Evening star., 1934-09-11
FOWLER REQUESTS
ENLARGED STAFF
FOR C|TY'S CLINIC
$14,282 in Additional Funds
Sought for tuberculosis
Dispensary.
CRITICISM OF DISTRICT
DEATH RATE is CITED
Would Add Full-Time Physicians
and Nurses in War on
Disease.
An increase in the staff Of physi-

An increase in the staff Of physi-
clans and nurses attached to the Dis
trict tuberculosis Dispensary at 30l G
street is sought by Health Officer Will
liam c. Fowler in his 1886 estimates,
made public today, as q means Of
conducting a more effective campaign
against the white plague
He asks the employment of two
full-time physicians, four additional
nurses and supervising nurse, two
clerks and laborer, in request for
$57,280 for the departments dispen-
saries. This is $14,282 greater than
the fund of $42,998 appropriated for
the present year.
DR.. Fowler declared he believed the
high death rate from tuberculosis here
is due to the large colored population
and that instruction in hygiene and
sanitation is essential to prevent a
spread of the disease. He said:
Much criticism has appeared in
the public press relative to the death
rate from tuberculosis in the District.
The Health Department has been
doing all the work it can at the dis
pensary with the personnel at its
command. The high rate of NOR
tality from tuberculosis is due to the
large colored population in this dis
trict.
Home instruction Vital.
"It is well known that the econ
omic condition of the colored race in
the District does not compare fav-
orably with that of the white popula-
ton, and the only way, in my judg-
ment, to reduce the mortality among
the colored is by visiting the homes
and instructing occupants in hygiene
and sanitation and the danger result
ing from crowded home conditions
and exposure to active cases of tuber-
culosis.
THE best means of approach in
such a campaign is in the employ
nurses, attached to the dispensary,
who can visit the homes, follow UP
tubercular contacts and induce them
regularly to visit the dispensary and
receive appropriate treatment, if they
be infected with the disease or sus-
pected of being SO infected"
DR.. Fowler explained there are now
but four part-time physicians. He
seeks to continue three of these at
work in addition to the two full-time
physicians.
Supports Requests.
Supporting his request for five addi-
tional nurses, DR.. Fowler declared:
"The services of nurses attached to
the clinic are in many respects as
important as the services of physi-
clans. These nurses go into the
homes and ferret out unreported cases
of tuberculosis, and many persons
who have been exposed to the disease
and bring them to the dispensary for
examination and treatment"
The health officer asks an appro-
priation of 100000 for the next fiscal
year for care of INDECENT patients
having minor contagious diseases in
isolation wards at Garfield Hospital.
This is a $1,000 increase over the
current appropriation. For the 1884
fiscal year $22,5 500 was provided, and
a deficit of $1,000 was created be-
cause of demands for care.
No increase in personnel is asked
for the contagious disease staff of the
department, but $1,000 is asked for
buying typhoid serum, smallpox vac
cine and other medical supplies.
Proposes New Clinic.
To afford better medical service for
public school children, the health
officer asks an appropriation of
S104 $40 for public school hygiene
and sanitation work, this being an
increase of $19,786 over the 1885 ap-
preparation. DR.. Fowler proposes
establishment of a new dental clinic
and employment of two part time
dental operators and one dental
hygienist and $4,000 for new equip
ment and maintenance.
An increase also is sought for oper-
alton of the child welfare and hygiene
stations, $4,000 being asked, as
against $45,634 for the present year.