The Washington times., 1906-09-23
ERECT TENTS NOW
AND SAVE THELIVES
OF CONSUMP PTIYES
Gen. Geo. NJ. SteTnbeTg.
Gen. Geo. M. Sternberg.
Patients Cannot Wait
Completion of New
Hospital.
OUT-OF-DOOR LIFE BEST
Commissioners Urged to Sc
cure Temporary Quarters
on BrightWOOd Site.

OH DIlGlllW WOOOl OlIO-
While it is true that the District
Commissioners. in engaging Frank
Miles Day, Philadelphia architect TO
prepare plans for the proposed munlci-
nal tuberculosis hospital have taken
the drst step toward giving relief 10
Washirgton's army of INDECENT con
sumptives. yet a strong feeling pre-
walls in certain quarters that II the
local authorities held less tenaeiodsIS
10 their plan of erecting an elaborate
hospital building and save more atleh-
ticn TO the housing Of these Ju"eicuiar
uatients in comfortable tents. they
would not only obtain better immediate
results, but a larger number OF sut-
ferers. could be cared for i'm this way.
Since the announcement that the
Commissioners had retained an arChl-
tect for he hospital building before
any apparent step 10 give the INDECENT
consumptives themselves any immediate
attention. many persons both medical
men and laymen. have wondered why
some move has not already been made
10 utilize the thirty acres located on
Rrlghtwood road, where the hospital
building - TO be located. by erecting
Temporary tents Tor the care of those
consumptf,e cases I'm need 'ot early
treatment.
Not Ready for a Year.
In support Of this suggestion. it is
pointed out that. granting that no de-
lay viii be experienced in preparing tAe
building plans. il will require the best
shane for the care of even "a limited
number of patients
The worth of tents. both as a temper
arv or. nermanent means of housing
consuuptives, it is argued, is no longer
in dispute. and the fact that they afford
an inexpensive shelter is regarded by
many persons as being worthy OF con-
eideration.
Few medical men. CT. in fact, layuen.
who hays taken any degree Of interest
in the last years in the problem of how
best to care for the CapitaEs INDECENT
consumptive p0pulauOn-aud "a recent
calculation estimates them at nearly
.. 2.400-sympathiZe with the plea raised
in Ceikaiu quarters to the effect that the
sum appropriated by Congress FOR tho
erection of the projected tuberculosis
hospital Is inadequate to the needs OF
the situation.
Those who have recently discussed
the situation, while in no sense wishing
90 eriticise the Commissioners, see in
this sum ample provision Ic- "a majority
of the local INDECENT consUmEtvess and,
further, they are disposed TO think that
II the practical beenfts of the new hos
pitaI are shown. Congress VIII open
liberal purse 10 provide for fighting the
white plague IN the failure.
Views of General Sternberg.
In connection with the proposition TO
erect tents on the Rrightwocd avenue
hospital site for the immediate care Of
the Districts Consumptivcs, Cen. George
NJ. Stcrnoerg. former surgeon general
OF the army, goes on record as cmphati-
cally declaring for the feasibility of the
plan. General Sternberg, who has given
many years to the careful study Of the
disease. at the present time is ~up5rvis-
ing saHitarium at Washington Grove.
Md, where a number OF cOnsumpIive
patients are being successfully cared for
in tents.
While in no sense seeking TO affect
the judgment of the local authorities,
who no doubt have their own plans in
81
state with knowledge that If tents were
erected on the site Of the proposed tuber-
culosis hospital for the housing of poor
consumptives the success Of the plan
would be Immediately apparent There
is no doubt but what many people suf-
feTing from tuberculosis troubles in the
District, both In the incipient and ad-
vanced stages, need immediate atten-.
tiOn. and I know of no better way Of
giving them treatment than In tents.
similar to those now being used at The
Washington Asylum grounds
Cost Would Be Nominal.
'In the first place, tents can be erect
ed at nominal cost, say at Si00 each,
and. second. they afford a far more
satisfactory shelter for the inCipient pa
uenrs than viii the ward OF a hospital
where there may be confined a large
number Of consumptives breathing The
same air. L agree that the very ad-
vanced. or bed, cases should be treated
indoors, but the tent or open air treat
ment even in the middle o1 winter. is
better for those TO whom the least
hope Of recovery can be held out.
1T is better that the tents be con-
structed 10 accommodate only two pa-
tients at a time, for better results are
obtained where the patients are not
closely confined. Another good feature
of the tents is that they provide suf-
ficIent heat while at the same time ad-
hitting constant sunlight Everybody
realizes the value of light I'm the treat
ment Of consumption, for sunlight pro-
vides natural disinfection and germ
destroyer. In this way the objection
held by many against the housing Of
Consumptives in inclosed wooden shacks
is removed.
Need Not Be Elaborate.
''As to the erection of a hospital build
ing. I agree that a substantial one is
needed. It need not be elaborate. how
ever. and should. think. be construct
ed largely as an administration build