He said he thought that doctors throughout the country should be encouraged to keep patients at home, and believed that many have recently been doing just that. He said he was against the Chamber of Commerce advertising to have people come here for this health reason, and believed that the situation would level off. He wished to go on record as approving any report which asked for case finding, and said that he thought facilities of public health department should and must be increased and that we must have facilities for hospitalization of our own indigents who have tuberculosis.
Dr. Hugh Thompson inquired if there would be any advantage in having the medical society approve the report without the provision for adding beds.
Mr. Stalnaker said that the economical thing to do would be to use the beds already available.
Dr. Harry Thompson stated that our idea is that we should take care of all our indigents at County Hospital. Our doctors take care of these men free of charge, our patients get very excellent care, and a centralized place is of great advantage.
Dr. Farness remarked that the County Hospital is being used over fifty percent for custodial care.
Dr. Altshuler asked what the Society wished to do about the State setting up beds in Pima County.
Dr. Harry Thompson said that he thought this problem too big to reach a decision immediately, since he was not at all sure that it would not be preferable to care for them on a county rather than on a state level.
Dr. Hayden inquired if it might not be possible to put teeth into a law about quarantining.
Dr. Ward replied that this would be possible if there were a place to put the patients after they are quarantined.
Dr. Hugh Thompson said that he believed everyone to be in agreement on this summary except for the question of achieving hospitalization plus the question of figures on tuberculosis from St. Mary's.
Dr. Hayden made a motion that the summary be approved with the exception f the paragraph dealing with hospitalization.
Dr. Hewitt gave it as his opinion that it would be premature to commit the Society now.
Dr. Hayden withdrew his motion.
Dr. Altshuler said that he felt that what the Social Agencies Council wished to know is whether or not the county society is in favor of the project in the first place, and whether or not there are any suggestions as to what might be the best way of accomplishing it; that the question of the county or the state supplying the beds has here been discussed, and wondered whether they Society has any preference.
It was mutually conceded that no definite decision in this matter could be reached at this meeting.
Dr. Elizabeth Laidlaw was present to report on the School Health Committee and to say that the schools are interested in knowing whether they can count on the cooperation of the Pima County Medical Society for care of the children as they did during the past year. Statistics given were that 616 children were cared for out of a school enrollment of 7,840; 7,492 were referred to private doctors either for the regular school physical exam immediate medical care; Dr. Laidlaw saw 4,604 children, and 514 of the aforementioned 616 children cared for were referred to Dr. Laidlaw by the school nurses. Expenditure was $1,371.00, leaving a balance of $436.00--bills yet to be paid will leave $131.00, in addition to which certain services were given to the schools. Dr. Present fluoroscoped 38 children's hearts. 22 children were rejected because of high income. The Lions Club gave 60 pairs of glasses. Estimate for next year is probably $2,200.00, and some of this year's cases are left over--eye and T&A [ tonsil and adenoids ]. Dr. Laidlaw reported that the most alarming thing which came out in these exams is the tremendous number of spinal curvatures, poor posture and malnutrition.
