Evening star., 1915-12-08

leads to annual drafts on the emer.
gency fund for the support of this
service. In view of the Importance OF
m: ssioners urge that adequate appro-
priations be made for it's support.
Smallpox Hospital and Quarantine
Station.
Drsing the fiscal year 1915 the small
pox hospital was open 1856 days. 3i
patients were treated. and the total
number of patient days was 6S5. The
quarantine station was open 1877 days
during which time 6s Persons were ad-
mitted. The total number of inmate
days was S29. The appropriation made
available by the District appropriation
act of March 3. 1915, will serve to put
the smallpox hospital and the quaran-
tine station In good physical condition
put there Is need for the construction
service of these establishments.
1solating Wards.
The isolating wards at Garfield Me-
mortal Hospital rendered during the
year S,57S hospital days service. OF
these, 2,s4s were at the expense of the
patient and $3.50 at the expense of the
District. The cost per patient per day
for such patients as were treated at
public expense was $1.22 Providence
Hospital rendered 1883 hospital days
service. 3s3 at the expense of the pa
tient and 1,505 at the expense of the
District. The cost to the District per
patient per day for each patient treated
in this institution at. public expense
was s2.99. BY contract entered into
between the Commissioners and Proyi-
dence Hospital on November 12 1914.
the service rendered by the isolating
wards at Providence Hospital was
placed upon the same basis as that
rendered by Garfield Memorial Hospi-
tai. namely, upon the basis of a fixed
nance of the institution for the use of
the District government and of all per-
sons desiring to use it, and further
payment by the District government of
81 day fer each patient treated in the
institution. at public expense, but with
the Limitation that if the balance of
the appropriation after the deduction
Of the amount necessary for all fat
monthly payments be exhausted before
the close Of the fiscal year. then that
the hospital shall treat all patients
sent there by the District government
without further charge.
Ambulance Service.
The ambulance used in connection
with the smallpox hospital transferred
to that institution during the year 35
persons. Sixty-eight persons were con-
veyed o-the quarantine station in that
ambulance or in one of the other We
hicles in the service of the health de-
partment. The ambulance used for the
transfer Of patients suffering from so
called minor contagious diseases to
Garfield Memorial and Providence hos
pitfalls made during the year 436 trips,
Disinfecting Service.
During the fiscal year 1915 2.153
premises were disinfected because Of
the occurrence of communicable dis
eases. This represents an increase of
ESQ since the preceding year. The Com
missioners are watching with interest
the experiments now being made in
certain cities. namely. the omission OF
terminal fumigation after the occur
renee of communicable diseases. Should
the experiments being conducted IN
these cities prove the neediessness OF
terminal fumigation. the Commission
ers will make appropriate recommends
tions with respect to its discontlnuance
in the District.
The attention of the Commissioners
having been called by the health officer
to the danger to the community liable
to arise from disinfecting ana fumi-
eating by irresponsible and -unskIi1ed
persons. the Commissioners. on April
2, 1915, promulgated regulations for the
control Of such Work.
Public Crematorium.
During the fiscal year 1915 $50 bodies
were cremated at the public cremato-
rum. OF these, 26 were cremated at
private expense. for which the District
received $3.50. The gross cost for oper-
ating the ematorium was $1,846.63, the
net cost after the deduction OF the rees
collected as stated ABOVE being but
$1,lSS.63. The additional furnace pro-
vided for by the District appropriation
act. approved March 4, 1913. was COM
pieted during the year. The crema-