Evening star., 1936-01-09
MEDICAL MEN SEE
DEATH TOLL RAISE
Denounce Budget Cuts as
Threat to Public
Health.

Health authorities united today in
denouncing proposed budget reduc.
tions in the Districts health facilities,
predicting tragic consequences If more
adequate funds are not appropriated.
The District Medical Society and
DR.. Arthur c. Christie, chairman Of
the Washington Board Of Trades
Health Committee, agreed with a
statement yesterday by Mrs Ernest r.
Grant, secretary Of the District Tu-
berculosis Association, that the Cap
ital's high tuberculosis death rate will
go even higher If the already limited
facilities for treatment of the disease
are curtailed further.
They also said there must be pro-
vision for increasing Instructive Visit
ing Nurse and Gallinger Municipal
Hospital stats.
DR.. Christie said his committee was
going to take as strong measures as
we possibly can to get the budget in
| creased"
Fears Serious Situation.
Its going to make very serious
situation if we have to turn back into
the community lot Of tubercular
persons" he said in reference TO the
budget item indicating the old Tuber-
culosis Hospital al Fourteenth and
Upshur streets will be closed at the
end Of the year.
The budget report combines the est
mates for the old hospital and the new
sanitarium at Glenn Dale, Md. pru-
viding for operation of the former dur
ing the first six months of the fiscal
year beginning July and of the latter
during the last six months.
DR.. j. Winthrop Peabody, director
of the Upshur Street Hospital, recon-
mended to the Board of Public Welfare
last Summer that his hospital be ma:r-
tanned after opening of the new me
because the District still would be lack
ing sufficient beds to care for its tub-r-
culars. His recommendation was ac-
cepted by the board and subsequently
by the District Commissioners, but ap-
parently has been neglected by The
Budget Bureau
At meeting tonight of the Board
Of Trade Council Dr. Christie probably
will set date for a meeting Of his
committee 10 take action in the health
crisis.
Insufficient STAFF Seen.
Although the opening this year of
a new unit at Glenn Dale will provide
facilities for the care of 300 children,
1t was believed the budget reductions
preclude stating the hospital so it can
be filled to capacity.
One health authority described the
situation as follows:
Il don't see how we're going to pro-
vide for ali the people We should be
able to take care Of The Government
evidently recognized the need when it
appropriated for the new unit. Now
that its being built it seems very
foolish not to staff it. The need is
certainly just as great as when the
original appropriation for the new
building was made"
Medical Society Acts.
zine DlStrict Medical Society last
night demanded provision be made
for greatly enlarging" the public
health nursing and school inspection
services: for replacing wornout equip
ment IN the Health Department labor
atories; for giving adequate space
and meeting other needs to permit
activities OF a health department
commensurate with the needs Of
city the size of Washington; for in
creasing the personnel at Gallinger
Hospital sufficiently to give decent
! care" and to keep open the Upshur
Street tuberculosis Hospital.
Without the recognition of such
needs" the society said, Washing
ton cannot hope to decrease to any
great extent its present enormous
death rate"
The society's committee on public
health was instructed in a resolution
to determine the nature of the budget
curtailmentS and report. with recon-
mendations, next Wednesday.
Taking note of the gag rule" af-
fecting activities of District officials
in trying to secure funds for health
facilities, the society said the rule will
put upon the citizens the necessity for
exercising their right of petition in
that respect"