The Washington herald., 1912-03-30
MANY HOSPITAL
NEEDS ARE CITED
continued from Page One.

were the principal objects Of criticism:
Structural defects. the high death rate.
the lack of cleanliness. and the food sup
ply. especially the milk and eggs.
4 The report shows that in the white
male wards for both advanced and in
cipient cases there is evidence OF over
crowding. In the open ward for ad-
vanced cases the capacity Is fourteen
patients, and on the day Of its investi-
cation March 30D the committee found
sixteen patients In the main ward and
two In adjoining rooms In the white
male ward for incipient cases the normal
capacity Is twenty. and on its tour of
investigation the committee found twen-
ty-four patients occupying the room.
The report then says:
THE committee is unanimously In favor
Of asking those responsible for the speci-
| fications and purchasing Of food for the
| institution to call for strictly fresh eggs
/ the year round FOR use in all special
dets-that is. for eggs served raw or
soft boiled. We understand that the re-
quest Of the present superintendent OF
/ the institution, supported by the Board
Of Charities, was for strictly fresh eggs.
| but that upon the statement of one or
| more dealers that such eggs cannot be
obtained at certain seasons, frst-grads
| cold-storage eggs for certain months OF
| the year were substituted. Inquiry has
convinced your committee that securing
/ strictly fresh eggs the year round Is
/ matter Of price II necessary. an addi-
tionaI appropriation should be secured
| for this purpose.
Wants Pasteurized Milk.
The criticism of the milk has been
both on account of its quality and be-
cause It is delivered in cans. We see no
these are thoroughly steamed before
leaving the institution and thoroughly
sterilized by the dealer before being re-
filled. We suggest that the cans used be
\ marked with the name of the institution,
so that they may not be put into general
| circulation. As TO the quality Of the
milk. We recommend the continued use
Of pasteurized milk. such milk to be of
| a standard approved by the health officer
of the District and TO be pasteurized
always under methods approved, by him.
The superintendent is responsible for
| the acceptance of all food supplies as to
whether they measure up to the specifi-
| cations upon which they are ordered.
| The committee believes that on the whole
| the meats are of good quality when re-
| ceived at the Institution and when served
| TO patients We question. however,
whether the storage ice box is OF suffi-
Client capacity for extremely hot weather.
We recommend. therefore, larger cold
storage capacity. There is also evident
need OF larger storage facilities for vege-
tables. canned goods. and other food sup
plies.
while this association Is on record as
believing that the best quality Of but
terine is a wholesome and nourishing
article Of diet. the committee has reason
to infer from interviews with patients
that a large number Of them do not find
even the best grade butterine palatabIe.
and We therefore recommend that a good
grade Of butter be substituted in the diet
sry of the hospital for table use.
For Hospital DIetItIau.
TN all criticisms made by patients re-
garding the quality and cooking Of foods
IT must be borne In mind that the disease,
especially in the advanced stage quickly
impairs the digestive system. Moreover
the preferences of a hundred patients as
to kinds Of food and methods of cook
ing will differ.
The committee recommends that Con-
gress appoint a skilled dietitian. We be-
lieve. in fact, that the extra nourishment
in the way Of milk and eggs now so gen.
erously furnished patients three times
day should be matters OF medical pre-
scription. We believe. moreover. that
these prescriptions can only be fully car
ried out by the employment Of a dietitian
as herein proposed.
Certain present needs OF the institu-
ton stand out clearly. To meet these
needs will call for additional appro-
priations on the part OF Congress for
construction.
The first OF these is the carrying out
OF the original plan. ultimately to pro-
vide quarters for the administrative
stan. This will have two advantages
First. II will provide living accommo-
dations outside the hospital for the ply
sicians, nurses. orderlies. and other en-
ployes, and thus increase their efficiency:
and the sixteen rooms now given over
to administrative purposes will be at the
service Of patients. Thus additional op-
portunity will be afforded to give sepa-
rate rooms in emergent and extreme
cases, not otherwise provided for.
New Assembly Hall.
Another need Of the Institution at the
present time is adequate recreation faciI-
titles. In addition to some assembly hall
within the building 1t is the opinion of
the committee that there should be
erected an open-air covered pavilion fur
nished with comfortable reclining chairs,
and that the walking patients should be
given extra warm clothing to enable them
to use this pavilion throughout the win
ter season.
This association in its annual report
for the year ended September 50, 1911,
recommended that provision be made at
the present tuberculosis hospital for the
more general reception of hopeful cases.
either by the erection OF open shacks or
such other means as may be found most
practicable and economical On this
point your committee would repeat its
recommendation made earlier in this re-
port. The committee urges Congress to |
authorize the employment of an assistant |
resident physician. This service so much |
needed Is now temporarily rendered by |
volunteer. The need for a dietitian |
has already been emphasized We also |
feel that wages of SIS a month. paid TO |
servants and cleaners, Is not sufficient |
TO secure continuity and reliability of |
service, especially in view OF the fact |
that those employed in this capacity are |
obliged to pay car fare to and from the /
city and to provide their own living |
quarters as no provision can be made \