invitation to the attending physician is extended by the staff
to assist in the care of their cases.
The hospital has undergone during the preceding year a
complete remodeling and renovation. There can be established
complete segregation for all types of diseases handled.
Lt is the fifth largest hospital in Pittsburgh, having a capacity
for 250 patients. It is not a charitable institution, although
no citizen, ill with any of the diseases cared for in the hospital,
is permitted to pay either for hospital care or nursing or
physician’s services. The reason for the operation of the
hospital by the Department of Public Health is the prevention
of disease, by isolating those suffering from serious, communicable
diseases, and keeping them apart from well people
where they would most probably infect others. While admission
of patients to the Muncipal Hospital is made on request
of the physician in attendance, the Department of
Public Health, under certain conditions, may demand hospitalization
of any serious communicable disease, if they have
become public menaces because of failure to maintain proper
quarantine, or because of poor housing, or bad hygienic conditions,
or lack of care. All cases of smallpox are immedlately
removed for isolation to the Municipal Hospital, where
they are given expert handling by physicians and nurses familiar
with the disease. Among other diseases handled here are
diphtheria, scarlet fever, erysipelas, infantile paralysis and
cerebro-spinal fever,
Dr. R. G. Burns, director of the Department of Public
Health, is superintendent, and Dr. J. S. Baird is chief of the
medical service.
THE PITTSBURGH SKIN AND
CANCER FOUNDATION
The Pittsburgh Skin and Cancer Foundation, located at
8400 Forbes street, was organized on February 12, 1923, and
incorporated under the laws of Pennsylvania on April 18,
1923 Its policies are under immediate control of the board
of directors, who are assisted in the actual carrying out of
its purposes by the women’s dispensary board and the
medical and surgical staff.
