Evening star., 1936-02-06

The lives of some now listening
may be lost during the coming veal
which could be saved if sufficient fore.
thought were taken now Much of this
forethought, of course, refers to per.
sonal hygiene and habits.
IT wish to speak for a moment
however about that part of the pro.
lection of your health and the pre-.
vention of contagious disease in those
around you which properly belongs tc
the Government.
Situation Appalling.
"The control of contagious disease
in civilized communities of people /.
possible only through governmental
agencies. The discovery and remova
of unhealthful conditions in the city
is not possible through the private
practitioner of medicine, but only
through government. and the SAM
applies also to the matter of providing
hospital facilities for the care of tht
poor.
In Washington the expense oi
these things are met through the bud
get of the Health Department and
the aSkings of the Board of Public
Welfare for the tuberculosis hospi-
tails on Upshur street and at Glenn
Dale and Gallinger Hospital.
THE work of the Health Depart
ment and these hospitals has been
very seriously handicapped by INSULT
cent funds for a long time AT this
time the situation is getting appal-
ling.
Must Have More Funds.
THE opinion of the Medical So
ciety of the District of Columbia is
that these appropriations must be
increased. With Washington having
the next to the highest tuberculosis
death rate in the whole country, ano
with high death rates from Other
preventable contagious diseases, the
citizens should be thoroughly aroused
and alarmed.
Through the Health Department
laboratories pass tests of your drink
ing water, tests of your dairy milk
typhoid and diphtheria cultures. You
life may be the next to depend or
the proper working of the apparatus
there. And yet these laboratories art
full Of worn-out equipment past re-
pair and requests for replacement'
have been largely eliminated.
1T seems almost impossible tc
imagine that the shortage of nurse.
at Gallinger Hospital has often placed
over 100 surgical patients under the
care of two pupils nurses. Yet thi;
is a fact. Gallinger ought to have
three times as many nurses as il
has, as the lowest possible number
for decent care.
only % nurses are provided for the
care of 800 tuberculosis children a
Glenn Dale. The budget plans tt
close the Upshur street hospital or
January /, 1887. This would be LITTLE
short of calamity. How can any i'm.
provement in the tuberculosis rate bs
expected?
"The medical Society cannot view
without concern such a wholesale
neglect of the health Of the city.
Force Will Be Handicapped.
"Our able health officer, DR.. Rub.
land, and the superintendent of thes,
hospitals. in their efforts to give
Washington good health admins
tration, will find their hands seriousl!
tied right at the outset of the mex
fiscal year. If present estimates q
through without change.
1.-THE Medical Society has instructed
its representatives to impress the need,
Of the city upon the Congress, with 6
view to securing passage Of sufhcien
appropriations for health purposes
The society has suggested new slogan
in civic affairs-'Shift the emphasis
to health
Let me suggest aat, II in these re.