Evening star., 1921-09-21
CHANGE
|NPAT|ENTS' CARE

The District Commissioners would
be called upon to Investigate and re-
port to Congress what change, If any,
should be made in the present method
of caring for INDECENT persons suf-
fering from tuberculosis in the Dis
trict, under a resolution Senator Walsh
of Massachusetts will introduce.
The resolution will suggest that the
climate of Washington is not suitable
for the treatment of tuberculosis ana
that it might be advisable TO send
these patients to other places under
the contract plan. 1t will suggest also
the adyisability of abandoning for
hospital purposes the Land upon whlch
the tuberculosis hospital is now locat-
cd and that this site be used for
school purposes.
suggestions Of Committee.
The resolution is TO be offered at the
suggestion of a committee representing
the Piney Branch Citizens Associa-
tion, which made public the follow
ing statement regarding the Tubercu-
losis Hospital.
THE tuberculosis Hospital is To-
Gated at 14th and Cpshur streets, ana
is built on comparatively low-lying
ground at the edge of a ravine known
as Piney Branch valley. In ADDITION
to being subjected to the usual not,
moist climate of Washington, the pa
tients have to Withstand the addeo
dampness of the location : and the
noise and dust. from the heavy traf-
fic and street car line on 14th street.
'.In the fiscal year ending June ~,
1921. 363 patients were cared for at
the hospital, of whom 1913 died, and
only a few of whom were discharged
, as benefited. A comparison OF those
figures with statistics of tuberculosis
institutions in more favoraDie en-
mates and surroundings Will s3ow
that local patients are not. getting
the treatment to which they are en-
titled.
There is no disposition to criticize
the present administration OF the nos
pital Considering the money ana
means at hand, doubtless as good re-
suits as could be expected are OBJ
iained. 1t is interesting to observe,
However, that where the District
spent last fear S1.42 per man per day
tn care for criminals at the reforma-
tory, and S1.37 per man per day TO
look after similar persons at the
werkhouse. only $1.S3 per patient per
day was devoted to the care of indl-
Sent sick who are making life and
death struggle against tuberculosis.
1.-The Public Health Service has made
ITO attempt to care for tuberculous
soldiers in the climate of Washington,
hut mas sent them on contract 10 prl.
vate institutions located with special
reference to the treatment OF the dls-
ease. The slight increase in expense
that might be involved in following
the same policy with respect to local
civilian patients would be more than
compensated by the beneficial results
that would ensue.
Proposed Junior High School.
S"Under the deficiency appropriation
set approved June Is. 1921 the Com
rsissioners are directed to erect a
junior high school on part of the hos
pital tract. 1t will cost 100000,
Contain twenty-four rooms and ac-
commodate about 1000 pupils. A tu-
berculosis hospital. with 200 or more
patients in the last stages of the dis
ease. should not he maintained In the
vicinity of school.
I'm the same act of June 16 an ap-
preparation of $l50,000 is made for the
erection of school for the care OF
tubercular children. and the health
officer of the District has recommend
ed that it be built on the hospital
tract Such a school should not be
erected in proximity to another school
housing 1000 healthy pupils. nor
should it be built near the Tubercu-
losis Hospital because of the psyche
logical effect on children in the in
cipient stage of the disease.
Ideal for School Purposes.
"Thet hospital tract is ideal for
school development purposes. and if
the hospital were removed would be
available for that use. An additional
technical high school. for white
students will soon have to be con-
structed in Washington, and the
hospital tract is conceded to be the
best site for the building, both wit
referense to the residences of the
present technical school student
body and the probable future enroll
ment. Business High School, like
wise, is in need of a new building.
actively at work. and the hospital
tract offers ample space for that
project also. The hospital building
itself could be readily utilized for
school purposes if it were vacated.
The District of Columbia appropri-
alton act for 1915 contained a provi-
sion for the erection of the Gallinger
Hospital on the tuberculosis Hospital
tract, but the District appropriation
act for 1918 repealed that provision
and directed the erection of the Gal
linger Hospital on Massachusetts, ave-
due southeast. In the act of June 16,
1921, Congress directed the erection of
aslarge etwenty-four-room junior high
school n the tract The history of
those acts indicates clear policy on
the part of Congress eventually to
abandon further use of the tract for
hospital purposes and to develop it
for school use. A far greater value
30 hn fnr fro S,n To-, \,