Evening star., 1939-08-25
S3,591,340 Sought
BY RuhIand for D. T..
Health Promotion
Mental Hygiene Bureau
And I'd PoIyeIinic
Asked in Estimate

Drawing support for his plans
from the survey reports made by
the United States Public Health
Service and the Citizens Child We'll
fare Review Committee, Health Ofk
ficer George C. Rutland has pro-
posed an outlay of 1891 $40 in the
1941 fiscal year for an expanded
fight against disease. The sum
would represent an increase Of ST.
082 ,480, or 43 per cent, over this
years appropriations.
Among the major proposals are:
l. Establishment of a mental hy-
giene bureau in the Health Depart
ment, having an initial staff of 18
persons, designed to give diagnosis
and treatment to some 1000 per-
sons believed to be suffering from
mental Embellishments. An appro-
priation of S46,905 was asked for
this purpose.
2. Construction of a new Chill
dren's Ward Building at Gallinger
Municipal Hospital and the provi-
sion of four two-family staff houses,
quarters for 80 internes and pro-
vision of hospital laboratory, the
cost being estimated at 100000.
Asks Another Health Center.
3. Construction of health center
In the Northwest section of the
District, at cost of some $250000,
this to be the second of the pro-
posed series of polyclinics proposed
by the department. Construction of
the first such center, in Southwest
Washington, now is about to be
started.
4. Increased funds for nearly all
Of the specialized services and bu-
reaus, including provision of $751;
600 for employment of 357 addi-
tional professional and other work.
ers, some Of these being required
to staff new buildings for which
funds we're provided in this years
budget.
The health officer supplied disease
and mortality rates to show that
despite the improvement that has
been accomplished the District still
stands in 21st place among a list
of 26 cities in general mortality
However. he estimated that 1,166
lives had been saved between 1884
and the past fiscal year, using NOR
tality rates as gauge, due to in
creased health facilities and services.
DR.. Rutland explained that sug-
gestions for establishment of the
mental hygiene service were con-
tanned in both the Olesen report on
the Public Health Survey of health
conditions in the District and in
the Kepecs report on the findings
Of the Child Welfare Review Com
mittee. He added that Budget Of
ficer Daniel J. Donovan had sug-
geSted that a request for funds be
included in the 1941 estimates
for psychiatric and psychological
services.
Estimates $3.50 Cases.
Due to lack of data on the extent
OF the Districts mental hygiene
problem, only a crude attempt could
be made to estimate what the pa
tient load would be. DR.. Rutland
said. From what information was
available, he estimated the new bu-
reau would be called upon to handle
$3.50 cases, $500 of which would
come from the Welfare Department,
200 from the elementary schools,
100 from Juvenile Court, 1900 from
among pre-school age children,
crippled children or mothers from
the maternal and child welfare
clinics, 400 adults from Police Court
and $50 adults from the tuberculo-
sis and venereal disease clinics.
He anticipated that tWo-thirds of
the work of the bureau would be
diagnostic and one-third in treat
ment. He assumed that st. Eliza
beth's Hospital would continue to
look after its own patients who were
out on parole
The staff of 10 would include 3
psychiatrists, 2 physicians, psy-
biologists and psychiatric social
workers.
For Gallinger Hospital the health
officer requested appropriations to-
falling S13l0,700, as against 1899 ,44O
for this year, which would provide
for 141 additional employees as we'll
as the proposed new construction.
Based on estimates supplied by
DR.. Edgar A. Bocock, superintend-
ent of the hospital, DR.. Rutland pre-
dicted the daily average patient
population in 1941 would be 925.
The average for the past fiscal year
was 875. Some of the additional
personnel would be needed to staff
new buildings scheduled to be fin
sshed this year.
The new Gallinger employees would
include 2 assistant medical officers,
80 nurses, 3 social workers, 81 hos
pital attendants and % minor do
mestics, the increased salary cost
bring $193,360 The extra help, DR..
Rutland said, would permit the
granting of a 44-hour week for
orderlies, now working 66 hours
week. In supporting requests for
additional nurses, DR.. Rutland ar
gued that ratio of at least one
graduate nurse for each Is patients.
where student nurses and auxiliary
personnel are used, was "impera-
tive
In urging the need for a new chill
dren's building, the health officer
said the unit now is housed in the
Administrative Building near the
psychiatric group and that the sur