Gastro-Duodenal Perforation: A New Diagnostic Sign

Abstract

to every 418 of the population. Massachusetts for a limited part of the service has one bed for every 375 of the population. The same report recommends the services of either a trained or untrained nurse for every 802 of the population. Massachusetts has one registered nurse for every 513 of the population. Most sickness surveys fail to record either alcoholics or venereal diseases. Feeble-mindedness, alcoholism and venereal disease must be seriously considered in any helpful campaign to eliminate poverty or sickness. The field worker for Dutchess County was able to report only one case of venereal disease out of 1600 cases of sickness. From data on venereal disease supplied by the hospitals, the report recommends one bed for these diseases for every 6615 of the population-7.1% of the whole required for Dutchess County. (See p. 100.) Applying the same ratio for Massachusetts, there would be needed 572 beds for venereal diseases, or 17 beds less than the entire complement of beds at the Massachusetts General Hospital. The same survey recommends one bed to every 3042 of the population for alcoholics. For Massachusetts that would take 1242 beds, and would fill both the Boston City Hospital and Carney Hospital, with only 24 beds vacant. For psychopathic patients, one bed to every 4643 of the population is recommended. This would require 815 beds,