Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-15
BIC PART OF SMALL
LOANS PAY DOCTORS
Benjamin Talks on Cost of
Medical Care to Managers
of Visiting Nurses.

Forty-eight per cent Of small bor-
rowers use their loans to pay for medi-
cal care, Paul Benjamin, of the staff of
the Cost of Medical care, declared yes
tsrday in a talk before the Board of
Managers of the Instructive Visiting
Nurse Society.
The speaker, formerly field secretary
of the National tuberculosis Associa-
ton and director of the Family We'll
fare Society at Louisville, KY, re-
viewed the situation relating to the eco
nomics of medical care. He said that
out of an annual bill for sickness in
this country of from $4,000 900, 900 to
$4,000, 100000 only about 19 or 20 per
cent was charged against actual doc
tors bills. He said the balance went for
patent medicines, dental and nursing
charges. X-rays and other expenses Of
similar nature.
Men Lose Eight Days Yearly.
Benjamin reported studies in certain
industrial cities had brought out the
fact that the average male wage Garner
lost days per year from sickness and
the average female wage Garner IL days
Concerning medical cost in relation to
income, Mr.. Benjamin said that approx
lmately 70 per cent of all persons living
in the United States have an income of
less than $4,000. He told of a study
made by the Family Society of Toledo
on the amount necessary for subsist-
ence for one family for one year. This
estimate put the lowest figure for a
family of five from 81 500 to 81 800 per
annum.
The speaker stated that the COM
mittee with which he was working was
primarily a research committee and
was collecting a large body of facts
on the basis of which future recon-
mendations might be made to help
solve the present difficulties encoun-
tered by the average family in meeting
medical costs
Mrs G. Rowland Chase, second vice
president presided in the absence of
the president, Mrs. Whitman Cross.
Treasurer's Report Made.
The treasurers report was made by
George Hewitt Myers, chairman of the
Finance Committee.
Miss Virginia Hunt, vice chairman
OF the Supply Committee, made an
appeal for m, re volunteer service in
order that the committee might be able
to finish sterile dressings necessary to
carry the organization through its
summer WORK.
Mrs. John M. Sternhagen. chairman
OF the Publicity Committee, gave
progress report.
A special committee was appointed
to draw up resolution expressing the
regret OF the society at the death of
DR.. John A. Foote, former president
of the District of Columbia Medical
Society and as such an ex-officio MEM
Der OF the Medical Advisory Committee.
Measles Epidemic Reported.
The director reported that Miss
Pearle Griffith, the Georgetown super
visor, who is the orthopedic consultant
OF the organization, was attending the
International Convention for Cripple
Children in Cleveland this week.
The work for the month showed an
epidemic of measles, followed by the
usual complications of otitis mediaS
and pneumonias.
A total of $3.50 patients were carried
by the organization in March, and IA
40 field visits made by the staff
An announcement was made Of an
nual program being sponsored by the
Maternity Center Association of New
York City capitalizing Mothers day In
constructive effort to improve care
throughout the United States which is
given to mothers at time of childbirth
to be held in Washington on May 10
on prenatal care.
Those present were Mrs. G. Rowland
Chase. Mrs. Montgomery Blair, Mrs.
Leonard Block, Miss Elizabeth Bryan,
Mrs. Dwight Clark, Mrs. Charles B.
Crawford, Mrs. John w. Davidge Mrs.
Franklin Ellis, Miss Janet B. Houtz,
Miss Virgins Hunt, r. ~ Kauffmann,
Mark Lansburgh, Mrs. Hutchinson I.
Gone, George III. Myers, Mrs. Nohn j.
O'ConnoE Charles W. Pimper, M, and
Mrs. Ord Preston and the directory Miss
Gertrude H. Bowling.