The New York herald., 1850-12-17
Ths nmAgrant Refuge HospltaI.-Ward,s


who are interested in the welfare of the emf
grant
TO GUIIAS c. vRRPLANoK, PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD
VI OF COMMISSIONERS OF EMIGRATION. .5.
4 DEAR Sri take the liberty 10 report to the
commissioners a statement of the affairs of the
Hospital for Lying in and Diseases of Women and
Children, attached to the Emigrants' Refuge,
Wards Island, for the three months that it has
been under my charge. .ta
4 take this occasion TO acknowledge my thanks
for the confidence shown me by the board, in Sc
lecnng me as the visiting physician OF this respon-
At the beginning of my term Of duty, Sept. l,
1850, there were in the Lying-in Hospital 81
women and % infants; from that date to Nov. 30,
inclusive, 81 women and children have been ad-
mitted. There have been, in the same period, 81
labors, producing 36 males and 81 females, the
average weight of which, NJ birth, was ID. is OF.
On three occasions have resorted to artificial
delivery. In two or these cases instruments were
used, and the mothers and children both saved.
The third case was a cross birth, the hand and
cord presenting, when | turned the child, and de-
livered by the feet The mother did well, and left
the hospital at the end Of two weeks Five still
born children, and one abortion have occurred. OF
the still births, three probably pershed from prema-
ture labor brought on by acute dysentery, from
partial detachment of placenta, and one was ex-
PEELED in putrid state.
Three women have died; two from dysentery,
terminating in gangrene OF the intestines, and one
from typhoid pneumonia all of whom entered the
hospital in an exhausted condition, with disease
which would have been fatal, uncomplicated with
Six children have alro died five of them from
atrophia, being very feeble at birth, and one that
was brought in from the city the day after il was
born, very badly scalded.
The average residence in the Lytng-in Hospital
is about four weeks when, If well enough, they
are discharged, and transferred to the apartments
appropriated for them.
This latter department has charge of the wards
for mothers, with young children, who are received
by the commissioners, or transferred 'front.' Hos
pital for Lyng-in; These are not hospitalsfor the
mothers Those who have fallen i'll have been
treated, unless attacked with contagious diseases.
In such cases, they have been sent to the appropr
ate hospital
BY referring to the monthly reports on your files,
il will be seen that 7s children and % adults have
been treated for acute diseases in the "baby wards
during the month of November. Eight children
have died of the following Diseases
Marasmus. .........4 Pneumonia. ......2
Tuberculosis. IL Debility. .....,..1
The adults ali recovered
have visited the hospital daily with my asss-
all the wards morning and evening, and as much
oftener as is necessary. have much pleasure ia
stating my confidence in their ability, and have
no doubt they carry out my instructions faithfully.
In my requistions have endeavored to observe a
just regard TO economy, in consideration OF the nu
merous claimants on the funds at the disposal of
the commissioners. have, however, disregarded
expense when the comforts and weD,beng OF the
sick required Sit. ALI my requistions have been
promptly complied with, by the direction Of the
Board. Respectfully submitted,
A. " WILLIAMS, M. D.,
Il0 SPRING STREET, Nov, 1850.
To THE COMMISSIONERS OF EMIGRATION
Gentlemen Herewith beg leave TO transmit
report of the wards in the Emlgrant Refuge H0spi-
tai, which were under my supervision during the
months of September ana October. The patients
were visited daily by me, and | have much plea
sure In testifying TO the general good conduct OF
the assistants with whom was associated.
The warden, al my req quest, prepared ward IL for
the reception of the cases OF measles and wh0op-
ing cough, which occurred simultaneously in the
Nursery, with a very severe form of dysentery.
The addition of this ward, and of a convalescent
ward to the children's department, prevented the
Otherwise fatal results which would doubtless have
ensued, had wards 10 and 10 been crowded with
these new patients.
The total number of patients during the two
months under my care was 3o9 adults and 203
children, of whom the number of adults discharged
was 205, the deaths Is. OF the children, l40
were discharged, and Is died. There is, you will
perceive, want of uniformity in The mode of the
different accounts of the diseases, Nc, of the pa
tents, which is owing 10 The absence of proper
system in the manner of keeping the assistants
record book, but the present organization, when it
shall have been completed, will remedy this defect
for the future, and thus render the statistics more
reliable, well as valuable for scienu6c purposes
remain, gentle men, with great respect,
Your obd't. servt.
HENRY G. Cox, vis'g Physician.
a
GENT1EMENi-I have the honor to submit to you
the following statement of my service, since en-
tering upon duty at the Emigrant's Hospital, Wards
Island, September list, 1850.
may here mention that all the surgical cases in
the hospital are now classed into two divisions, one
of which embraces the general surgery, the other
embracing all the diseases of the eye, under the
head OF oPthalmic surgery.
Upon commencing my attendance on the first of
. pemeer, both OF the surgical divisions were en-
trusted TO my care.
charging himself with the opthamc division, and
continued my service In the division of the general
surgery, until the i1rst Of October, when DR.. Ho-
sack took my place in that department.
On the first of October Il resumed the charge OF
the opthalmic division, and continued my duties in
this department until the first Of this month (De-
cembeD.
! now present you with condensed statement of
the condition OF the opthalmic division, as il was
on the rst of September, and was at the begin
ming of this month. / intended to have gwen a
tabular view OF the several diseases, as laid down
In the monthly reports which accompany this do
cument, but have been prevented from doing this
IN time for your meeting to-day by serious and
sudden indisposition.
dtion of the opthalmic diseases, they existed on
the hrst OF September, on the trst OF October on
the hrst OF November, and the first of December,
contain, however, ample information on this i'm
Upon commencing service, on the frat of Sep
temper, found the diseases of the eye scattered
over the various buildings the island; thus, pa
uents Affected with opthalmlc disease, were found
IN the brick building, in wards Nos. 10, II, and
l6; in the shanties Nos g, 8, 2, and 8 and in the
wooden hospital building, in wards Nos. 9, III, 81,
4, 8, 10, and H.
My fret object was Immediately 10 concentrate,
as lar as possible, the eye cases. and TO separate
them from the other patients affected with oihe.
malsdies.
This has been gradually effected, and now op-
thanlic diseases are not TO be found in any other
portion OF the hospital department, except in shany
., and in the werds Of the wooden hospital build
lug, Nos. 4, l, 3, y, and II.
BY the reports referred TO, il will, also, be seen
that there were IN the ophalmic division, opthalmc
diseases, on the LIST September, 100 cases; on the
Let October, 129 cases. on the LIST November, l0S
CAGES; on the lst December, - cases.
BY referring TO the report Of the lst September il
will be observed, that the cases there enumerated