DR. JOHNSON: moved that the resolution of Dr. Lloyd be laid on the table indefinitely, which resolution was adopted.
DR. LLOYD: suggested that it would be well to have one man of each service who could be advised as to what is the matter with certain general orders and know that such matters will not be pigeon-holed but will receive action.
COL. BRATTON: was of the opinion that all suggestions relating to improvement of service should go through the chief of the service. He stated that no difficulty was experienced in this connection in the Army and that it seemed to him that the chief of a bureau should know what was going on.
GEN. IRELAND: stated that contemplated changes affecting the hospitalization of patients of the Veterans’ Bureau in the Army are always referred to his office for review before they are issued.
DR. BLISS: thought that there should be a representative of the Veterans’ Bureau in all Government hospitals where there are Veterans’ Bureau patients, which representative would not have anything to do with the internal administration of the hospital.
DR. WILLIAMS: with reference to the matter of bed space in hospitals offered a resolution to the effect that the question of floor space and distance between beds be reconsidered by the Veterans’ Bureau, with a view to the revision of the present requirements; that unnecessary bed space is being provided and it should be cut down; that he believes the allowance of six feet is necessary in respiratory cases and in infectious cases, but that in the ordinary general ward he believed that a little less space would be quite sufficient, as the larger requirement will cut down the hospital capacity very materially. This resolution was duly seconded.
DR. BARLOW: With reference to space allowed per patient, thought that there should be a difference in accordance with the classes of patients; that he has charge of a hospital for mental cases, and it would be necessary to arrange for 100 square feet; these men are not suffering from physical disabilities. He stated that the State Hospitals cannot provide even fifty square feet of floor space and that it was absolutely necessary for the Veterans’ Bureau to take out of the State hospitals every insane patient they have.
DR. BLACKWOOD: concerning the allowance of six feet between beds, asked if this was not intended to mean six feet between bed centers.
The following motion was adopted:
“That the Federal Board ask the Veterans’ Bureau to reconsider the question of bed space.”