The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-07-12

That there is a growing demand in
the city for hospital in which conta-
gious and infectious diseases may be
treated has been manifested since pub
lie interest has been aroused over the
case Of a woman confined at the Home
for Friendless, suffering with dread
blood disease. There are not sufficient
facilities in the city now for the pro-
per treatment of contagious and infec-
tious diseases is the claim advanced
of those who have investigated the
matter.
The solution of the question is found
by many in the construction of a con-
tagious and infectious disease hospital
on Reid Memorial hospital grounds,
but such a distance from the present
institution that there would be no dan
ger to the patients confined in it.
The situation now is this: Reid Me-
mortal hospital authorities refuse to
receive cases of the dread blood dis
ease, the board of managers of the
Home for the Friendless has refused
to take any more such cases and the
city is not prepared to care for such
patients at the city contagious hospi-
tai
Reid Memorial hospital is not con-
sidered the proper place for such cas-
es owing to the danger other patients
would be exposed to. Even if tents
were provided on the hospital grounds
there would be no means to restrain
patients occupying the tents and con-
sequently they would, the hospital au-
thorities believe. leave their quarters
and endanger the patients confined in
the hospital proper.
Although there are physicians who
see no reason why the Home for
Friendless, if provided with trained
nurse. would not be a proper place to
care for such diseases. yet the board
Of managers says 1t will not accept
another such case because it has not
the facilities to protect little children,
feeble minded women and aged women
confined there. AS the arrangements at
the city contagious hospital now are
people suffering from dread blood dis
SdSSS Sdu IIot VIC CoiuIlSu tuele Will
out great danger to patients who may
be suffering from some other contagi-
Gus disease.
The hospital authorities believe that
pavilion for contagious diseases
could be constructed on the grounds.
or anywhere in fact, if the proper
nursing and supervision facilities were
afforded and the situation would thus
be cleared. But to quarter such patti
ents in tents at the hospital would
only make the situation worse than to
place them in some part of the build
ing which the authorities also refuse
to do.
The woman now at the Home to
whom the authorities apply the fictf-
tious title of Mrs. Marson, was treated
with "606" at the hospital and then
taken to the Home for Friendless.
This is the first case Of the kind the
home, which is charitable institution.
has had and it refuses to have anoth-
ed, The Home officials say there has
been a rule on the institutions books
for several years. prohibiting the &C
ceptance of such cases. but the matron
explains that she took in the woman
because she had no where else to go
and also that she could not consult the
managers of the Home until after the
woman had been confined. The wom-
an is isolated in room from all other
inmates. She is improving. The wom-
an has been a resident here two years,
but seemingly has no friends or rela-
tives. She is about IS years old and
the home authorities understand has
been divorced. The position of the
Home for Friendless is set forth in the
following resolution adopted by the
board at its meeting this week:
TO THE PUBLIC.
Whereas. We have a rule on our
books that no Infectious case can be