Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-01-28
NO COUNTY HOSPITAL IS
LIKELY WITHIN A YEAR
(ContInued DON 90 ID

E1E@
ception. II is also admitted that
the cost OF maintenance of county
and municipal institutions is much
greater in proportion than those
which are fostered by the state, so
that for many reasons / believe that
the present is not a favorable time
for u county to build an institution
of this character.
II believe that Il can be establish
cd that such work as is attempted
by u society. even with its limited
facilities. could be made OF much
greater value if it-could be extended.
THE suppression Of tuberculosis
resolves itself largely into a social
proposition. Clinics. such as we
have established. are all important
for the recognition of the disease.
Unfortunately. there is no medical
treatment which will cure the dis
ease. When 1t has been established
that an individual has tuberculosis
there is a need for personal instruc-
ton and personal aid In order-that
the spread of the disease may be
prevented. and that recovery may be
brought about which is possible
only in the early stages of the mall
ady. In advanced cases the sana-
torium ean only shelter those be-
yond cure. and SO help them to keep
the infection FROM spreading. In
the early stages the work OF the
sanatorium is educational.
In my judgment, the extension
of the work of the clinics and of
number of cases requiring sanatori-
UNI treatment"
Report by Richardson
The following report in regard to
the county hospital from a financial
point OF view was presented by
County Solicitor Frederick T. Rich
ardson:
Il am submitting herewith a
hasty summary of the activities of
this county toward the erection of
a tuberculosis hospital in the hope
that this may be of some assistance
in understanding the situation as it
exists at the present time.
I'm 1917 this county appropriated
for tuberculosis patients the sum of
SIS, 000; in 1918, the Sum of s33, 1000;
in 1919. the sum of $4,000; in 1920,
tn sum of $4,000, and a like
amount for 1921. l think IL may
be safely said that under the pres
ent arrangements u yearly appro-
priation will be in the neighborhood
of $4,000 for an indefinite period
to come. Against these appropria-
lions the state is reimbursing us to
the extent of nearly one-half be.
cause beginning July 1, 1919, they
are making an allowance for each
patient Of Sc per week.
In 1917 there were prepared
plans and specifications for the
erection of a tuberculosis hospital to
cost in the neighborhood of $780,
900. A site was purchased for
for and still owns. Due to the fact.
however, that the county's bonding
capacity would not permit, it was
impossible to consider the erection
Of the hospital until the amendment
to the Pferson bill permitting an adj
ditional bonding capacity had been
passed.
+ among the measures suggested
to alleviate this heavy burden on
the county has been a suggestion
that the municipalities should APP
propriate a certain sum each year
in their municipal budget to defray
the cost of patients from their re-
spective- localities. This suggestion
was acted upon but the county re.
ceived no encouragement, it being
found almost impossible to have
municipalities do anything in con
nection hereon.
Some little time ago Mercer
county considered the advisability G.
building a county hospital and i
was estimated that their institution
would cost about 100000 and thai
the superintendent and chief physt
oian together with medical supplies
necessary that it would cost the
county between seventy-fve and one
thousand dollars for yearly main
tenance. I believe at that time the
idea for a separate county hospital
was abandoned.
II have been informed that the
payments we are now making the
Bonnie Burn Hospital and White
Haven Sanitarium are fourteen and
sixteen dollars per week per pa
tient. This is an increase of S2.0O
for each hospital per patient per
week over what we formerly paid,
You are familiar with the fact
that the State on April 3, 1919 al
lowed us s27,144 back pay for tu-
berculosis patients and that since
that time we have been receiving
assistance more or less regularly.
The hearing on the tuberculosis
hos pital before the Board of Free
holders was continued last night.
when arguments for and against a
hospital wer heard. No definite
agreement was reached.