Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-03-22
OPPOSE TUBERCULOSIS
WARDS IN HOSPITALS

CONTINUED from Gage II
that he did not question the sound
ness Of the doctors contention that
no danger would Turk in the tubercu.
losis wards at the three county hos
pitfalls, but as a law member of-St
Peters hospital he felt that the plar
was not practical.
Robert w. Johnson, of the Middle
sex General Hospital, reiterated
what was said by several other
speakers at the conference.
DR.. Benjamin Guttman, of the
medical staff of the same institution
declared that the medical staff was
about equally divided in their opin.
ions as to the feasibility of tubercu-
losis wards. The doctors objectine
to it did so on the ground that il
would de-standardize the treatment
through the failure to have an Or
gained staff Of specialists.
DR.. John H. Lund, Of the medical
staff of the Perth Amboy City Hos
pitaI, declared that nc meeting OF
the hospital staff had been called
and I do not know their feelings, but
personally I can see no objection OF
the erection of a ward. Bellevue
hospital has a large tuberculosis
ward and people go there for medi-
cal attention without particular fear
Of tuhercular infection.
'It looks to me as if it would cost
as much to build these wards as it
would cost to erect a county hospi-
tai and if the latter plan was fol-
lowed we could care for both the adj
vanced and incipient cases without
sending the patients out of the
county,"
Sidney Riddlestorffer of the board
of governors of the Perth Amboy
hospital, declared his board believed
tuberculosis not to be communicable
and therefore felt that from a hui
1nanitarian standpoint the erection
of a tubercular ward to that insti-
would be a great feature, but
not the ideal proposition.
He pointed out that many patients
from Perth Amboy are at the pres
ent time at hospitals out of the
county slowly dying of the malady
and that from lack of funds in many
cases could not see their loved ones
again. He made it very clear that
the board of governors is fav-
impressed with this PROPOSE
ton and want to do everything pos
sible to assist the freeholders in car
ing for the INDECENT patients and
sufficient ground is available
for the erection of a wing in which
to house the ward, assistance from
the county would be necessary. He
also quoted figures to show that dur
ing the past year it had cost the
hospital $3.108 per patient day to
the hospital, though he thought
the figure would be reduced in the
care for tuberculosis patients.
while we are willing to assist in
this move" Mr.. Riddlestorffer said,
I'VE look for the erection of a coun-
ty institution at a later date"
Doctor J. F. Anderson of Squibbs'
and a member of the
advisory committee, said:
"What we wan to provide for in
Middlesex county is the adequate
care for tuberculosis sufferers and
the erection of wings to our local
hospitals Is out of the question and
we are told that the county is so
close to it's bonded limit as to pre-
vent the erection of a hospital OF
size and we cannot con-
in sending patients out of the couu-
ty. T feel that the advisory COM
mittee should recommend to the
freeholders the erection of. a hospi-
tai jointly with Somerset and Union
counties.
At this point Judge Daily asked
why the county governing body ha6
been delayed in failing to erect q
hospital to which County Solicitor
Richardson replied:
From an economic standpoint the
freeholders feel that it was cheaper
to send the patients away and as g
vast difference in the views of thu
public have been expressed at pre-
vious meetings nothing had beer
done in the matter"
Mr.. Richardson also asserted tina
at the present time the county wa:
within 100000 of the bonded capa'
city and could therefore not appro'
pirate more than $4,000 for the
erection of such an institution ant
there were doubts among the free
holders that an adequate hospita
could be procured for that amount
Mgr. Norris expressed the view
that the cheapest, most Christian
most ~consoling way would be to RUIZ
along as is now being done and pro
Nlu0 III II6 ACdI l0IoiO - NOoiSS
hospital building. He opposed the
addition of wards to st. Peters hos
pital in equal justice to all patients
declaring that other patients would
not want to come to the hospital il
tuberculosis patients were there.
Mrs. J. H. Thayer Martin, presi-
dent of the Woman's Club of Wood
bridge Township. wanted to know
why a meeting had never been ar
ranged with Union and Somerset
counties to consider the advisa bility
of erecting a joint tuberculosis in
stitution as had been agreed upon
at a previous meeting. Mr.. Belloff
explained that nothing had been
done in the matter pending a discus
sion on DR.. Silks suggestion for the
erection of these wings. He promised
that the joint conference would be
arranged for.