
stefan / had charge of a number of
the smallpox patients last winter and
l have no hesitation in saying that
the conditions we had to contend
with were simply appalling. The hos
pital as ii now stands is not Il fit |
place to take a patient to. 1t is ar
ranged for slaughter house. The |
place is cold and uncomfortable, and |
last winter it caught fire twice as
result of the makeshift plans that |
had to be resorted to. Therefore /
think that something ought TO be |
done at once. The city ought to have |
a detention hospital to which it could |
take patients without becoming liza |
BILE in the act. / think the location |
is as good as can be had in the city |
limits, the drainage is the best and |
the surroundings can be improved. |
The sum of sc, 900 is not too much to |
expend upon hospital for contagi- |
Gus diseases, but the old abattoir |
should be torn down and an entirely |
new building erected"
Physicians In General.
DIR. Carl Bernhardi: Il would not |
eXpend so much money for thing of |
that sort. Other cities, as rule,
erect temporary buildings that are
movable and can be destroyed if nee
essary, and they appear to give sat
isfaction. We are not likely to have
much more smallpox now, and then
we may go on for 20 years without a
case. That has been the history of
the disease in the past. To eXpend
$4,000 now for the use of a possible
half dozen patients seems to me at
least unwise, considering the condi-
ton of the city financially. The sur
roundings of the abattoir are unsan-
itary, but / know of no other place
that is available for the location of a
hospital of that kind.
DIR. c. c. Carter: THE location is
not, to my mind, suitable for a de-
tention hospital, and 1 am inclined to
favor a building on the cottage order
rather than a permanent building of
masonry for such a purpose. How
ever. there may be reasons why a
more suitable location is not avail
able, and i should not like to be quot
ed as condemning the present plan
before having an opportunity for fur
Their investigation. The city needs
something of the kind and we ought
not object too strongly till we have
to offer as a substitute"
DR.. j. II. Hollowbush: 1.-The loca-
tion is very unsanitary and the
of money called for is too
large to be put into an institution of
that sort. The city ought to have n
permanent detention hospital. but one
sufficiently large and comfortable
could be erected and in more desir-
able place for one-third the money
that it is proposed TO eXpend on the
abattoir. The run of smallpox is not
yet over. Cases are now breaking
out all over the upper Mississippi val
ley. and Rock Island will without
doubt be afflicted again during the
coming winter. In view of this suit
able place should be provided with
out delay in which to care for pa
TENTS, although, as / have stated, So
900 is entirely too much money to in
vest in this direction"
DR.. w. III. Ludewig: The idea of
$4,000 for the Improvement
of the abattoir is absurd. The sur
are most unsanitary and
repulsive, and the name 'abattoir' will
always cling to it, no matter how
much it is altered. Rock Island ought
to have a detention hospital. Nearl.
all cities of the size of this are so
provided, but most of them use tenn