Compulsory Hygiene Fee Raised to $20 As Corporation Follows Bock's Advice

Due to a growing deficit in the Department of Hygiene because of a gradual expansion of the demand made on its facilities, the compulsory medical and infirmary fee will be raised from $10 to $20 next year. This action was taken at a meeting of the Corporation Monday afternoon as the result of a report and recommendation submitted by Arlie V. Bock, Henry K. Oliver Professor of Hygiene.

Payable in Installments

The Department will be in the red to the extent of $15,000 at the end of the current academic year. The new fee, $10 payable on the first term bill and $10 on the third, will be sufficient to carry the Department in the future with a small margin of profit allowed.

Dr. Bock's estimated budget of expenses for next year adds up to $148,590.

Income will amount approximately to $140,000 from the new fees and an additional $30,000 from special funds, totaling $170,000. This will leave a net residue of $21,500, which will take care of any additional expenses.

Demands Great

Demands made on the Department's facilities have greatly increased during the last five years. The number of patient days recorded for Stillman have risen steadily since 1930-31, as follows: '30-31, 5393; '31-'32, 6152; '32-'33, 6473; '33-'34, 6779; '34-'35, 7174. The total cost of running Stillman amounts to about $55,000 a year.

During this year Dr. Bock has instituted the policy of moving any serious cases into Boston hospitals. When this is done, the expenses for two weeks of ward care are paid by the Department. This winter 12 men have had appendix operations in the system and have not been required to pay more than a small fee for operating room expenses, and other cases have been treated free in metropolitan hospitals, through application of special funds.

Hygiene Visits Up

Visits to the Hygiene Building have increased enormously this year. In October 1968 students were seen by the doctors; in November, 1889; December, 1534; January, 1428; February, 2059; March, 2262; April (through the 23rd.) 1283. Further, 2005 men have been given physical examinations.

More Doctors

As a result of this increase of patients, the staff of doctors has been greatly enlarged. At present there are six part time doctors, two nurses, three secretaries, one information clerk, and one laboratory assistant, an increase of three doctors and two assistants over last year. Dr. Bock plans to add another full time doctor and two part time men next year in order to take care of the increased burden. Last year there were only three doctors.

Under the leadership of Dr. Bock the Hygiene Department has been integrated this year. During the former regime, the Hygiene Building, Stillman, the Business School, and the Dillon Field House were all separate units, a situation which has now been completely changed.

Yale Pays $20

In comparison with Harvard, other Colleges have been charging much higher rates. At Yale students pay $20 a year and an additional $5 a day when they are in the infirmary. Princeton charges $15, Michigan $15