New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-06-10
AID FOR CONSERVATIVES
FUNDS NEEDED BADLY.
Ellison viii Try to RemoUe Health
Department Difficulties.

DR.. William E Studdiford. acting chief medical
officer of the Health Department, in speaking yes
terday regarding the recent action of the depart
ment in stopping the supply of milk and eggs as a
special diet for consumptives because of lack of
funds. said that it not only because of lack
of funds, but of other matters of a legal nature.
The money asked for will be obtained within two
weeks from the Board of Estimate and Appor-
tionment he said The Health Department will
then continue the distribution of milk and eggs
as heretofore. In recent statement 10 Commits
sioner Darlington by DR.. Hermann NJ. Btggs. chief
medical officer Of the department, he said that
only the Health Department should give away the
diet to poor consumptives, but other institutions
should follow suit
Suitable food. especially milk and eggs" said
DR. Biggs. SHOULD be provided by the sanitary
authorities by other authorities having Super
VISION or such affairs in those instances in which
the families in such destitute circumstances
that proper or sufficient food cannot be obtained
by them and when the patient for any reason can
not be removed 10 an Institution.
Some very difficult economic problems are pre-
sented In of these cases For example: A
family consists Of a mother, with moderately add
vanced consumption. and five small children; the
father is dead: the income Of the family from all
sources is insufficient TO maintain it properly and
furnish the mother with suitable food But the
apartments well ventilated and sufficiently
commodious they are clean and neat, and the
mother makes every effort TO obey every instruc-
ton and heed every suggestion.
She insists remaining with her children, and
her presence is necessary to keep her family to-
gether. Undoubtedly. the mother would be better
Off in an institution. and thus, too the children
would be removed to institution for children
and would be better protected from the danger of
tubercular infection But, then. the children grow
up as institutional children which IS most I'M
fortunate, and. furthermore there is no sufficient
sanitary ground for the forcible removal of the
mother. Under such conditions for the present at
least l believe the authorities should provide or
see that there is provided. such food assistance
as Is required.
H. however the apartments dirty and not
well kept or are small, dark and badly ventilated
or the instructions are not followed and proper
precautions not taken. then the family should
be broken up, the mother should be removed TO n
institution. If necessary by force, and the chill
dren otherwise provided for. No uniform regula-
lions can be laid for the disposition of such cases.
but each one must be considered on its merits and
the ultimate decision in each instance determined
after careful consideration of all the facts. The
authorities should however, recognize their
sponsibties to the provision I'm some instance
OF food or other assistance and should have means
at their disposal for this purpose.
IF this assistance is dispensed by other authori-
ties than the Health Department, It should be
der the latter's direction and supervision. The
institutions for consumptives or see that they are
provided. and should supervise them.
In the free diSpensaries medical treatment for
should be constanfiv rnder he s,narvsjo Of the
district physicians and nurses attached to the dis
peIlsary. Where necessary, not only medicines, but
food. should DO furnished free by the diSpensary
10 the consumptlVe poor. The dispensaries should
also act as clearing houses for COnsumptives and
should serve places TO which all institutional
cases on their disCharg" from institutions and all
poor cases receiving the assistance OF
charitable organizations should be referred for
medical care.
The Health Department Of tho city Of New
York. with the exception of special diet. has not
as yet undertaken TO provide food assistance to
the consumptve poor living at home, where for
any reason they cannot should not be removed
neither has II undertaken To provide full regua-
tions for the supervision Of such In public
institutions. In public schools and regards en-
pioyes IN factories and occupations in which con-
sumptves are likely TO be source OF danger.
Excepting in these respects, the scheme pre-
scented has been practically in force for a number
OF years in New York city, tho extent and the
strctness OF the supervision having each year dur
II is practicable and feasible in cities smaller
size. and IL should be possible 70 enforce more
readily and more satisfaC toriy similar regulations
in them. As 10 the question. Are there serious
objections TO the enforcement of the scheme
the objections valid which have been urged by
some authorities? the reply 10 this Is decidedly in
the negative. Very great opposition met the prop
osition of tie Department Of Health to undertake
this work in the beginning, and many difficulties
were encountered I'm the early years owing TO this
opposition"
Corporation Counsel Ellison said last night he
was going TO give his whole attention the mat
ter to-day, and would Immediately send a report
to Commissioner Darlington as 20 any legal ques-
lions involved. The nature of the legal difficulty
the Health Department officials and the Corpora
ton Counsel refused 10 discuss.