White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1931-02-05
The CHILDREN'S
ORTHOpEDIC HOSPITAL

of population and the character Of
the work done. Every town if it has
not already a local hospital, looks
forward to the time when it may be
able to afford one. Institutions for
the care Of the blind, the deaf and
the deficient take care Of a large
territory and there may be no more
than one In whole state. These are
usually supported by public funds.
The State Of Washington follows
tho fashion In this respect but ID has
one. institution. which. receives no
state funds serves the whole state.
This 10 the children's Orthopedic
Hospital and children come to it
from practically every county, city,
hamlet and hinterland. The children
of the entire state are made well
come without regard to whether the
expenses incurred will be repaid by
the community sending the child OF
not. The connection which is really
quite close between the hospital and
all the counties in the state IL a
matter of which the counties in the
main know little. The connecting
link is the work of the nurses in the
various counties. Many parents never
appear. A nurse brings in child
which she has found in her county
needing care. 1t stays in the hospital
perhaps long time, perhaps a short
time. Then the nurse is usually told
to bring the child back on such a
date. Faithful to that she hunts up
the child and brings it in at the APP
pointed time. This may go on for
years. IF the family is obviously too
poor to pay, no one is responsible
for the expense incurred and unless
the county either officially or through
sponsibilities and assumes them, then
the burden falls upon King County:
not upon the government of King
County but upon the Orthopedic As
ISOLATION which maintains the Hos.
pital in Seattle and receives from
its loyal supporters the money to
keep the place running. There is an
endowment fund of about 100000
and the expenses are $4,000 month.
Something less than 20 per cent is
paid in by private cases. Forty per
cent of the charity cases come from
outside of King County and only Is
per cent of the contributions come
from the state at large. This leaves
twenty five per cent of the work
done not paid for by the communities
from which the children came. 1t is,
of course, much cheaper and better
to send crippled children to first
class central institution than to make
more or less futile efforts to care for
them locally. If they were not cared
for at all, they would in many cases
become charge upon these COM
munities, and also "a staggering bur
den upon their families. The Child
ren's Orthop1dic Association in King
County will take care of the building
and the school instruction. The doc
tors give their services for charity
cases, but there still remains the
nursing care, household service, food
and clothing. These certainly should
be supplied by the communities from
which the children come.
Several counties have awakened to
their responsibilities in this matter
and are making an effort to repay
the expenses being incurred. TO
few counties vouchers are sent ana
are promptly settled for by the
County. Commissioners. In. other
cases a substantial lump sum is given
by the County Commissioners and
other sums are given by lodges, clubs
and individuals and in many cases
by Guilds and Auxiliaries formed
for this one specific purpose. These
contribute money to the hospital, sew
for it, send fruit and vegetables IN
large quantities and also take an in
terest in returning patients. A few
counties are still sending many pa
tients but little else. These are still
received for the present. Sometimes a
man is approached for contribution
by some one who is irked by the
idea that his county is not doing fol.
it's own children and the man says,
"Why should send my money to
King County. Let them look after
their own hospital" The Orthopedic
Association would not now be bur
dened as it is if it cared tor King
County children. 1t could take care
of them and put money in the bank.
Send along your children but with
an assurance that their food, care
and clothing will be paid for.
Travellers from all over the world
visit this hospital and are unstinted
in their praise. One eminent foreigner
said recently, "You have everything
you need and nothing superfluous"
"A small boy who had been shot in
connection with a Halloween prank
was told by his doctor that he could
now go home But he said, Il can't
go home, have work up in the
Manual Training Department which
is not finished yet" He was told
that his bed was. needed by some
child on the waiting list. He turned
away sadly with the remark, We'll,
I must get myself shot again"
IF YOU pass along your streets and