Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-12-19

body, superintend-
ent of that hospital. and has refer
ence to the occupational department
carried on there for the past five
years entirely at the expense or the
tuberculosis Association, the cost OF
which during the past year amounted
to s4.1o3. or about 10 per cent Of the
annual budget of the association.
DR.. Peabody in this report says that
the occupational therapy work has
proved it's worth until today 1t is IAN
indispensable factor in the care of tu-
berculous patients" and he expresses
the hope that the financial burden of
continuing 1t may be in the near fu-
ture taken from the shoulders of the
tuberculosis Association by the hos
pital under a regular appropriation by
Congress. But for the coming year
this vital work is still contingent on
the final outcome of the current sale
! of Christmas health seals. for con
siderably more than third or the
necessary 1000, 900 seals to finance
the associations work still remain TO
be sold during the few remaining days
before Christmas.
Established Five Years Ago.
Five years ago." writes DIR. Pea
body, the Washington Association
for the Prevention of tuberculosis es-
tablished. with the permission OF the
Board of Charities the then CONTROL
ing organization of the hospital. the
department of occupational therapy.
In the beginning this might have been
considered as venture. However.
time has proven that this department.
is now an indispensable factor in the
care of tuberculous patients. for 1t
exerts a wonderful influence toward
a recovery.
greatest aids in hospital adm1nistra'
ton. It assists in the discipline
through it's influence on the patient s
mind and thus tends to create more
congenial institutional atmosphere. IL
is this one department which probably
more than any other increases the
length of stay of the patient. keeping
him under hospital discipline in con-
tentment which undoubtedly relieves
the monotony and inconsistencies so
often encountered by the one taking
the cure.
1.-THE patients fall under the inf1u-
ence of this department through bed
side instruction, which later on is con.
tinued in the workshop. The arts and
crafts form medically prescribed exer-
else In addition to the foregoing. the
social service adjustments and super
xaed recreation tend to produce
inost wholesome atmosphere in fnsti-
tutional life.
"The financial burden of all this
work has been borne by the local
tuberculosis Association. and II is
hoped that very soon sufficient aprro-
priation will be forthcoming when the
hospital may assume this RESPONSE
bility, thus leaving the tuberculosis
Association to promote its work along
other health channels"
Patients Build Lily Pond.
While hand crafts make up a large
part of the instruction for patients,
not all of them are fitted for these
occupations, and many other interest.
ing projects or activities are planned
by the patients under the supervision
of Mrs. Agnes H. Stewart, director of
the occupational department, and her
trained assistant, Miss Helen Moses.
One of the most original and inter
esting events of the past year at this
hospital was the construction of lily
pond in the hospital grounds. The
idea began to take shape in March,
after an illustrated lecture at the hos
pital by Mrs. Helen L. Fowler of the
Shaw Lily Farm at Kenilworth. From
its inception the creation of this bit
of a natural home for lilies and gold
fish was a continual source of pleasure
and diversion in which every one
shared, including the hospital staff
and nurses.
Similarly keen interest was taken
In the acquisition of bird bath for
the hospital grounds, this being the
gift of a group of W. c. T. u. women
under the leadership of Mrs. Edison
Briggs.
There were many entertainments
planned by the occupational therapy
department with the cooperation of
various outside organizations, includ.
ing the Kiwanis Club entertainment
committee, with its frequent band con-
certs. monthly programs by the St.
Vincent de Paul Society," holiday par
ties by the Starmont Aid ladies', the
Federation of Music Clubs and the
Business Women's Council.