Evening star., 1948-02-18
Main Laboratory
AtGd||inger
Found Deficient
Icy Advisers Urge
Replacement Of
DiIopidoted Structure
By Thomos G. Buehonon


Gallinger Hospitals main labora-
tory. analyses of which are needed
to guide doctors in life-and death
decisions, cannot do a competent
job with its present equipment and
staff.
The hospitals Board of Visitors,
lay advisers to the District Com
missioners, today asked Commits
sioner Guy Mason to press for the
earliest possible replacement of the
dilapidated structure in which the
laboratory work is done q
Reporters who visited the hos
pital yesterday were told by one de-
partment head the laboratory is "a
topic of daily conversation and
jest" because of its inability to rem
der accurate reports on the heavy
volume of work it Is required to
perform
Another doctor, DR.. Leslie v. Dill,
who resigned a few weeks ago as
head of the obstetrics and gynecol-
ogy department, said delays in car
rying out certain laboratory pro-
cedures requested by doctors some
times retard for several days the
treatment and recovery of patients.
Each extra day, he pointed out,
costs the District $40 for mainte-
nance of the patient.
Getting By" Doctor Says.
The laboratory is run by direc-
tor, DR. A. Ralph Monaco. who has
resident doctor, supervising
technician and 13 technicians to
help him.
Were getting by with what we
have" said Dr. Monaco. We're
getting by, but we can't always get
everything done as quickly as we
would like to-"
The laboratory has no chemist.
DR.. Monaco said he did not be-
lieve one was needed He did, how
ever. express the view that three
or four more technicians should be
added to the staff If the laboratory
is to carry out the work expected
of it.
The main trouble with the labora-
tory, DR.. Monaco contended, is the
building in which it is housed.
"Of course, it isn't satisfactory,
he told reporters. "A blind man
could see that"
Paper Han& From Wall.
In the small room outside the
laboratory directors office, strip
of paper was hanging from the
ceiling.
That used to be my Office" he
explained, but / moved out 3e-
cause every time it rains the coof
leaks"
Pointing to a piece of equipment
covered with dust in one laboratory
room. DIR. Monaco said it was dam
aged two years ago when some one
broke into the laboratory to steal
a fan In removing the fan, he
explained. the thief broke the in
strument next to it.
DR.. Monaco said the instrument,
used to give tests to aid in diagnosis
of diabetic coma or certain disorders |
Of pregnancy, is standard equipment
at every hospital laboratory. With
out it doctors must rely on guess
work
He was asked why the instrument |
was not promptly replaced.
II asked for 1t through the regu-
lar channels more than once DR..
Monaco replied. II don't know why
we never got one. I've been told the
hospital didn't have funds to buy
new equipment.
tn
How much. DR.. Monaco was asked,
would 1t cost to replace the broken
part?
About $13," he replied
In the tiny room where bacterio-
logical tests are made, the labora-
tory director admitted sterile condi-
tions cannot be obtained. Although
doctors say the room should be air
tight, or tests will be inaccurate, 1t
has a large gap in the ceiling lead
ing into another room.
The laboratory staff is unable to
perform many of the more complex
laboratory tests which Gallinger doc
tors request. Dr. Monaco said. Some
Of these. he related, are sent out to
the modern National Institute of
Health Laboratory. He estimated
this happens to an average of three
or four tests a day. |
"They have been very kind to us,
he stated
Many procedures. however, accord
ing to several Gallinger doctors. are
diverted to privately financed re-
search laboratory run by DR.. Harry
r. Bowling of the George Washing
ton medical staff.
Wants New Building.
whenever possible, we try to get
work done there, because we have
more confidence in its findings" one
doctor said.
Gallinger Supt. Alvin r. Sweeney
said the hospital administration feels
q new building is needed urgently
for the laboratory. 1t ranks third
on Gallinger's priority list for new
construction, behind the children'S
building and the psychiatric de-
partment.
An appropriation of $50. 900 al
ready has been voted by Congress
for the buildings construction.
Building costs have risen so far
above original estimates that an
additional 1925 900 would be needed
to erect the structure now, DR..
Sweeney reported.
Maintenance Of the old laboratory
building he conceded, has been kept
to minimum because we prefer
to give preference to parts of the
hospital where we are taking care
of patients
. The Board of Visitors reminded
Commissioner Mason in its report
today that the board had brought
the dilapidated condition of the
present structure to his attention
before construction costs rose to
their present levels.
Meanwhile, the standing of the
laboratory among Gallinger's own
professional personnel has reached
q level where a young intern re-
Gently wrote Skit for a satirical /
revue, In which laboratory techni-
clans are represented as selecting
their reports by throwing darts at q