Evening journal., 1919-12-05
Nd HOSPITAL FOR
THIS DYINi CHI D
Suffering With Diphtheria,
City Institutions Couldn't
Take Boy In
GIVEN SERUM, THEN
RETURNED TO HOME

1T Is Just such a deplorable case as
this which brings yiyidly before the
public the absolute need Of either
ward or a hospital specially equipped
10 care for persons suffering from con-
tagous diseases"
Or. r. +. Ellegood, president OF the
Board of Health made this assertion
today IN commenting upon the turning
away from Delaware Hospital last night
OF a child dying OF laryng al diphtheria.
The child. the little FOUR year-old son
OF John Thomas NladkOski, Of near
Marshallion, was brought 10 this city
In a taXiCab last night Al the Delaware
Hospital 10 was learned from those ac-
companying The boy that be had had
no attention, aside from home treat
mcnL. since taken an i've days ago.
As the Delaware Hospital cannot
handle contagious diseases without en-
dangering the safety OF It's other pa
tienls. IL was reluctantly obliged 10
call upon Dr. Henry W Briggs, county
phys clan Meanwhile m hospital doc
tors had administered diptheretic anti
toxin This. Dr. Briggs said. was all
the hospital could do.
The Municipal Hospital. in Philadel-
phia. next was called and asked n 10
could take The case u the Delaware
Hospital would send the suffering chid
there In an automobile. The institu-
ton replied % could not accept patients
from outside Pennsylvania.
Or. EllegOOd next was called upon.
he, too, was reluctantly Obliged to tell
the Delaware Hospital It had done al it
could do and that there was no pro-
vision for care OF contagious cases in
{ Wilmington.
Under the circumstances, the Della
/ ware Hospital was compelled 10 return
I the child % It's home. In spite o. its
dying condition. The hospital officials
/ said today they felt most deeply their
inability 20 take In the little sufferer,
/ but dared not because they could not
safeguard others already under their
care.
/ Or EIegood held a conference today
with Benjamin +. Shaw, who Is one OF
the most active trustees OF Delaware
Hospital, and 70 was agreed by them
/ that t was high time that City C0un-
ell took some definite action to provide
/ for contagious cases. whether they de-
Ivelop in Wilmington, or are brought
/ here from nearby points, as Is The case
Of the Vladkoski child.
81 am ready and willing 90 90 before
City Council at any time 70 will set and
go fully into the situation" sad Dr..
/ EIlegood. in his Office at the Vernon
! Apai tmenis today. 1t certaily is time
the city provided a ward or hospital
! for contagious disease patients and
other patients who cannot now be
/ treated at our hospitals"
Il was recalled that fate similar 20
that OF the Vladkoski child recently be-
fell two little girls, daughters Of a resi-
dent Of Wilmington, who are suffering
from an unusual disease. Although the
girls needed urgent daily treatment
there was not a single place In the city
where they could be cared for, al
though Miss B. Z. Mullin, secretary OF
the Associated Charities. did every
thing within her power 10 provide some
way for their care. The children
mother even threatened at times TO Kill
them and herself. driven as she was To
The verge Of insanity by their suffer-
ings and seeming impossibillty Of OBJ
tanning treatment for them. Miss Null
lin even offered TO arrange for the
treatment Of the children in Philadel-
phia. provided funds were provided for
their transportation and care, but no
city board or body would undertake the
task.
ITS most deplorable," said Or. Ellie
good. "that a city Of 100000 people
docs not make and has not already
made provision for treatment OF unfor-
mnates suffering from contagious mala-
dies. ! repeat it is time for the city
10 take action. IL means life or death.
death"
The VladkosH child lives In the
country near Marshallton, and Its con-
ldition could not be learned today.
Many persons today wondered why
l lhe Emergency Hospital in connection
with the county hospital at Farnhurst
was not opened to care for the stricken
child. The hospital was built to take
Icare of contagious diseases, but has
been used only for smallpox cases.