The New York herald., 1922-03-08
FOX HILLS ORDERED
CLOSED In TEN DAYS
First $50 Patients Going at
Once to Naval Hospital
in Brooklyn.
QUICK ACTION PROMISED
Col. Forbes Holds Conferences
and Uses Wire to End Fire
Menace to Veterans.
QUICK ACTION PROMISED
Special Dispatch 70 THE New YORK HrsALp.

Special Dispatch 70 THE New YORK HrAALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington. ID. c., March :.
That Fox Hills Hospital on Staten
Island. New York city, is to be evacuated
within ten days and the patients trans
ferred to hospitals where they can be
safe from fire. 1t was announced to-day
by Col. Charles r, Forbes. director OF
the United states Veterans Bureau. This
action will be taken so that the $50
patients, of whom approximately 500
are tubercular, Will be assured better
care and treatment than Is possible at
Fox Hills. Col. Forbes asserted that the
hospital facilities not only are made
quate. but the structure is faulty
According to Director Forbes, the con-
tract for Fox Hills Hospital expires on
June 80. 1922, and he has refused to
renew 1t.
"I'll close Fox Hill Hospital II | have
to get a church in which to house the
sick men confined there" he declared.
Arrangements were completed by
telegraph to-day for the transfer of $50
patients to the United States Naval
Hospital in Brooklyn This action was
taken after a conference to-day at
tended by Col. Forbes, Col. r. u. Pater-
son, executive medical officer; DR.. NJ. c..
Guthrie OF the hospitals and inspections
office, DR.. c. II. Lavinder. assistant sur
geon; DR.. J. D. Long. laiason officer Of
the United States Public Health Service.
and DR.. Payne Of the Fox Hills Hos
pital.
1T want each Fox Hills patient asked
IL he would be better satisfied In a
Southern climate than in New York."
said Col. Forbes, "and IL he will be
then he will be transferred to the
South.
"The hospital situation at Fox Hills
Is deplorable and this holds true in
every wooden hospital in the country.
With SO many bedridden patients the
danger from fire is increased. IL they
could stay out of bed when they wished
the danger from flames would be less.
but with nearly 500 bedridden men
fire would mean the death of almost all.
and I do not intend that they snail De
open to any such danger.
There is no complaint about the med
ical service there. 1t has a splendid
staff of physicians, surgeons, nurses and
other workers numbering about $50. l
hope the second Langley bill, providing
SIC. 900. 900 for care Of patients, will
soon be passed That with provide the
funds for safe disqualification of the
sick and wounded veterans
There is no way in which Fox Hills
could be made a safe hospital. due TO
it's wooden construction. / will protest
the erection Of additions to any wooden
HOSPITALS for former soldiers.
1--WE have $1,000 men in our hospi-
tails to-day. Fireproof structures should
be furnished in all instances, and / will
insist that they be put in such buildings.
II hope soon to have hospital for
tubercular patients in the New York
district as well as general medical
hospital. There should be facilities to
care for at least 1000 tuberculars and
as many beds. in the general hospital"
Col Forbes asserted that the excellent
equipment of the Fox Hills institution
will be used elsewhere. The staff will
not be dropped from the payroll. but
will be divided, and most of them will
accompany the veterans now there.
The Fox Hills Hospital, which covers
200 acres and has sixty-eight wooden
buildings. was opened as an army base
hospital on June 1, 1918.