Evening journal., 1910-11-26
HOSPITAL PLAN
AGAIN ENDORSED
DrS. Robin and Beck Point
Out Necessity Of Pro-
posed Institution
NEEDED BEFORE LIGHTING
PLANT DR.. BECK BELIEVES

Municipal Hospital for contagious dis
eases, have written letters TO Mayor
Spruance, who started the movement
formally endorsing the project. The I
letters received to-day are from Dr. |
A. Robin, former bacteriologist OF the |
Water Department, and from DR.. c.
Anthony Beck. president Of the Board
Of Health. They follow:
My Dear Doctor II is needless
for me 20 say that / heartily endorse
your stand in favor Of a Municipal
Hospital for Contagious Diseases. In
fact. should you succeed as trust you
will, no act OF yours will crown your
administration with as much glory and
confer as much OF a blessing on the
community as this.
In previous communication on the
subject ! stated that among the poor
In the conRested districts of this city
quarantine OF contagious diseases is
a farce by reason of the utter inabil-
| ity TO isolate the patient from the rest
of the family. ! reiterate this state
ment with great emphasis since | have
additional proof OF It's correctness.
You had an opportunity to see the
inadequacy OF quarantine In case OF
scarlet fever on Second street You
recollect how the parents nursed the
child and also mingled with their
neighbors. This child died for want
OF proper and timely care while the
father spent every available cent dur
ing the child's illness, and the family
had TO subsist on charity. Now had
this child been removed 10 a hospital,
he would have recovered and the COM
munity relieved of a source OF con-
tagion. while the family would have
escaped poverty.
AT the present time I have under
my care n similar case. / was called
20 sec a Polish child on Townsend
street. found the child suffering
from laryngeal diphtheria (croupl IN
| the worst possible form. There are
two other children in the family, and
all are huddled in one room IN the
rear Of smaA grocery store from
which the family hacks out meagrs
living. The sick child is alternate
ly nursed by either parent, no pre-
Z cautions whatever being observed.
announced the diagnosis 20 the family
! and had the Board OF Health placarC
4 the house. Yet, on my visit last night
, found a room full OF people-neigh
4 bors, friends and relatives who cam
to sympathize with the grief-strickel
family. First the father then IN
mother would pick up the child an
2, kiss It affectionately In the moutf
n The child would have paroxysm
bf coughing while thus embraced
and the fond parent would hold y
head down to make It easier Tor nj
to expectorate on the floor. 1T
& father and also male ooarder Wou
leave the house freely, In fact, q
e. father has been going over to a neig
at boris house TO summon me by te
or phone.
mt Do you call this quarantine
TO Would the government quarantine
a vessel with contageon on board
he this manner? II Il did, what Won
m the people say should an epiden
r. break out?
AS There are several viewpoints fro
Of which a case like the above can
In considered.
m First. N there is any danger
d. gpreading contagiOn from intecu
O. houses. then the quarantine should
he rigid. If there be no danger, th'
Or why quarantine az all2
ne SECOND. Why should civiliz'
e. community impose fine on POT
m family afflicted with a contagio,
I'd disease. a fine amounting virtual
m 10 Imprisonment and povertyF
We Third. II the community wishes
m p-otect itself against the spread
contagious diseases, why should u
o. weakest and poorest member De MAJ
n- to carry the burden.
no The poor have no voice IN the ma,
he agement of city affairs. When stric
OF en- they bow their heads, groan al
is bear It. II they can evade the Ia
al which oppresses them well and goo
to they will; II not, they suifer.
o. placard on my house" repeated u
On poor Polishman with tears streamil
down his cheeks. "A placard on z
store will ruin me, and 80 II vii
II is a crying shame that childr'
nd should die and khelr parents alreai
at afflicted should be punished by po
2. erty because we have no hospital !
cilities
hope, Mr. Mayor, that you W
'e. awaken public conscience 20 the rea
,ly zation OF the grave injustice and pu
ay lice menace In our present quaranu
i system. and before the end of your
Sc, ministration. We shall have mul
cipal hospital for the care Of su
U. cases of contagious diseaf>S. as c
not be properly isolated at tn
homes; also for the care OF cases
advanced tuberculosis. Wishing
success, I remain