Evening star., 1937-08-25
Health
Continued From First Page.)

lOill T IL SG Z dsc,J
per capita, whereas the United States
Public Health Service recommends a
per capita expenditure of $3.50. He
reported that whereas the 1885 death
rate per 100000 was 1859 for the
District. the figure for the country was
but 1922 for 1885, the latest for which
national figures are available. 1T may
be seen that here, as may be eX-
pected, a high mortality attends a
low expenditure for health" Dr.
Rutland said.
Analysis of the figures for white
and colored population of the District
shows that the death rate among the
colored here is high, 20.62 per 100000
population" he continued. However,
the high mortality rates here cannot
be attributed to the colored race alone,
for the death rate among the white
race was l2.47 per 100000.
Pleads for Both Races.
1T is important to emphasize that
the high death rate among the colored
people OF the District is challenge
to the Congress for higher appropria-
tions to combat preventable diseases
among the colored people. But this
program of prevention should also be
extended to include the white race, for
mortality figures show there is great
need for such a program"
In a further discussion of the gen.
eral need, DR.. Rutland said: In some
instances, death rates for the Dis
trict are practically twice as high as
for the rest of the country generally.
Among these are deaths from tubercu-
losis and venereal diseases, with pneu-
monia q close runner-up. If death
rates from these three causes also
could be reduced to the level of the
rest OF the country, it may we'll be
that our general death rate would more
nearly approximate that for the rest
OF the country. In some instances.
the approximations for the control
OF preventable diseases. particularly
tuberculosis, syphilis and other COM
municable diseases, have been quite
meager. Little can be done to make
serious headway against these dis
eases until the appropriations more
nearly approach the standard"
Gallinger Overcrowding Cited.
For starting the construction of the
proposed new medical ward at Gal
ltnger Hospital, DR.. Rutland seeks an
initial appropriation of $l50,0O0 for
next year. He reported that over
crowding Of the present ward building,
opened in 1929, caused IAN extremely
undesirable state of affairs" and said
the new building would lessen the
danger of communicable disease and
make possible much better grade of
treatment.
The Galllnger staff would be in
creased from SIS to $50, or by IA per-
sons, III request for a boost in the
salary item from s46e,56O to S5l3.32O.
The increase appears to be extraor-
dlnarily large, he argued, because there
has been such striking shortage" in
recent years AS proof of the need, he
offered figures to show that the hos
pltal now Is treating nearly three
times the number of individuals it
cared for eight years ago.
The bulk of the proposed increase
In staff would be so additional student
nurses and S additional graduate
nurses. He quoted the warning Of the
District Board Of Nurse Examiners
that the staff would have to be en-
larged If the Capital City Training
School for Nurses was to continue to
receive an accredited rating.
100000 for Polyclinic.
The health officer asks 5000 900 for
construction of the second of the
health centers, to be erected some
where IN the northwest central" area
The sum would include the cost of the
site. For the present year Congress
approved an item OF $165 900 for such
polyclinic on the site of the Jones
Elementary School, First and L
streets. owned by the District. DR..
Ruhland plans five polyclinics In all.
Items totaling $l46,0O0 were insert
ed in the estimates for housing for the
staff Of the tuberculosis sanatoria at
Glenn Dale, Md. These would be two
duplex houses costing $65,00o: an
apartment house. $4,000, and six cot
tages, $4,000. The duplexes and the
apartment would house 10 members Of
the resident medical staff and their
families and the cottages would house
members Of the maintenance staff
whom it Is desired to have live at the
Institution.
For the full capacity operation Of
the sanatoria DR.. Rutland proposes
the addition of 124 to the personnel,
at an additional cost of $17l,84
Among these would be "a additional
graduate nurses, medical officers, 6
head nurses and educational as
sistants. If approved, the salary
budget would be raised from 1926, ,440
to $488,770.
Asks Nursing Bureau Increase.
The stan Of the departments Nurs-
ing Bureau would be increased from
Is to los. under DR.. Ruhland's plans,