Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-08-31

Responsible Tor elimination OF
trees and parking division of
Volunteer Nurses
Sought 10 Help Que||
Diarrhea Epidemic
District Health Officer George C
Rutland today issued a plea for vol
unteer nurses and nurses aides to
quell the diarrhea epidemic in in
FAINT wards at Freedmen's Hospital
and to serve at Gallinger, which is
bearing the brunt of new maternity
cases.
Freedmen's infant and maternity
wards were closed to new entries
yesterday following the outbreak of
cases there within the past two
weeks that have resulted in the
death of two newly-born infants and
infection of % others, DR.. Rutland
said.
Freedmen's Hospital told a re-
porter yesterday that four infants
had died from the diarrhea infec-
ton, "but on further study it was
decided only two fatalities definitely
could be attributed to diarrhea," ac-
cording to Dr. Arther Simmons, ad-
ministrative medical officer. THE
other two babies were found to have
traces OF diarhea, but both died soon
after premature births and it is
thought they may have died from
other causes" he declared.
An emergency meeting of hos
pltal officials was called late yes
terday to map plans for combating
the outbreak. For the time being
new maternity cases will be referred
to Gallinger-already overcrowded
itself. Hospitals also were directed
10 limit the stay of normal" ma
ternity cases to four days.
Additional Nurses Obtained.
In fast move to aid the critical
nursing shortage at Gallinger, the
United States Public Health Service
ordered five nurses sent from the
Marine Hospital in Baltimore to
report today. DR.. Otis L. Anderson,
hospital division chief, told a re-
porter that attempts are being made
to obtain five more nurses from hos
pitfalls in other cities and that he
would try to supply Freedmen's with
more help "as soon as it can possibly
be found"
There's no doubt that the out
break was the direct result of over
crowding and help shortages" DR..
Rutland declared "And with the
overcrowded status of Gallinger, it
is important that infants be taken
home as soon as possible
In addition to volunteer trained
nurses, visiting housekeepers" are
needed to help new mothers after
their infants have been released
from hospitals, he stated. American
Red Cross workers also will be asked
to volunteer for the service, he
added.
Little Relief Expected.
Little help can be expected from
Gallinger, however, according to Dr.
Alvin r. Sweeney, superintendent.
We had 108 infant patients yes
terday, but we only have a capacity
OF Ill BEDS" he declared, land 1:
cases are waiting for admittance. >
In addition, Gallinger has been dis
missing mothers and their newly
born infants in -four or five days
for the past month, he added, in.
stead of the normal week.
In an attempt to keep the diar-
rhea threat from the hospital, DR.
Sweeney said he has agreed not tt
: accept any infants within a month
OF their discharge from Freedmen
That will keep us safe as lonl
as the epidemic is limited to Freed
mems" he stated. IF cases shoult
break out in homes, we hardly coult
be protected.
With conditions the way the,
are at Gallingher, such a thin
E easily could happen to U.s." D1
j Sweeney said. I'VE hope to ge
Z. some graduate nurses and nurses
aides next month, but so far it,
only a hope" Nursing shortage
at the hospital date back abou
three years, he declared.
Meanwhile. Freedmens Hospita
reported no additional infants ha,
: contracted the illness last night.
) Condition Seems Improving.
THE condition seems to be i'm
!. proving" according to DR.. Rober
Crawford, assistant resident in pedi
! atrics. 1--WE don't anticipate an
more cases, but that depends on tn
virulence of the organism"
The % sick infants are lodged i
rooms isolated from 81 unaffecte
babies who are in regular nurserie
he explained. When the babies ar
ready to go home, mothers will b
: permitted to leave the hospital
e there is no evidence OF diarrhe;
u They will be warned to return 8
first indication of the illness, how
le ever, he said.
&c An investigation launched in a
Is attempt to determine source of tn
u outbreak has not been completed
he said. adding that he believed tn
Is nursing shortage had something I
'e do with the rapid spread" of tn
le sickness.
n DR.. Anderson attended the con
ference yesterday as consultant I
fe Freedman's. The hospital Is q un
lie OF the Federal Security Agenc,
rs Hospitals represented at the meet
n ing included Garfield. Gallinge
re Freedmen's. Children's, Columbi,
* Episcopal, George Washington Uni
'versity and Georgetown Universit