Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-19
WANTS LARGER FUND


1Dpired By the gravity OF the existing
onaHpo3 a1tuAtfon. and the deficiency of the
appropriation for the currens year .for the
prevention OF tbs spread OF contagious Als-
eAses. which lead to demand on the Dis
trict emergency fund q few days ago.
Health Officer Woodward today recon-
mended to the Commissioners that steps be
taken to have the appropriation for that
purpose In the period beginning July / next,
increased from <o.S00 to $4,000
In stating In detail his reasons for the
request. DR.. Woodward gave a concise re-
View OF the present status pf smallpox IN
the following language:
''On Saturday. May r. case OF smallpox
In the pustular stage was discovered on
premises 105 d street northwest. From In
formation given by this patient. directly or
Indirectly, thirteen other cases of small
pox. also in the eruptive stage. some of
them just about recovered from the disease.
have been found In Twining City and in the
southeast portion OF Washington. Two
located also In Southeast Washington. have
come to the knowledge of the department
since the date named through reports filed
by physicians. In none OF these cases does
the nature of the disease appear to have
been suspected or any precautions taken to
isolate the patient prior to the time when
the health department discovered the ease.
or. in those instances In which the cases
time when the eruption was considerably
advanced.
Twenty Patients Under Treatment.
There are now in the smallpox hospital
twenty patients suffering from smallpox.
What might be termed the normal capacity
Of the institution is forty-two. A consider
able number of persons known to have
been exposed to smallpox are under OBJ
servation, but in view OF the entire absence
of isolation with respect to many OF the
cases discovered by che health department
prior to the time of their discovery, much
larger number must exist. Just what the
future will Bring forth, therefore, is I'M
known.
THE smallpox service is at best expen-
sive. If. however, there is any considera-
bic increase In the number OF patients an
added item of expense will arise through
the necessity for providing additional ac-
commodations at the hospital. Arrange
ments should. in my judgment be made be-
fore Congress adjourns to meet any legiti-
mate expense incident to the service during
the summer recess of that body. In view
OF the uncertainty of the situation 1t Is Inn
possible to make any accurate estimate OF
the amount OF money that will be required.
Presumably the amount carried by the Dis
trict appropriation bill as 1t passed the
House. So. 800, will be sufficient 1t would
seem better and safer. however. If. in view
Of the unusual situation, the amount could
be increased SO as certainly to be on the
safe side, and $4,000 appropriated for the
purpose named. As the appropriation Is
for specific purposes. mentioned in the APP
preparation act and further defined In the
several acts providing for the prevention of
named communicable diseases, there is no
reasonable possibility of extravaganza in
expenditures"
Another Phase.
The health officer also touched on an
other phase Of the smallpox situation today
when he wrote to the commissioners in
wiling attention to the schedule of salaries
provided by the District appropriation bill
as 1t passed the House Of Representatives,
for medical inspector a cook, a laundress
and an engineer at the Smallpox Hospital
DR.. Woodward stated his belief that 1t will
be impossible to secure competent help. If
any. for the salaries provided in the BILL
and he recommends that an effort be made
to either provide salaries commensurate
with the work to be done, or that no po-
sitions whatsoever be specifically created
by the bill and that the method of oper-
attn the Smallpox Hospital be continued as
at present.