Evening journal., 1921-08-09
TRYING TO Save
Pas. HOSPITAL
DR.. Robin Thinks City's
$4,000 for Institution
Would be Well Spent
COUNCIL TO TALK
PROBLEM SOON

DR.. Albert Robin, chief executive
of the medical staff OF the Physi-
clans and Surgeons Hospital. in dis
cussing the report that City Council
will refuse TO finance the contagious
unit Of the hospital. says that in such
an event the hospital must Of neces-
sity be closed. as the trustees are no
longer able 10 maintain It on the
contributions received from the pub
lie.
The Physicians and Surgeons
Hospital was organized as an open
hospital for the accommodation OF all
patients requiring medical assist
ance, and Is the only hospital Of the
kind in the city, according to the
doctor. The contagious disease unit
was established TO meet the need Of
the city for a ward Of that char
acter.
Patients suffering from communi-
cable ailments can not be cared for
at the other hospitals, as the faciii-
ties are lacking. There IS at present
no ambulance for the conveyance Of
contagious cases 10 a hospital
The doctor dwelt on the danger
OF treating a contagious case in a
private home. because OF the prac-
tlcal impossibility OF isoiating such
a case in an ordinary home, where
people come and go, and where there
are no facilities for caring for
patients OF any kind.
DR.. Robin pointed out that the
Physicians and Surgeons Hospital
has been organized through the
energy OF certain public spirited
citizens, and II Council Is unwilling
TO assist in the work. which must
be carried on, the public will have
70 be asked again to help.
DR.. Robin said that the 1000 ask
ed OF the city would be "a drop in
the bucket" compared with the ex-
pense that might be incurred as
a result OF trying to care for indi-
vidual cases which were deemed
worthy OF charity.
THE statement attributed to a
member Of Council that such a
thing could be done. does not touch
the point OF the matter at ALL" the
doctor said. "The fact is the main
tenance OF contagious disease hos
pital Is not a matter Of charity OF
non-charity. but a matter OF main
tanning a place where such cases can
be cared for. No patient. however
wealthy. could be cared for proper
~ IN his own home unless It were
turned temporarily into a hospital
and charity patients would simply
have 10 be sent to another city
where there are facilities for hand
ling such diseases. There would be
the question. Of course, whether this
could be done. For a city like
wilmington to attempt to send al
OF its contagious diseases to Phila'
delphia. for example. and pay foi
them out Of appropriations by Cit,
Council. would be unusual TO say
the least.
There are now eleven patients IL
the contagious unit OF the Ply
sicians' and Surgeons Hospital. ans
during the first six months Of th'
present year hfty-four patients wer'
treated. Among them were scarle
fever. diphtheria. venereal diseases
whooping cough. meningitis, erysipe
las and chicken pox. AS a mattel
OF fact most Of these cases were
among the poorer families Of tn
city and no charge was made fo
their treatment. Every medical carr
has been furnished free by stat
appointed by the Physicians an'
Surgeons Hospital"
A great many physicians ant
others have expressed themselves a
IN favor Of the continuation o
the contagious disease unit Of tn
PHYSICIANS and Surgeons Hospital
Among those especially intereste'
in its retention are Thomas F. Bay
ard, president Of the board Of rus
tees Of the Delaware Hospital; ID
S. c. Frederick. former president o
the Board OF Health and others. ID