New-York tribune., 1909-05-03
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
OBJECT TO SAN4TORIUM.
Disagreement OrCT THbercaIos,
Hospital on Staten Island.

L
Sir: My attention is called to an editorial 7ara.
graph published by you to-day referring 70 the ho.
pital now being erected by the Charities Depart.
ment Of the city of New York in the Borough o.
Richmond.
In this article you say. why don't those STAT,
Island Aldermen who oppose the equipments of !,
tuberculosis hospital In the Borough 0f Richmons
a hospitaI already completed-ssk = compatsar
physician whether not the opening OF such a.
institution threatens the health Of the neighbsr.
hood?" In answer to this would say that hav.
carried on & taxpayers action during Iast tn,
years against the proposition To install here oa
Staten Island a tuberculosis sanatoriuui. and AZ
present permanent injunction against such an IN
sttutfon is I'm force This injunction provides tha,
a hospital may be erected and completed. out nst
a tuberculosis Sanatorium. Incidentally. the hos
pitaI in question is not completed and vii not bs
completed within two years at least
Furthermore. II is my intention a. a taxpayer -
continue this action and by every possible %
endesvor TO prevent the use of this hospital build-
ing for tuberculosis patients The reasons FOR TITS
are obvious First. the sentimental d7msze Whb f.
done the interests of ali staten Island properly
holders and taxpayers; second, the real danger 20
the travelling public from the contsgiou which "a
likely TO be traced to the use by people more
less afflicted with tuberculosis. in coming 70 ths
sanatorum here to visit their relatives already oa
the sick list. Of municipal ferry and our cara
and the fact that the medical fraternity Of Staten
Island almost unanimous IN their confemns-
ton of this proposition Is sufficient answer yogr
suggestion that competent physician be arst
consulted"
Please understand thst this is action broushs
by q taxpayer to voice his personal objections
against a necessary Improvement for Tho city. bur
ono brought request Of the best interests ~
Staten Island guard against an impending
danger to our material and personal prosperity
The question clearly outlines. on The one hand ths
position Of certain city officials recslctrant IN tusr
duties 10 the interests OF the taxpayers - ths
whole city IN their MISGUIDED desire 20 place upon
one borough of that city an incubus from which
that borough scarcely recover. and. ON ths
otfler hand, movement led by myself as complain
ant in this action Of the taxpayers ~ this borough
in their determination to fight to the last this IN
position against safety and the safety and
health of wives and children
WILLIAM :. VAN CLIEF.
Port Richmond, April %. 1909
Dr. Thomas Darlington, the Health Comn1ss.0Ear
in speaking OF the opposition staten Island %
the erection OF the ssnatOTium. at one time planned
by the Charities Department. but checked b.
permanent injunction. said that the public seemed
to be afflicted with phthsoPhObis since th" tubsr-
culosis elimination movements in this and other
cities. ohsprings Of the tuberculosis congress hed
at Washington last fall He said.
1t is desirable that persons afflicted with tuosT-
cuIosis should be cared for in private pubus
institution They receive the best OF treatment ard
whatever danger there Is 20 the public IS eliminated
The patients who have got 70 be cared for BY ths
city have 10 be segregated somewhere and Ne hsvs
10 find place or places where they can g't this
necessary and attention. But. no matter Vhsrs
we decide 10 build. there Is objection Property
values said be IN danger. but this r. due -
the agitation always accompanying plan 20 build
anywhere. II Is sentimental objection.
The persons going 20 TIE ssnatorium patients
are amenabIe to the laws against sxpectorsuon-
Contact with them or association with them for
short time cannot communicate the disease. Thuss
dwelling a sanatorium are in no danger We
have clinic AZ the Offices OF the Health Depart
ment but the neighbors not in danger from ths
disease There is actually special menace. and
the public is safer with the ssnatoris. whether
near or far their dwellings, than II they we're
not In existence
The fact IL th- public is afflicted with phthiso-
phobis since the agitation about ne segregation o.
tubercuous persons. We want TO ssgregate them,
and they should be cared for apart from their
homes IL possible but there is absolutely no coca
sion for this panicky condition The danger Is in
the congeSted districts where patient often lives
In the same room with half dozen relatives. snt
where there sanitary precautions. We want
20 get these patients away from their environment
to cure them II possible and TO their relatives
from infection. And working right along
on those lines with the very best results
DR.. AIvah II. DOty. Health Oficer of the Fort
and member OF the Board of Health. said yes
tsrday that he In sympathy with the dweisr'
on Staten Island in their objection 20 sanatoriun
there. mainly because the city owned other plots
of ground where the Institution could be erected
and where conditions would be Just favorable.
He said that II there were other Plsce the eit-
Of the island would no doubt bow - ths citys
reques He said
There is feeEng among the physicians assrns,
sanatorium on staten Island not for professional
reasons. but because OF the environment 70 would
create There would be the travel 20 and from ths
place. the establishment Of restaurants and the
saloon. probably. and an atmosphere would he ere
ated that would not be desirable. feel much as
they do about IT, Staten Island is Just getting On
fits feet and there is reason why It's Development
should be retarded. II the air there we're psrrcu-
Iarly beneficial. il would be another matter bur q
isn't The treatment of tuberculous patients in ts
section is matter OF food and care. and they can
get them In any other part Of the city
''The media OF infection would be Increased "
the travel back and forth in spite Of the ordinances
against eXpectOTation- There are places adaptsu
for another ssnatOrium where the public viii not p
offended We have had all sorts Of things 70 con-
tend with. and just getting rid 81 the mo-
qutOes. II may be said that the objection is isrse'
sentimental but there is no occasion FOR hurdenihs
that neighborhood with a hospital Of any kind