Evening star., 1940-02-22
Health FINDINGS
.At Institutions
Expected Soon
Dr.. RuhIond Acts on
Allen Plan for Quick
'Stop-Gop' Methods

Agents Of the District Health De-
partment are expected to report to-
morrow or Saturday to the Board
Of Public Welfare their findings az
to what immediate steps should be
taken In the operation of the Home
for Aged and Inflrm and OF the
Receiving Home for Children to
prevent any possible spread OF dis
ease which might result from de-
flciencies in their medical care
programs.
Surveys of health conditions at
the two institutions, which are
under investigation by the D'Ales-
andre subcommittee of the House
District Committee, were begun yes-
terday. Health Omcer George c.
Ruhland assigned DR.. Carl C. Dauer,
epidemiologist of the department.
and DR.. Joseph A. Murphy, direc-
Tor OF the Bureau of Medical and
Sanitary Inspection of the Schools.
10 take charge Of the medical
studies.
Allen Asks Prompt Action.
Prompt action to determine what
immediate 'stop-gap" programs
might be developed, without await
Ing provision of any additional
funds for the operation of the two
institutions, was requested yester-
day by Commissioner George E.
Allen, after the Board of Commis-
sioners had Called DIR. Rutland into
conference. Their action followed
declaration by Representative
D'Alesandro in which he insisted
immediate improvements could be
made without any additional funds.
However, it developed that We'll
fare Director Robert E. Bondy, in
previous conferences with Health
Department officials, already had
laid the basis for such cooperative
work.
While agreeing to take what.
ever immediate steps seemed neces.
sary, Mr.. Bondy had issued an
appeal that District officials be per-
mltted to work out a program that
| would more adequately meet human
needs than merely patchwork or
palliative" action.
Mr.. D'Alesandro had protested
particularly that children were be-
ing admitted to the Receiving
Home without pre-entrance medical
examinations and without proper
facilities for segregation; and that
inmates at the Home for Aged
should not be employed in the
handling or service of food.
Transfer of Ill Considered.
DR.. Rutland and Mr.. Bondy. IL
was explained, had agreed that ii it
is found there were among the
l3O inmates of the infirmary of the
Home for Aged persons suffering
from acute illness, or CONTAGIOUS
olsease, such as tuberculosis or
cases involving surgery problems,
tney should be transferred, when
medically feasible, to some other
institution. It also had been planned
to determine if any of the patients
OF the home should be transferred
to st. Elizabeths Hospital.
DR.. Rutland also has assigned
MS assistants to determine If anv
OF the inmates at the Home for
AGED who are handling food NAV
nave any disease which might he
transmitted to other inmates of
the institution.
The health officer said he also
mad suggested that perhaps some
volunteer physicians might be will
ing to assume temporarily the re.
sponslbility of giving more i'm.
mediate physical examinations to
children sent to the Receiving
Home, as a prevention against any
possible spread of disease.
D'Alesandro Pleased at Action. -
Mr.. D'Alesandro said yesterday he
was glad" that the Commissioners
mad followed his suggestions and
ordered Improvements in the sani-
tary conditions at the two institu-
tlons. both of which recently were
visited by Mrs. Franklin D. Roose-
welt.
Mr.. D'Alesandro said he could
not understand why steps had not
been taken previously to clean up'
the sanitary conditions in the two
homes, since additional funds were
not needed for that purpose.
The subcommittee expects to re-
! sumo public hearings on conditions
in the District public welfare insti-
tutions next week. Conditions at
the Work House at Occoquan and
the Reformatory at Lorton will be
discussed.