Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-11
FAvoRS HOSPITAL.
Rev. John Van Schaik Approves 1nst1'
tuition for Treating tuberculosis.

Rev. John Van Schaik, jr., pastor OF the
IIniyersalist Church of Our Father, spoke
last night in favor of an appropriation TO
huild a tuberculosis hospital in the District
Of Columbia He described the need as cry
Ing and urgent, speaking, in part, as roi-
lows:
ton a large proportion are poor. mat Is
nroven nv the fact that the death rate
among the colored is about twice that
among the whites. The majority nVe ainiu
suualor and are attended by Ignorance.
They 90 not know how to keep from con-
Eliminating others They die for want OF
care and treatment.
Surely, human life in the twentieth CEN
fury is sacred enough so that we may give
everybody fair chance. That BrightWood
hospital would not only do this, but In hun
dreds of cases would insure cure. In
the second place, where cures were 1mpos-
sible, suffering would be alleviated. It's
terrible death at best Let the dying close
their eyes upon the sky and not the slum.
Let them, in the capital, lie on beds and not
on boards. Instead Of the maximum let
there be the minimum Of suffering. In the
third place, and most important of all, the
consumptive would be placed where he
would not communicate the disease to
others. million bacilli can be found In
one spoonful of spittle. Countless millions
are thrown off by each patient Under
present conditions these bacilli float in the
air, run In the water, Turk in the corners OF
our homes.
"A committee on the prevention of tuber-
culosis connected with the Associated
Charities is reaching from 1900 to 1900
people every week, telling them that con-
sumption is communicable durable and
preventable disease and teaching them
how to guard against its spread. But these
are imperfect precautions The plague can
| not be stamped out, safety cannot come to
| your home and mine, until these cOnsump-
| tives are under some kind Of surveillance
| and until the poor and ignorant are put
| into hospital for treatment and help.
LET US sum 1t all up. The tubercle bacil-
| lus is a real a constant, terrible menace
| to the health of this District. There are
| inadequate means of combating it's ravages.
"A hospital for the isolation and cure of
| consumptives is an imperative need. HUI
| mainly, patriotism, Christian compassion,
| common decency unite in the demand that
| it be built, and built at once. Congress has
| the power. Upon Congress Is the RESPONSE
| bility. Upon Congress, yes, and upon US.
| l am told that the chairman Of commit
| tee before whom this matter must go ex-
| pressed the doubt that there was any real
/ public sentiment here in favor of the prof.
| Gomorrah. But I know better. You will
help. The press has helped. All will unite,
and this thing is bound to come. We, as a
| District, are asking for a compulsory edu-
| cation law. We are seeking a small appro-
priation to open Fairgrounds In connection
with public schools.
1--WE want authority to tear down insani-
| tary dwellings and to change alleys into
minor streets We have sewage disposal
and filtration projects on hand
| but amid all these demands, II we are q
! Christian people, we must listen to the
| voice of suffering humanity and heed the
words Of the Master, Heal the sick"