Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-10-24
Report OF the HOspitnl InvostiGatins Com.

The committee appointed at meeting of
the citizens of Cincinnati, convened at the
| Merchants Exchange, October IL, to inquire
into certain alleged evils and abuses con-
nected with the managemtnt of the Military
hospital, now under the charge of the surgi
ca authorities of the department of Ohio,
last evening presented their report TO nother
meetl. pg of citizens held in the same place, of
which we condense the following abstract:
The co wmittee considered their duty to be
to inyesti, Iate the truth of certain alleged
abuses; ano', if found substantiated, to recon-
mend RENE dy.
The general charge was Of insufficiency of
Accommodations tor sick and wounded soldiers,
as connected WI ith the Military Hospital in
this vicinity. and Of personal want of feeling
and neglect on the part of the medical staff
in their treatment oi their patients.
The committee repL Tt in reference to the
first charge that it ha been substantiated,
the hospital having at ttSe time Rceommoda-
tions for only one hundred and forty pa
tients, whereas it was Gro wded with the ad-
dition of two hundred anu' six, 1t being al
ready nearly or quite full.
In regard to the second allegation, the
committee have been unable 70 discover any
blame attaching to the medical staff. Indeed,
they rather feel impelled to commend the
Resident Physician, DR.. Lindsey, Assistant
Surgeon of the United States Army, for his
promptitude, kindness and skill, in meeting
the unexpected contingency.
The whole responsibility of the abuses
complained of rests upon the military au-
thorites of the department of Ohio. The
medical department. of this district is under
the charge of one official, the Medical Di-
rector. The authority, however, to in crease
hospital Accommodations, rests with the
General commanding the department.
In reference to the alleged abuses, the
committee report that the Medical Director
is understood to decline recommending cd,
ditional hospital accommodations under s1e
direction of army regulations. And up to
this time, the General in command has not
as they suppose, from feelings of delicacy TO-.
the Medical Director, ordered any such in
crease.
The committee holds that the present de-
pendeDce of the army upon religious, chari-
table and municipal Institutions, for medical
and surgical care, is contrary 10 the spirit of
the laws regulating the army, and subversive
Of its discipline.
The following specified charges have been
made to the committee:
l. Rude treatment of citizens offering aid.
2. objectionable neglect of specified cases.
3. Cruel transmission of patients from one
hospital to another, TO their serious detri-
ment, and in one or two instances resulting
in the loss of life; and, lastly, unwarrantable
exclusion of ladies from the hospital wards
AS regards the frat, the individuals max
ing these cbarges-which are, however, few
are too responsible 70 permit US to call their
integrity in question.
In regard to the second charge, the COM
mittee found them in every instance un-
founded. No patient was left unattended
| over halt an hour after his appearance at the
| hospital. The patients themselves denied
the truth of the charge.
The third allegation, with a proper ad-
miDistration OF the department, would not
have arisen, but under the existing circum-
| stances the limited hospital accommodations
| rendered the transmission of patients from
| one department to another necessary.
| The committee reports further that ladies
| were not excluded from attending on the
patients in the Marine Hospital. At ST.
| Johns Hospital for Envalds the Sisters of
Charity were the only female attendants
present during their visit.
The committee visited all the hospitals in
which our soldiers are now placed, and espe-
cally commend the Commercial and st.
Johns. The Marine Hospital was found in
tolsrably fair condition. The Stewards
Department was, however, detective, the
beds were not quite as could be desired, and
no bathing apparatus was attached to the
premises.
The hospitals at Camp DennisOn were also
inspected. They were found to be clean and
comfortable, and elected the warm spproba-
! ton of your committee; but even with the
new building now in process of completion,
they will not afford accommodation more
than suffices to meet the wants of the en-
caDpment.
The committee, in conclusion, recommend
the establishment in this city, without day "a
delay, of hospital or hospitals, with accom-
modations for from i've hundred to oae thou
sand patients.
Such establishments, being we'll appointed
with baths, kitchen, gss, they should be di-
vided into wards, so that those suffering
under contagious diseases, the dying, the
wounded and the convalescent, should be by
themselves. There should be attached to il
a good body of nurses, male aud female, anG
sufficient number of physicians under ont
head. The report is signed.
KINGSTON GODDARD,
JOHN D. JONES,
A. G W. CARTER,
OLIVER II. GE0FFROY,
]. B. WARREN.
Upon motion of Mr.. Richard Smith, tn,
Committee on Hospitals was continued fo
the present, and resolution passed that on'
of tie members continue to visit the hospital
, at least once week.
| Tuu An,pp,c.J Nup,onrAN MIooIouI ID,