New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-09-09
BELLETUE HOSPIT1L

INVESTIGATION or CHARGES AGAINST TIN
WARDEN-wHAT TIE COMMITTEE OF TIE
CITIZENS ASSOCIATION SAY.
On the first day of this month there appeared
an ANONYMOUS communication in The Ecenm0 Post, pm-
porting to come from an inmate Of Bellevue Hospital
and containing many grave charges against the at
tachGs thereof for whose actions the Warden is
supposed 10 be responsible. immediately upon
the appearance OF this communication the Com
missioners OF Charities aud Correction sent
marked copy OF the paper the President OF the C
rens' Association, with formal note requesting that
body 10 visit the Hospital and. in whatever manner
deemed best by themselves, examine into the workings
institution with view to deciding a. TO tho truth
fulness OF the statements. In compliance with this re-
quest q committee OF members OF tho Citizens Assoca-
ton was appointed at special meeting, and yesterday
afternoon these gentlemen visited Bellevue Hospital and
spent several hours there in making themselves nc
quaInted with the Of the establishment the condl
ton OF the apartments, the character Of the nurses,
the nature Of the food provided for the patients
the state OF the bedclohng with regard 20 CLEANLINESS
and in short with all the details essential TO correct
statement as 20 the fitness OF the Hospital it, Warden s
physicians aud It's nurses for the purposes Tor which the
,psr,ton was established and its onicors employed
The Committee consisted OF Nathaniel Sands VIM Wood
Joscph T. DAILY. Geo. c. Ward, and John H. Sher"ooi'
and the result OF their nvesugauOn' fun report OF
which will be given 10 the public few days, IL sub
the different wards with ample accommodations FOR SO
The bedding clean, although IN the surgical Naius
the sheets much disc0iored with carbolic acid
Yle rooms were well ventilated, the floors perfectly
clean the watcrcosets the best condition, and every
and fidy The bathrooms although small ana too few
I'm number were found be free from unpleasant Odors
and without sign OF any Kind OF Dirt or yernln Ihe
most careful scrutiny failed 70 discover bug, loue. hea
insect Of any kind In any part OF the building occupied
py r6Tercd 70 be in any way deceive At
about O'Clock The Committee held meeting IN the
Office Of the Commissioners. where, after
short examination Of the nurses aud ordcrlleS
they proceeded to question Mr. Ihomas Brcnnan' tIo
had thirteen years connected win the institution
TO Sat Of warden lie employed fourteen nurse. and
thirteen ordcres. The former paid SO per month";
dscnaTge OF their yarIou, dnes MT tho end Of three
months their wages were increased. II careless or
negligent their pay was reduced DAILY inspections
made and regular reports relative 70 tc condition of
each ward rendered. Patients bathed only when
the physician gave orders 10 that effect The large ma
jority OF those brought To the hospital Tor treat
mcnt OF the lowest aud hcst class, and when adj
mitted we're either too weak 10 be taken To tho both
room at once afflicted to render tho lmme
date application OF water dangerous Only few days
ago he had brought TO the hospital woman Of g. aud
her daughter both dying OF starvation. lie fOund them
In stable and IN the absence OF the drivers. geaed up
ambulance drove TO the spot and brought Tho snfcr
the Hospital where they were cared FOR. The TWO
women were covered with yermin, and the worms had
eaten holes in their bodies 80 that they could not rest
upon ordinary beds. They were too weak To be
bathed, and tho physicians, ~, would not allow
brought by patients was always taken of and thrown
into the river Fresh clothing much better than that
destroyed always given To the patient on being dis
charged. Complaints against nurses, II sustained by
patients and physicians. acted upon without delay
and the guilty parties discharged No OF derium
remens, reported in The Erenii0 Post, was In the
building on the night mentioned and complaint had
been made by patient 10 deprivation Of sleep by
OF the ward As the food supplied ho
would simply refer the Committee to the weekly
and monthly reports OF supplies, and invite
them TO examine the stOrerOOms and kitchen
TO satisfy themselves AS 10 Its quality.
large collection OF these reports were then presented
and examined These show what extra ratons OF food
are furnished on the physcians order and that his
TequsOn any thing that may COnduce To the comfort
webeng OF the patient is furnished The report for the
month OF August makes the following exhibit: There
case OF whisky, 22 or OF wine, 2s2s pnts Of alo
l94M pints OF milk, 1858 eggs, 94s white sugar,
a3l or crackers, 4.2il pints OF tea, 400 pounds
beefsteaR, 225l plnts OF Cruel and ia OF. corn
starch. The patients who are able TO move
about have the privilege OF walking out upon the
dahs overlooking the river Of saunerng down TO the
river bank and smoking In the shade and every day tho
Commissioners little steamer, the MnnahannOnck,
takes happy crowd OF cOnyalescents aunt ~ arts
Island During the long visit yesterday there
was being done TO alleviate pain to soothe Distress and
to render the unhappy lives OF the wretched
patients endurable az kindness and care
ana medical skill could make them. Tho
only amusing scene witnessed during the day was lost
by the Committee. IL when bundle OF dapdated
into The meetngrOom AZ specimen OF what Ia received
at Bellevue twenty times day. IL sWarmed with hOr
rid creatures such ended the life OF poor Crassus OF
old and when the Committee went forward TO inspect,
knees and bodies inclined, after tho most approved
OF the modern Grecans who "soop To conquer"
the taboau, viewed by interested bystander was
one never " be forgotten.