Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-03

ton of the equipment and the organize
ton of the working force necessary to
properly conduct the business of the hos
Pital. the first day of July. 1908. found us
ready for the reception OF patients, and
on that day fourteen white men were
admitted. and the institution launched
upon career of usefulness to the COM
nunity, in taking care of a large class
of sick unfortunates. who. In many cases,
through ignorance of the laws of hygiene,
were spreading infection to others, and
time alone will demonstrate the wisdom
Of providing this charity and I'm the end
justify the means by which ii was pro-
videG.
Daily Average Of Patients.
by the end of July seventy-five pa
tients had been admitted, and our daily
average had reached more than fifty.
This daily average steadily increased
until March. during which month one
hundred and nine patients were under
treatment. which was the greatest num-
Der at any one time during the fiscal
year.
Thirty thousand three hundred and
seventy days maintenance were fur
nished to a daily average of 1913 pa
tients during the year.
las such a large amount has been
written on the proper diet for cases OF
tuberculosis. 1t might be stated that par
dttcItlOl anu StUuy HAS DtcH
given to the various systems of dieting.
as well as to prescribing the hours of
rest and recreation, and the nature of
the exercise.
Patients are required to arise at Z
o'clock in the morning. and after hydro
therapy are ready for breakfast at 1880.
which consists of porridge (cooked), about
half q pint, with milk; eggs (coOked), or
steak. chops, bacon, ham. fish, three and
One-half ounces, with bread, butter and
t. f,,sv ,se-I,
mornings each week, or hot milk If pa
tents SO desire.
Dinner is served at 1890 pm, and
consists of soup, half a pint (four days
each week.; fish. four ounces. or beef.
mutton. veal. ham or poultry. five ounces;
potatoes and other vegetables in season.
with bread, butter and milk.
Supper is served at $50 pm, and
consists OF pudding composed largely OF
eggs, milk and suet), five ounces; cooked
fruit, cheese. cake. bread, butter and
milk, tea or cocoa being served two or
three evenings each week, or hot milk, If
patients so desire.
Supplementary Lunches.
The above diet is supplemented by
lunches Of raw eggs and milk served be-
tween each meal and at $50 pm. at
which hour patients retire. The amount
of milk and eggs used In this supple
mentary feeding is prescribed for each
individual case by the attending ply
sicians.
The medical officers modify the above
diet for patients confined to bed, or for
patients suffering from various compiica-
lions. such as dysphagia. haemoptys.s,
etc. The constant aim in prescribing the
diets Is to combine the proteids, fats and
in such proportion as will
represent a moderate increase on diets
taken by average individuals in normal
health. Alcohol is prescribed when
thought desirable by the medical officers.
Enforced rest for one hour after each
meal Is a rule which is strictly observed,
with moderate exercise during certain
hours each morning and afternoon. AS
yet no scheme of graduated labor has
been employed, but the patients are en-
couraged to do such light work. under
proper supervision, as their condition will
permit.
Movement Of Population.
1.-THE medical treatment of the patients
has been largely symptomatic. AS the
life of the institution has covered a period
of but one year, the movement Of popula-
ton has been too great to present any
reliable statistics as to the use OF serum
therapy or any of the curative measures
advanced, the attending STAFF relying more
upon the well established good results
obtained through complete rest, fresh air
ana QleI. 1uOcTCuiH udS Uccfl idI Scty
employed for diagnOstic purposes. and the
results obtained have been most salts
factory.
AN analysis of the various statistical
tables show that during the fiscal
year ending June 80. 4S7 patients were
admitted. Table 1 Classics these patients
into white and colored, and shows that
1911, or $3.50 per cent of the total ad-
missions. were white persons, and 296. or
CO. 20 per cent were colored. Admitting that
tuberculosis Is more prevalent among the
colored race than among the white, We
are not prepared to offer as a positive
statement that it is almost twice as
prevalent, as the statistics would indi-
cate.
Table III Classics the patients. accord
ing to sex and color, and shows that of
the total admissions 40, or 2S.IO per
cent, were white men: 81, or 1915 per
cent, were white women: 1T9. or 1895
per cent, were colOred men, and III, or
- s5 per cent, were colored women.
striking feature shown in this table is
the remarkably small percentage of white
women who seek the benefits OF hospital
1<~n.