The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1910-02-09
PRACTICAL CHARITY NEEDED

Yakima county has an isolation
hospital for contagious cases. When
It was erected. an understanding or
contract had been entered into
between the, county commissioners
and the city council under Mayor
Lombard's administration, stipulating
that the cost was to be borne ijointly
by the county and city governments.
With the change of city administra-
ton and the advent of Mayor Arm
bruster's regime, this contract was
not carried out on the part of the
city. Hence the city has no isolation
hospital.
And right here is where the tangle
begins. Cases of contagion occurring
In lodging houses and rooming houses
must be removed and isolated or the
whole rooming house quarantined
Although health officer may con-
denim any building and use it in case
Of necessity for quarantining a con-
tagious case, neighborhood row is
usually the result and such a course
Ia rarely found justifiable by ply
sicians and health officers.
In several instances of late. conta-
eious cases have been removed from
lodging houses and permission has
been granted OF County Health
Ohicer DR.. p. Frank for the housing
Of these patients in the county isola-
ton hospital. This is not incumbent
ON the county. it must be understood,
for under the law the county IL not
permitted to care for patients unless
they sign an affidavit that they are
nm nj ~ Of
port. They are not pauper cases, but
simply cases where temporary char
ity should be exercised. Isolation of
the contagion was demanded and the
only isolation available was that pro-
vided by the county hospital.
Two rooms at the isolation hospital
have been furnished for an emergency
should the county have contagious
pauper cases where food and supplies
must be furnished by the county au-
thorities Otherwise the building is
not in shape to house sick patients
comfortably except as they bring their
own beds. fuel. stoves, cooking uten-
sils. food and nurse with them. In
the instance of a man out or work
but not a pauper, who is removed
from a lodging house and has no
friends to look after his needs, his
welfare becomes a matter of charity
temporarily. The city authorities can
not supply his necessities and neither
can the county unless he makes oath
that he is a pauper.
There are several cases now at the
isolation hospital which are of this
character. They are not pauper
cases but many of them are strangers
in a strange land with no one to look
after their comfort or see that they
have proper attention while kept in
quarantine and isolation. Unable
to help themselves. there is no one
upon whom they may call with any
assurance that their necessity will be
relieved. The physicians gladly CO.
operate In the way of medical atten-
ton. but this is only half of the battle.
The situation requires attention and
what is now only a contingency may
develop into a situation later that is
acute. Suppose an epidemic should
occur. there is at present no organized
charity that can be called upon by
health officers and physicians to carry
on the work where their own author
ity ceases. To properly handle the
situation there must be some or
ganization ready to cooperate with
Captain Jenkins of the Salvation
Army or other suitable organization
which will see to it that proper char
ity Is dispensed. relatives commune
Gated with and supplies furnished un-
til such tincA as the patients are able
to take c,sfe of themselves and repay
their behefactors.
An Associated Charities organza-
ton was formed about year ago by
the Ministerial Union and Salvation
Army but outside of one collection
from the Methodist church, Captain
Jenkins states that he has had to
rely entirely on his own organization
for funds to carry on the work. 1t
looks as IL some of the dear Chris
tian brethren and their organizations
of this city are overlooking an oppor-
tunity to practice a little much needed
charity,