Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-09-04
Health Report .
Cites Need Of
Funds
RuhIond Suggests
Expansion for Control
Of VenereoI Diseases

An urgent plea for more funds for
Gallinger Hospital and a suggested
program Of extended venereal dis
ease control are contained. in the
annual report of the District Health
Department submitted to the Com
missioners yesterday.
Health Officer George c. Rutland
told the city heads the District
achieved new highs in health during
1899 and "is clearly Kidding itself Of
the adverse reputation which it has
long held In Its health record
Only by making every possible
saving and spending available
funds on "a most parsimonious
basis was. Gallinger able to get
through the year without mourning
a deficiency, the report declared.
All possible purchase of needed
permanent equipment was deferred,
use of desirable but not imperative
drugs and supplies was restricted
and purchase Of all commodities was
on a hand to = mouth" basis, the
Commissioners were told.
Progresses Despite Handbags.
These practices, the report con-
tinued, reflected unfavorably upon
efficient and adequate medical care
and increase the lever present liken-
hood of criticism" In the face Of
handicaps, it was stated, however,
the hospital finished the year with
decided progress in nearly all &C
tivities.
Despite the highest daily average
Of patients in the history Of the
hospital, very little congestion de-
veloped, due to improved routing
of patients and operation of an
out-patient clinic. More adequate
personnel and additional buildings,
most Of which are requested in the
1912 budget estimates, are stressed
as badly needed.
Harmony and progress were re-
ported in the relationship of the
visiting staff to the hospital at the
conclusion of the first year in which
Admiral P. S. Rossiter, former
surgeon general of the Navy. was
in charge.
10000 VenereaI Disease Patients.
Outlining the program for ven
ereal disease control, the report
points out that there are some
10000 persons receiving treatment
in the local clinic, many of whom
have had Q disease for several years
before reporting and therefore will
be difAcuststo cHre.
Thesprogram callG for adequate
clinics, cooperation with private
physicians, development of new
procedures for followup Of lapsed
cases, extensive use of all available
laboratories, distribution of anti
venereal disease drugs to private
physicians and clinics and free
consultation service on the five ma
jor veneral diseases for patients of
private doctors. Educational CAM
paigns through civic groups also
are planned.
The cost of such program, the
report said, would be only about
60. per cent of the present cash
outlay which the District pays to
st. Elizabeth's Hospital for those in
sane from syphilis.
Pneumonia Deaths Lowest.
From the division of maternal and
child welfare came the warning that
a falling of in Federal funds from
the Children's Bureau Of the Labor
Department may throw the mainte-
nance of adequate service entirely
upon the local community.
DR.. Rutland reported an all-time
new low death rate of 1913 per
100, 900 persons from pneumonia here
last year. This caused the most
outstanding change in the 10 chief
causes of death, pneumonia drop
ping from fifth to seventh. Heart
disease and cancer were first and
second, respectively.
A low infant mortality rate was
also reported by DR.. Rutland, the
figure of 48 per 1000 births being
the lowest In District experience
and under the national figure of 81
in the previous year. Maternal
mortality was 4.8 per 1000.
The report said 8,437 persons died
here during the year, death rate
Of 10 % nor 1 flflQ