, 1862-03-28

4nd obtain ageneral idea Of its appearance.
The next morning he left me to myself, to in
specs to my hearts content, hour after hour,
every Inch of space and every individual, anu
aleo Placed Mt my disposal the books of the
hospital FOR any examination thought fit. The
building consists Of q brick block Of thirteen
three-story stores, with doors at; communion
tlon cut through each of the upper stories,
and outer galleries also running along the rear:
There are about thirty wards, Consisting OF an
entire hoor each, (2o bY 80 feet in5extent) ac-
these yards, :flled with lie sickand wounded.:
vent, conVersing with patients and nurses,
and inquiring Of the former how they had been
treated. as to food, clothing, medicine and kind
care But one Of those with whom conversed
made complaint, end be Was rebel prisoner
who had been neglected in an out-hospital, BIZ
rebel surgeon, under whose care be was at first
placed. ALI the others testified to the best
treatment, which, indeed, from the conduct Of
The nurses, male and female, I saw they were
receiving. The rooms are spacious and kept
sc19pulously clean, neat and Sweet, as is also,
the bedding and clothing Of the patients. /
met and held touching conversation with ser
era1 fathers nt the bed sides Of their sons, and
vas N the Office when some Of them applied
TOT admission, and saw the instant and cheer
tal compliance with their wishes. It Is quite
probable, however, that at times: disputes
may arise between these or other relatives and
the surgeon, as to the. prupriety of the re-
mova1 Of their sons to their homes, and on
kindred points, in which they may consider
themselves ill-treated. Perhaps they arc, aud
and neither surgeons, patients, nor rre1atiyes are
infa1ible. -:
D.. Franl1in, like other energetic, adulinis-
tratiTe men, is at times curt and abrupt in
speech, especially towards those who persist
IN occupying his time in an useless manner,
Of after they have received decisive answer.
Inns habit grows upon army officers. It re-
9uires great wisdom and self control to unite
the s1taviter in naodo with the foYt;tsr IN re.
Mother Angela and the ssSisteiB'' who act rs
nurses, are very kind, rs both saw and learn
ed from the patients, and especially attend to
messages and sending these, with a lock Of
the hair, to the relatives noticed the food
at dinner time, in the various wards, good in
quality, sufficient in quantity, varied in kind
according to the condition OF the patients,
well cooked and pleasantly served at the
ed with precision and showed the value of
thorough system
It may be questioned. whether there should
not be an opportunity to furnish corps Of
Protestant female nurses. The difficulty is,
that as they come sing}y aud under no respon-
poltunity to judge Of their character and com
potency, and more liability INSTRUMENTATION.
1t is bnt too painfully notorious, that the con-
duct Of many female nurses has been such as
to bring discredit on the entire professional
sisterhood. The subject has many practical
embarrassments.
I would also suggest that increased atten-
ton to neatness as to the condition Of the
ground around the side and back doors. would
complete the otherwise perfect appearance Of
the institution. And here I ought to men
tion, to the credit Of Dr.. franklin, that in en-
larging, altering, repairing and fitting up this
immense establishment, he has been COM
PEELED to operate without money, and nothing
but his own energy and faith could have Sc.
cured the work and inspired the astizans with
confidence in the u. 8. Government.
The mortality Of the Institution may be
be judged Of by the following statistics, taken
from the hospital record, and giving all the
completed monthly returns. Dr.. Franklin
did not take charge until Oct. %, 1861: