The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-11-02
city should do More.

ne council the Administrative
Board and committees of Council have
been puzzled AS 10 what action 10 take
In relieving the INDECENT tuberculosis
situation. Administrative Board mem
hers have expressed the belief that the
proper thing for the city to do is TO
let Pine Camp he abandoned. and to
put the tuberculosis patients in the
old city Home. soon To he vacated.
Some city officials are OF the opinion
that the city should do more for the
care of Its tuberculosis sufferers who
arc unable to help themselves, and
they believe in an appropriation for
the care of tuberculosis INDECENT that
will be large enough to embrace all
such cases not only for the benefit OF
the sufferers themselves, but for the
protection of all citizens. II has been
declared that Riehtaena is far behind
other cities In cart1S for the tuber-
cuiosls situation and it has been point
ed out that other elites through at
tending to the needs Of INDECENT tuber-
cuIosis cases, have afforded protection
to other citizens and have reduced
their deaf tn rate.
City Farm plan On Table.
There was some time ago appro-
prIated $4,000 for the purchase OF
city farm The proposition, after hav-
ing been studied by tho Utilities com
tnittee, To which II was referred. was
tabled Some Of the councilmen and
other city officials propose that this
matter be revived and that the farm
he secured for the benefit OF the city's
poor tuberculosis sufferers.
II has beon declared that residents
of Ginter Park are opposed to the
maintenance Of Pine camp on the
grounds that 1t is objectionable, If
not a menace, TO them,
The suggestion that the patients ut
Pine Camp be removed to the city
Home is said to be iimpracticable. be-
cause the home Is in every way un-
suited to the care of such cases. The
necessity for living in the open air,
which is met by the pavilions at Pine
Camp, rauuot be met by the City
Home. 1t is said
Closing Would Re Calamity.
Mayor A.nslie, in message to coun-
eli two years ago. pointed out the duty
Of the city In caring for INDECENT
tuberculosis cases and the need for an
institution in which the work could
be properly done. In his message to
council tonight he will again urge
action. He will enclose the associa-
TONS letter and the following letter.
received by him from DR.. Levy:
Oct. 81, 1914.
Honorable George Ainslie. Mayor Of
the City OF Richmond:
sir.~-In response to your request for
my views regarding the present stu
alton at Pine Camp, ! beg to state
that Il would. in my opinion, be moth
ing short of n calamity Tor this 1nsti-
tuition to be closed. During the time
Of It's existence Pine Camp has taken
care of about 500 INDECENT consump-
tives from the city OF Richmond.sThese
- 4 .f
paying for proper treatment. but in
practically every instance they were
also a menace to the health Of others.
One of the prime objects of Pine
Camp, in addition to those just men,
toned. was to demonstrate the need
and the usefulness OF such an insti-
tuition The directors believe that this
demonstration has been satisfactory.
and that the time has passed when
private philanthropy should be called
on to discharge function which so
clearly belongs to the city itself.
/ understand that II has been pro-
posed that the city take over the pa
tients now at Pine Camp and treat
them at the City Hospital While /
do not at all doubt the sincerity of
those who make this proposal. 1t
would, nevertheless. In my opinion,
deprive these patients of the prime
tH@fHlial WueIIi itSbE
sally in the treatment of consump-
ton. namely, the outdoor life in the
country. Consumptives confined to
hospital quarters never do well, and
in chronic disease like this they would
soon become dissatisfied and leave, un-
less. indeed. death claimed them
sooner.
should Take Over Pine Camp.
AS health officer Of Richmond, T
cannot but urge with all earnestness
that the city take the necessary steps
to avoid returning these patients to-
their homes, where they will certainly
menace the health " our city, while
10 avoid this by putting them in a
hospital would not be justice 70 them.
The only solution, as ! see II. Is that
the city should promptly accept the
very generous nffer Of ne 7 ereulosis
Camp Society, ana avail itself of the
equipment which will be given them
without penny's cost to our city. only
leaving to the city the plain duty of
caring for these patients in the insti-
tuition thus provided.
] may mention that ! have been a
member OF the board OF directors OF
the Pine Camp Society since It's incep-
ton. and am entirely familiar with all
Its affairs. | can speak only In the
highest terms OF the servoices which
have been rendered our city by the
small group of individuals who have
given fseeiy Of their time and money
The beard os directors feels that a
crisis has been reached. and in this l
heartily concur. II II only after care
full thougin that / agree with the other
directors that this institution can no
longer be conducted, except by the city,
or in other words. that the burden be
shifte from the shoulders OF few
citizens and borne by al.
Yer truly yours
(Signedp f.. G. LEVY
Chief Health Ontcer.