Evening star., 1946-09-05


facilities available. This is an i'm
portant fact to consider, officials say
because the residential acreage is
about 25 per cent of the District
population density is low and dis
persement into this section is in
evitable.
The mortality rate in the two Sec
tions has increased in recent years
in line with the areas population
rise from 73,700 in 1910. In 1914
21.4 per cent of the city's maternal
deaths occurred in these areas while
the number of infant deaths from
1941 to 1914 increased 100 per cent.
The amount of sickness in these
two sections also worries officials
With no community hospital facili-
ties available and a limited number
of private physicians residing in the
areas, the incidence of communi-
cable disease is said to be reaching
spectacular figures.
Epidemic Recalled.
During the scarlet fever epidemic
Of 1914, the white case rate rose
to 1000 or more per 100, 900 of popu-
lation. The infantile paralysis epi-
demic of 1914 found IL per cent
Of the total number of the city's
1874 cases occurring in the two areas
A study of admissions to Gallingel
Hospital for December, 1914, finds
IS per cent of all admissions COM
ing from the sections in question
The tuberculosis rates have also
increased, and some OF the most
insanitary conditions in Washington
are to be found there, including a
substantial percentage of the city's
$4,000 outside toilets.
The recent health survey con-
Quoted here by three out-of town
experts termed outside toilets. such
as are found in these two areas, an
extreme condition of insanitary
housing presenting to the Dis
trict perhaps its major health prob
lem of any kind"
In respect to the proposed health
centers at Fifteenth street and
Bladensburg road NE, and the one
east of lower Georgetown, the
Health Department is now prepar-
ing surveys which it states will
justify their immediate construc-
ton.
Early Diagnosis Vital.
DIR. Melvin P. Isaminger, director
Of the Districts Bureau of Public
Health Instruction, stresses. that the
philosophy of health centers is to
provide early opportunity for dag
nosis and treatment of patients
while they are still ambulatory. In
asserting that other sections of the
city are now awaiting the oppor-
tunities given the Southwest area
by its health center, he lists the
following points in asking that no
time be lost in building the others:
washington is facing new health
problems in the postwar period. 1t
cannot afford to lag in setting up
physical plants for the application of
many new discoveries in preventive
l1lCulClllC.
:'Washington's health facilities are
grossly overburdened. Added there
to is a backlog of five years delay in
construction of the centers, which
for the most part was caused by
lack of funds.
Health centers, being founded on
the principle that an ounce of pre-
vention is worth a pound of cure
save the people and the Govern
ment the greater cost of hospitaliza-
ton.
Services to People.
Health centers bring modern
public health services to the homes
of the people
Health centers do not and will
not infringe upon the plans for hos
pital expansion IN the District.
There are no beds in health CEN
ter. All patients are ambulatory.
In stressing the Importance of
early action on the centers, DR..
Rutland draws this final conclu-
sion:
1.-The quality OF Washington's
health facilities is the cornerstone
upon which the city's destiny will
rest in realizing its aims of building
here a public health model for the
Nation"