Evening star., 1934-05-05

Mrs. Grant, asserting the most
eminent authorities are now agreed
a change of climate is not necessary
in the treatment of tuberculosis,
quoted the following from a recent
official bulletin of the public service:
There was time when change
of climate was almost always recon-
mended for tuberculosis. People be-
lieved that certain climates cured
disease. Medical opinion has changed.
We no longer believe that climate
will cure tuberculosis. The most i'm
portant thing is good medical care,
usually in a sanatorium, no matter
what the climate.
THE family doctor is tempted to
advise his tuberculosis patients to 60
away. often against his better judg-
ment. He feels that he is expected
to advise a change of climate and
that it is customary, so he may advise
a change of climate as the easiest
way. 1t is better to be near home
than among strangers. Sanatorium
care IS always more expensive in a
strange place."
Mrs. Grant said the Nations Cap
ital now has tuberculosis death rate
from three to four or even six times
greater than the prevailing mortality
rate from the same disease in the re-
spective home cities of the Senators
who are members of the District and
Appropriations Committees.
With respect to the children's sana-
torium, Maj. Paul A. Hodgson, As
sistant Engineer Commissioner, said
a technical recheck of structural de-
tails had revealed that a portion of
the roof could be converted into a
solarium for ambulatory patients
without excessive alterations or the
outlay of much money.
Access to the roof deck would be
by the existing stairs at each end of
the main building.
Elevator Cost High.
Officials of the Engineer Depart
ment find, however, that considerable
expense for structural and mechan-
1cal alterations would be involved in
raising the elevator housing above the
roof to permit carrying of patients to
the solarium by the elevator.
The Commissioners indicated re-
Gently they would favor completion
of the original plans for the building
as to the solarium as well as the two
large dormitory wings, if medical au-
thorities decide this feature essential
Sanatorium directors and others say
this should be done. This work is
dependent, however, upon provision
OF the proposed public works funds
for needed District improvements
This matter now is before Congress.
Originally plans, carefully drawn
after long study, called for the root
deck development where the youthful
patients could bask in the healing
rays of the sun. This feature, as well
as the two wings, was dropped when
1t was found the construction appro-
priation was insufficient, as explained
in The Star
Officials Are Named.
DR.. J. w. Peabody, superintendent
of District tuberculosis institutions
DR.. D. L. Fnucane, who will have di-
rect charge of the sanatorium when
1t is opened next month; George S
Wilson, director of public welfare, and
Mrs. Ernest r. Grant, executive Sec
retary of the District tuberculosis
Association, recently reiterated their
conviction that the solarium is an
essential part Of such an institution
When a question arose recently as
to whether the roof of the building
would stand Give load" due to al
terations made for economy reasons
Maj. Hodgson ordered o technical re-
study of structural plans.
H. H. Marsh, chief of the structural
division of the District Engineer De-
partment, has reported:
"A portion of the roof at each END
Of the building can be made available
as a promenade by removing the Stag
roof and fill and replacing this with q
suitable deck of tile or similar finish
erect the railing. etc., without any
structural alterations.
Two Wings Planned.
1.-THE elevator in the center Of the
building now serves the third floor
but 1t is possible to extend it so as to
have it serve the roof. This will in
volve considerable expense both struc-
turally and mechanically"
The Commissioners already have
planned to build the two wings Of the
building when funds are forthcoming
This will more than double the bed
capacity Of the sanatorium.
Opening of the sanatorium recently
was scheduled for June ], but it now
appears there may be a delay of
several weeks. District officials re-
ported today that some difficulty has
been encountered in getting into
operation a water supply system, the
water being obtained from a number
of wells.
The heating plant is needed for
several days to dry out plastered
walls before the building can be
opened to patients, and this is depen-
dent upon the water supply system.