Evening journal., 1921-09-16
RAP HOSPITAL
FOR Stand
Two Councilmen Score P.
And S. Failure TO Re-
ceive Patient
NO NURSE, REASON
GIVEN BY DIR. ROBIN

Action OF the contagious unit OF
the Physicians and Surgeons Hos
pital in refusing to take a patient
suffering with anthrax. whom the
Board OF Health tried to have cared
for there was criticised in City Coun-
ell last night. and the request made
that a representative OF the Hospital
meet with the committee OF the
whole next Wednesday night and ex-
plain matters. The subject was
brought to the attention OF Council
by Councilman McNabb. He char
acterized the action as a blot on the
city and called attention to the re-
cent request OF the hospital author
tiles for a city appropriation OF
$1,000, He stated that while Coun-
ell had refused to make an appro-
priation at this time his under
standing was that Council intended
to put It in the budget next spring.
but II the hospital proposed to pick
It's cases he was opposed to giving
it anything.
IT seems to me-" he added,
that when there is patient strick-
en- with such a contagious disease
as that there should be some provi-
sion to take it in. II is a blot upon
the city to find a working man who
contracts a disease refused admit
tance. II is certainly somebody s
place to look after that man. They
want $4,000 voted for the support OF
the institution. but II they are goine
to pick their cases for one am not
going 10 vote any money OF the city
to maintain It. This thing hits
down in my 'bailiwick, he ex-
claimed
Il will not go on record as voting
for a single dollar to any institution
that refuses TO take such a patient" "
declared Councilman Murray, who
also criticised the action OF the hos
pital authorities.
Reference was made to the Hos
pitaps willingness TO turn the con-
tagious unit over to the city. Mr..
McNabb said he remembered the
last municipal hospital. the con-
duct OF which he intimated had been
the subject OF much criticism years
ago.
DR.. Albert Robin. chairman OF the
medical board of the institution, is
sued a statement in which he ampli-
fed the position OF the hospital and
denied that il has actually refused
to accept the patient.
"The reason the case could not be
accepted is that we had no specia
nurse to give it attention" DR.
Robin said "Our nurse could no
attend to this case and also attend
to other cases, and It Is almost i'm
possible to get private nurses TO taxi
such case.
1.-THE organization we have at pres
ent is small. and we haven't tn
means to keep larger organization
We have only the minimum Of on
nurse in the contagious unit at pres
ent. Just as soon as funds are avail
able we will make provisions 70
treating such cases by having
special nurse to attend to them. A
present our means do not permit u
TO make such provisions.
'Ali we are trying to do now i
to take care OF such diseases as ar
likely 10 become epidemic, such a
scarlet fever and diptheria. Anthra'
is not an epidemic disease, becaus
It doesn't start in communities ant
can only infect a person who be
comes in direct contact with one ar
fiicted."
When questioned further, Dr
I Robin admitted that the hospita
1 could not take the provisions he sail
would be necessary even If the cit
should appropriate 5000 a year L
the Contagious unit. unless privat
donations would also be made.
He said efforts had been made 4
obtain a private nurse to treat IN
anthrax patient but that none coul
r be secured. and said the hospita
had offered to accept Mesh as
, patient provided the Broad Of Healtl
= would furnish a nurse Because o
, the danger OF infection OF othe
( patients, ne said. the hospital woul
e not put the victim under the care O
the lone nurse assigned to the con
Q tsgious section.
I'VE would be only too glad, how
! ever, to take the case" he added
e "if the Board OF Health would fur
nish a nurse but even il we coul
s obtain the services OF a privat
nurse. we would not have the mean
to go to this expense
Asked IL the hospital would en-
b ploy a special nurse for such emei
10 gencies as that caused in the an
b thrax instance. next year in tn
event OF the city appropriatin
! $4,000, he admitted that the mens
would still be unavailable TO do 81
: Such a step would be taken. h
! said. II private donations were ais
made. as heretofore. but $4,000 alor
would be insufficient for the purpos
= The expense Of maintaining the un
I, is now about 500 TO $500 montl
he said