Evening star., 1926-04-13
HEALTH CONDITIONS
IN DISTRICT SCORED.
Spokesman for Social
Agencies Blame Backward
ness on Lack of Funds.

Inadequacy of health maintenance
work in the District. due to the lack
of appropriations by Congress. was
scored by Health officer w. c.
Fowler and other experts on health
and social problems at the annual
meeting Of the Washington Council
of Social Agencies in the Burlington
Hotel yesterday afternoon.
General criticism Of health condi-
tions here, blamed on lack of funds.
followed an address by DR.. Victor c.
Vaughan, chairman Of the division
of medical sciences Of the National
Research Council In which he gave
statistics showing the death rate
from various diseases. He empha-
sized that Washington Is generally
behind other cities in taking care of
the health OF its citizens.
Other Cities Compared.
Pointing out that In 1925 the death
rate from typhoid fever in Washing
ton was slightly more than per-
pared with 1.5 for Norfolk. Va; 3.3
for Wilmington. Del. and 3.6 for
Baltimore. DR.. Vaughan. In giving
the typhoid statistics, explained that
with this condition existing the cause
of the disease here has not been
known.
DR.. Vaughan also said there is no
prenatal clinic under Government con-
troll; no maternity hospital under the
control of the health officer and no
adequate supervision of pre-school
children.
81 Cents Per Capita ID. G. Rate.
These and other conditions he laid
to the lack of appropriations here,
that 1t has been estimated
that only about Ga cents per capita
Is spent on health in the District each
year. This sum is entirely inadequate,
he said, and had his statement cor
roborated by other experts present.
DR.. Walter S. Ufford, secretary OF
the District of Columbia tuberculosis
Association, declaring a systematic
for the prevention OF tuber-
culosis either among the white or
colored people could not be carried
out here, said:
Some time we are going to have
decent streets; some time the five-year
school building program will be car
ried out. Is not health as much i'm
portant as any Of these other things?
Must we waltz"
James A. Tobey of the Institute for
Research advocated the
Of a standard to the Dis
trict to determine what Is wrong with
the method Of dealing with the health
situation. The standard sum for
health expenditure in cities Is $1.95
per capita yearly he said.
Miss Gertrude Bowling, director Of
the Visiting Nurses Society. spoke
Of the necessity of medical social
service department 10 work In CO.
operation with local hospitals. ex-
planning that when q person Is re-
leased from a hospital here there Is
no provision for following up case.
Dr. Fowler, who opened the general
when asked to do so by
the president of the council. A. c.
Moses, explained the hopelessness OF
the Health Department functioning
as it should in many cases. due to
the lack Of funds. I'VE have. asked
for an appropriation Of $4,000 to sup
press any form of nuisances attribut-
ed to non-residents here" he said.
adding that the appropriation granted
was only $4,000.
Following the discussion MI. Moses
declared he would soon present to the
council a general plan, for its con-
to deal with health prob
lens in the District.
Executive Committee Named.
At a business session preceding the
general discussions the following
were elected to the executive COM
mittee: Miss Hettie Anderson. Will
liam L. Clarke. Mrs. L. B. Schloss,
Mrs. J. p. s. Neigh and Willard c.
Smith. all for a period Of three years,
and Mrs. o. L. Veerhon for one year.
Members Of the executive committee
will nominate officers who are to be
elected at the next meeting. Mrs. J.
E. Jones was chairman Of the COM
mittee that nominated members of
the executive committee.
A general review of the work of
the council during the past year was
made through the reports Of the DIFF
ferent committee chairmen, as fol-
lows:
Health committee, Miss Gertrude
H. Bowling; family committee. Mrs
w. s. Ufford; recreation committee
Miss Lydia Burklin; hospital service
Miss Sarah F. Schroeder;
legislative educational committee,
Miss Elizabeth Eastman; children's
Mrs. Whitman Cross. Re-
ports were made also on the work of
the Christmas giving committee and
OF the Social Service Institute. Al
financial statement showed that the
council had a balance Of $1,022.tn the
treasury.