Evening star., 1954-10-27
Officials Differ
On tuberculosis
Hospital Need
Association Leader
Defends Proposal;
Spencer Doubtful
BY John McKelwoy


Spencer Doubtful
BY John Mckelwoy
a running feud between tuber-
culosis authorities and members
Of the District Health Depart
gnent has broken out over sus-
pension of architectural plans
for the new 300-bed tuberculosis
hospital, it was learned today.
Plans for the hospital, ap-
proved by Congress in May. have
been halted while the Health De-
partment, acting at the request
Of the Commissioners. re-evalu-
ates the tuberculosis picture in
the District.
Commissioner Samuel Spencer
said today that apparently" the
District no longer has q substan-
tial waiting list Of tuberculosis
patients in need Of hospital care.
"A question was raised in our
minds concerning the need for
more TB hospital beds, and we
have decided to look more fully
INTO the situation" MIR. Spencer
said.
Views Challenged.
Meanwhile, Edward K. Funk
houser. director of the District
tuberculosis Association, said
the tuberculosis picture in the
District has not changed and
that the need for the hospital
is as great as ever. He has
charged that some health Off
cials "are gambling" with the
health Of the community be-
cause Of a new attitude toward
the care of the tuberculosis
patient.
DR.. Donald Sickler. who re-
Gently took over the Health De-
partment's tuberculosis Bureau,
said there is a possibility the
hospital will not be built, If the
current study bears out what he
has found to be q national trend:
Fewer hospital beds, because of
newer methods of treating tuber-
culosiS. are needed.
There is evidence" DR.. Sickler
said, that this trend is taking
place IN the District.
Care Shifts.
'The responsibility Of caring
Tor the tuberculosis patient has
shifted from the hospital to the
community. Care of the patient
can now be given in the home
or In out-patient clinics. The
need for hospital beds for TB
patients is diminishing through
Unt the country"
:. He indicated this new tech
nique in treating tuberculosis has
not been accepted by his critics
because of their inability to
break with the past.
DR.. James j. Feffer, a member
Of the board Of directors of the
tuberculosis Association, is
sharply critical Of the Districts
home care program Of the tuber-
.culosis patient.
when home care" he said.
''is a practiced principle which
affects the community as a
whole, I think it is dangerous.
1.-THE ideal situation would in
volve careful attention given to
o patient by an understanding
family. It would mean isolation
such as only q private room and
private bath could afford. It
would mean careful supervision
Of the patients treatment by a
physician, and education of both
the patient and members of his
family about the disease.
Income Factor Cited.
"It is my belief that such home
care cannot be furnished by
families with much less than a
$10,000-a-year income. Today,
home care for the general public
means inadequate treatment of
an active case out Of the hos
pital."
known tuberculosis cases are
not being referred to hospitals
for treatment in the District
There seems to have developed a
new philosophy regarding the
treatment of tuberculosis in
Washington. I think the pro-
gram being managed by the Of
fetal health agency Of the Dis
trict is dangerous.
According to DR.. Frederick c
Heath, deputy director Of the
Health Department" there has
been no change In policy" in the
departments treatment Of tuber-
culosis patients.
I'VE have found the pressure
for TB beds has lessened. Al
present, there are about 100 Il
200 persons on home care. The
majority Of these, we find, arr
recovering nicely and becoming
non-infectous through treatment
received at our clinic and al
home"
Isolation Questioned.
Because tuberculosis exists
mainly in the lower-incom,
groups and in the closely popu
lated areas, Mr.. Funkhouser feel
It is impossible to maintain per
manent isolation of the tuber
culosis patient under a home car,
program.
These people must be giveI
hospital care, II only for som
education as to what their diseas
means to them and their familie
and how 10 live with II" he said
He said home care practice,
In these areas means that activ
cases are walking the streets.
DR.. Heath said some cases ar
ambulatory and leave thei
homes for treatment at tn
tuberculosis clinic. He describe,
these as arrested cases.
DR.. Howard Payne, prominen
colored physicians long active /,
the tuberculosis field here. sal