Evening star., 1939-09-17
Major Operations
Ordered Stopped
Al Glenn Dale
Dr.. RuhIund Issues
Instructions Without
Giving Reasons

Virtually all major surgery in the
elaborately equipped $4,000 operat-
ing rooms at the Glenn Dale Tuber-
culosis Sanitaria has been stopped
on instruction of Health Ofdcer
George C.. Rutland, it was learned
yesterday.
For the past month patients have
been transferred from the sanitarium
in nearby Maryland to Gallinger
Hospital, where operations are per-
formed by Gallinger physicians.
This surgical work formerly was
done in the operating rooms at the
sanitaria by consulting specialists.
Dr.. Ruhland's instructions relieve
these surgeons of duty, except on
special occasions.
The operating rooms, said to be
the most modern and best equipped
in this section of the country, will
be used only for minor work and for
emergencies.
DR.. Daniel L. Seckinger, acting
health officer, said he understood
that the change was made because it
was believed desirable to have the
operations performed at Galllnger,
where patients are easily accessible
to surgeons, instead of at the sani-
taria. The doctors who have been
doing the work at Glenn Dale travel
out there from Washington.
Change Is Unexplained.
Elsewhere, however, considerable
mystery surrounded the move. No
reason for the change was given by
DR.. Rutland in his instructions to
the hospital and many of those in
terested in work at Glenn Dale said
they were unable to understand the
reason for the change.
The Glenn Dale Sanitaria was fin
ished in 1897 and a wing, which in
cluded an operating room for chill
dren, was completed later. The hos
pital and it's equipment were &C
claimed as the most modern OBJ
tainable.
DR.. Daniel L. Finucane, Superin-
tendent of the sanitaria, said that
he did not Know the reason for the
change, and suggested that inquiries
be directed to the Health Depart
ment. He said that the ruling would
halt major operations there.
DR.. Seckinger said:
THE change was requested by
the health officer. I believe it was
his idea that the patients would
benefit by treatment at Gallinger,
where there are corps of trained
physicians, available at all times.
Under the old arrangement, the
surgeons travelled all the way out to
the hospital to perform the opera
tions. 1t seemed better to do away
with that"
He said that there was no COM
plant on the part of the surgeons
who had to make the journey. for
they receive just enough compen-
sation to cover expenses. Neither
was there any complaint by DR..
1Lullldtlu dUOuC bilC WOl n uOAlC az
the sanitaria, he said.
This just seemed better way
to do it"
do you believe there is any dam
ger or inconvenience to patients.
who must ride IS miles from Glenn
Dale to Gallinger?" he was asked.
I'VE have ambulances," he said.
"If the patient is seriously i'll, we
wouldn't attempt to make the
move" d.
DR.. Peabody Is Silent.
DR.. j. Winthrop Peabody, who
acts as consulting superintendent
OF the sanitaria. refused to comment
on the situation, as did DR.. Edgar
A. Bocock, superintendent of Gal
linger.
DR.. Edmund Horgan, one OF the
consultants who has been operat-
ing at Glenn Dale, said that the
men who had been working with
him were glad to give their services
at Glenn Dale.
I'VE have been enjoying the
work." he said. land have built up
a well-trained staff OF helpers there.
We have never failed to do the work
and we have found it very inter-
esting."
Asked if he believed the operat-
ing rooms and equipment at CALM
ger to be superior to that at Glenn
Dale, he said:
II think Glenn Dale has the finest
equipment in the city"
do you believe it injurious to the
patient to transfer them" he was
asked. r.,
--latest thought holds that 1t is
best to perform the operations ut
the sanitarium whenever possible,
he replied.