Evening star., 1944-04-05
Isolation Wards
Not tWantedby
3New Hospitals
Public Demund
Blumed for Lack
Of Facilities


Of Facilities
Despite the lack Of hospital facili.
ties for contagious-d disease cases in
nearby communities except Alexan-
dria, local sponsors Of the three new
hospitals bulls In the Metropolitan
Area within the last year did not
want isolation wards, an official of
the Federal Works Agency, which
provided the funds, disclosed today.
I'VE never contemplated putting
them in," the official said. "The
local people didn't want isolation
wards"
The serious need for hospital
space which can be used for the
treatment of communicable diseases
was high lighted Sunday night when
physician In nearby Maryland was
compelled to bring 3-year-old girl
suffering from scarlet fever and
measles to Galinger Hospital and
virtually to force her admission be-
cause of her serious condition. His
only alternative would have been to
take the child to Alexandria or
Mount Sinai Hospital in Baltimore.
since none of the hospitals in nearby
Maryland accept contagious cases.
PHS Approved Plans.
The FWA spokesman pointed out
that the plans for the three new
hospitals-in Cheverly, Bethesda
and Arlingtorb-were approved bv
the United States Public Health
Service.
"It Is the general practice not to
include isolation wards in hospitals
OF this size" he said. Whatever
criticism there Is would lie with the
general practice"
The Federal official said isolation
wings were expensive for hospital
to maintain because of the number
OF nurses required and the vigilance
that must be exercised to prevent
the spread of infection. The Official
conceded, however, that there
should be an isolation hospital
somewhere in every community for
serious cases.
Most cases Of contagious diseases.
ne said, can be handled better at
home than in a hospital. He said
doctors have pointed out they prefer
to keep their patients home when.
ever possible.
Limitations Stressed.
after ALL" said the Government
official, I'VE can't do everything at
once. We can't set up Mayo Clinic
right away. The new hospitals have
already helped take the load on
Washington hospitals, and that's
what they were intended to do. We
had tough time getting those built,
because the War Production Board
objected to our using materials"
The new hospitals each have q
capacity Of 100 beds. The only Ia
c1lities set up for handling conta.
gious diseases Are two private rooanS
In each dispensary where commuui-
cable diseases discovered after pa
tient has beeii admitted for other
causes may be isolated.
Representative Sasscer, Democrat
OF Maryland, whose district en-
braces Prince Georges County
agreed that something would have
to be worked cut. He suggested that
nearby counties make arrangements
with Gallinger Hospital for handlina
cases OF contagious disease.
Mot every hospital can have an
isolation ward" he said. When he
was reminded that District officials
are already complaining that they
can't handle all of the city's patients,
Mr.. Sasscer said he believed it was
a matter that should be worked out
by the medical profession and the
local governing bodies concerned.
Lack Of Facilities Admitted.
Meanwhile, william A. Carson.
president of the Board of County
Commissioners in Prince Georges,
pointed out that contagious disease
ward could be built on part of the
80 acres which adjoin the new hospi-
tai at Cheverly. He admitted that
the country had been troubled fot
some time by the lack Of adequate
facilities. but he said he believed
nearby residents have some claim
on the facilities offered in the Dis
trict.
Two new deaths in which menin-
gifts played a part were reported
yesterday. Eugene Adams, colored.
1-month-old son of Mrs. Gladys
Adams, 1925 B street Sc, died in
Children's Hospital Saturday, the
District Health Department report
ed, as the result of noncontagious
type of meningitis. Mrs. Emma Sim
mons, colored, 1923 Clark avenue,
Alexandria, died yesterday in
Freedmen's Hospital of pneumonia,
with meningitis listed as a contribu-
tory cause of death.
Another patient admitted to CAL
linger Hospital last week was found
to be suffering from meningitis yes
terday. She is Miss Mary Musetter,
90, of 1701 Sixteenth street NV.
Her condition was reported as salts
factory.
Navy Man Dies of Meningitis.
SALISBURY, Md, April 5 [P.-A
young Navy gunner from Concord,
N. c., died of spinal meningitis in