Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-08
INDoRsE CHARITY BOARD
Inquiry, It Is Alleged, Fails to Dis
cover Uncleanliness.
NO COMPLAINTS ON RECORD
Instructive Visiting Nurses Society
Answers Criticism Made by
Mrs. Medill Mccormick.

Following the arraignment or the
tuberculosis Hospital OF the District OF
Columbia by Mrs. Medill Mccormick be-
fore the woman's welfare department OF
the National Civic Federation yester-
day, in which it was charged that there
is uncleanliness In the dining, operating
and apothecary rooms. the Instructive
Visiting Nurses Society of Washington
today came forward with q defense OF
the board of charities. which has su-
pervision of the hospital.
Miss Isabel Strong, superintendent OF
the society, today notified George >.
Wilson, secretary Of the board of chari-
ties, that the question Of the manage
ment of the hospital was discussed at
board meeting OF the society Monday.
and that the unanimous conclusion
reached was that conditions in the in
stitution are satisfactory. The board s
decision, she said, was based on a re;
port made by three visiting nurses OF
the society, who conducted an investiga-
tion. 1t was reported by the nurses
that not one complaint mad been re-
ceived by them from patients in the
hospital.
An Additional Endorsement.
In addition to the Endorsement received
from this source, the board OF charities
this morning received q communication
from Miss Elizabeth V. Brown OF the
Associated Charities. stating that Of the
number Of patients sent to- Tuberculosis
Hospital by that institution not one has
Miss Brown is a member OF the woman's 9
welfare department Of the National CIVIC
Federation.
Both the Associated Charities and the
Instructive Visiting Nurses society
have workers who visit the patients. in
released after being cured. The latter
organization is represented by three
visiting nurses. who give much Of their
| time to this work. The fact that no
| complaint has been reported to either
organization is regarded by oficials OF
ment OF the boards management since II
| took charge Of the hospital. about thres
years ago.
Another Charge Disputsd. :: :.
In her report to the woraAt's welfare
department Mrs. Mccormick charged
| that out Of 402 cases of tuberculosis
treated at the hospital last year there
were 200 deaths. Exception to this state
ment Is made by oficials OF the charities
board. who state that there were but las
deaths.
The report Of the hospital for the last
fiscal year shows that there were seven
incipient cases Of tuberculosis, from
which no deaths resulted: 1O2 moderately
advanced cases. OF which there were {
deaths, and $500 far advanced cases,
which resulted in 40 deaths. The high
est death rate, as would be expected, oc.
Cured in the class of the farthest ad-
vanced cases. and in this class, officials
of the board say, there Is practically
nothing that can be done to decrease the
death rate.
Criticised Milk and Eggs.
| Other charges made by Mrs. McCor-
mick are that milk is kept in cans instead
Of bottles and that cold storage eggs are
| used. Members Of the charities board say
| that their method Of handling the milk
in cans Is sanitary one, and that they
have bought for the hospital the best
eggs that could be secured on the local
market.
Regarding the charge affecting the con-
dition Of the dining. operating and apoth-
ecary rooms, 1t was stated that these
rooms are kept clean. and that, while an
exception to this rule might be found at
some time during the day, it is Of a tenn
porary character. and the sanitary cOndi-
tion Of the building as a whole Is salts
| factory at all times.