Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-04-19
DR.. FOWLER DISCUSSES
CASE OF MRS. McsRAW
Denies Failure to Supply Special
Nurse at smallpox Hospital
Was From Lack Of Funds.

Was From Lack Of Funds.
THE impression has been given
that the failure to provide q special
nurse for Mrs. McCraw was due 70 n
lack Of funds for the purpose" Do.
clared DR.. william c. Fowler, District
health onlcer. In references to the cass
OF Mrs. Helen McGraw. confined aS
the District Smallpox Hoepital
DR.. Fowler stated that he desires
to correct this impression and to
emphatically state that such WAS not
the case" HIS casual reference to
able for the employment Of psrsosaf
service In the contagious disease
service in his interview with Mrs.
tate was simply to cali atsention to
the limited amount OF the appropria.
tion and to illustrate the necessity fop
the exercise Of care on his part in the
expenditure OF funds for the employ.
ment of persons whose services were
not necessary.
The conditions of the Smallpox
hospital have not been fairly stated
by the patients family and do not ac-
curately represent the true situation,
about twenty-five years ago and con-
s1sts OF q one-story brick building.
containing four separate wards Of ap-
proximately ten beds each. Two
wards are located at each end OF the
building These four wards are con-
nected by a corridor running the en-.
tire length Of the structure, and along
this corridor three private rooms are
provided. The center room OF this
private group 10 occupied. when pa
tlents OF both sexes are in the build.
of the hospital-namely. the superin-
tendent and his wifs-both Of whom
have had many years of experience in
nursing patients suffering from small
pox and are thoroughly competent to
perform such duties.
The private room occupied by Mrs.
McGraw 10 In immediate proximity 20
the female ward and immediately ad.
9oining the room occupied by the
superintendent and his wife, ana is
retained for the use Of female pa
Is made for male patients at the othsr
eno OF the building. There II . group
OF toilet fixtures located at one end
OF the building for the exclusive use
OF male patients and q similar Rroup
OF toilet fixtures located at the other
END OF the building for the exclusive
use Of female patients. Tho room oc-
cupied BY Mrs. McGraw 10 located d.
recely opposite the female toiiota.
The corridor. which extends The en-
tire length OF the building. 10 divided
about midway between the two ends
Which W che !. ' n,scsS .s BY tan screen
two sections. and no visiting 70 al
lowed between the male ana female
quarters. There IL q common OF main
entrance to the building. located in the
center OF the structure equally dis
lions. At the east. or female quarters.
Of the building q door leads directly
into the yard surrounding the instf-
tuition, and . similar ArrAngement 10
provided At the west. or male, guar
There II absolutely NO reason for
the mixing OF the sexes In the hos
pital. The hospital 10 Q seed buildine,
in good condition. lighted throughout
with electricity. ana Drovided with
electric fans for use In hot weather.
heating plant for winter use. The
food furnished the institution - Of
the best quality and In abundAnoe-"
Mrs. McGraw was admitted TO the
institution on the 18th instant and
was placed in tho private room Of the
was not sick enough At the time OF
her admission to require . special,
nurse. nor has she bsen In any such
condition since. She has never been
confined to her bed or even TO her
hepself eo q the prsl.es 0 Of r. so,ns Into
the yard 1t any time she cared to do
SO. She has not been feQuirod to use
the Same toilet - the man, nor has
she been left It 7any timS without
adequate protection.
"Hundreds>of pAtients. representing
all classes Of people. have been treated
in this institution since Its erection,
and many OF these patients have vol
unfairly expressed their appreciation
OF the treatment they recstvU6 while
in the Institution.
at 10 the desire OF the health de-
partment to provide - al times
proper care and treatment for all pa
TENTS coming under IN Jurisdiction.
and tho health ofiicer has for some time
past been endeavoring to devise some
means whereby 1t might be possible
to improve the structural arrange
ments OF the building.
TN the interview recently held be-
tween the health officer and the moth
err Of the patient. complaint was made
by her that when she went to the
hospital to see her daughter she found
several colored people who had also
called to see the members of thsir
families and she felt that such should
not be allowed. The health ofncer
knows OF no reason why the colored
patients In this Institution should not
be allowed the privilege OF seeing the
members Of their family and friends.
and son long as the coaored patients
obey the rules Of the institution and
otherwise behave themselves, he Will
NOT deprive them OF this privilege"