Evening star., 1939-10-10
Health Center Need
In Northwest Central
Area Is Stressed
Z
Dr.. Dunn Addresses
Meeting Of Council
Of Social Agencies

The need of the proposed health
center in the Northwest central
area was stressed yesterday by DR..
Halberd c. Dunn, chief Of the Divi-
sion of Vital Statistics, Census Bu-
reau, in an address at the first fall
meeting Of the Washington Council
of Social Agencies in the Y. VIC. Al
Seventeenth and K streets NV.
9zDr. Dunn said che center, already
recommended by DR.. George c. Ruiz
land, District health ofncer, is need
ed for the area from which come
most of the Districts tuberculosis
and syphilis cases and from which
Gallinger Hospital gets q large num-
ber of its patients.
Last week District officials an
nounced the Commissioners prob
ably will request an appropriation
of $4,000 in their 1941 budget esti-
mates for the purchase Of a site
for the center. The Commissioners,
however, it is said. found it inn
possible to approve the request of
DR.. Ruhland by asking for funds
for construction of the building
within the next year. The first Of
five centers, DR.. Ruhland's program
calls for is being erected in South
west Washington.
Nom Resident Deaths.
DR.. Dunn touched upon the sta
tistical bearing of nonresident
deaths in Washington. In 1887, he
said, there were 8,727 deaths in
Washington. OF these, he said, Oil
were non-residents who had come
here for treatment. On the other
hand, 404 District residents died out
of the city that year, he said. These
figures. he pointed out, indicate the
percentage of deaths here In ratio
to population is raised somewhat by
the number of non residents who die
here.
The deaths of approximately 40
per cent of persons who died here
occur outside of hospitals or other
institutions, DR.. Dunn said. Only
seven cities. he added, have a lower
rate of deaths outside of institutions.
From this, he added, it might be
considered that in the District I'VE
should have better care rather than
more care" pointing out the need OF
additional nurses and domestic help
in District government institutions.
He also urged that greater attention
be given to mental hygiene in the
District.
DR.. P. A. McLendon, pediatrician,
member of the staff of George
Washington University Medical
School and the staff of Children's
Hospital, spoke on '"The Need for
Convalescent Care in the District OF
Columbia" He stressed how proper
care of convalescents aids both COM
plete and speedy recovery, as well
as reducing the number of hospital
cases.
Convalescence Problem.
DR.. McLendon said many patients
in Childrens Hospital are eases OF
simple malnutrition, needing only
supervisory care, cleanliness, warmth
and sufficient food"-cases which
could be taken care of in institutions
for convalescents. +
ITO the community, convalescence
perhaps suggests only a vague con-
ception of recovery from illness. The
community probably does not appre-
ciate that convalesence is in effect
the remaining gap left in the public
health circle. There can be no
doubt that this care will be provided
when there is an understanding
that such preventative measures
may be not only to the greater adj
vantage Of the patient, but at = cost
of from one-half to one-third lesa
than that which is necessary to
maintain the patient In 4 hospital"
DR.. McLendon added.
Both addresses were In line with
the policy of the Council Of Social
Agencies for this year to study what
needs to be done" Mrs. Harry s.
Bernton, president of the council
outlined the policy, explaining that
last winter the council studied what
already has been done or is being
done.
The Prince Georges County Board
Of Public Welfare was voted mem-
bership In the council.